Sony's 2006 superzoom bridge — 6MP CCD, 12x 36-432mm stabilised zoom, AA power, Memory Stick Duo
The Cyber-shot DSC-H2 was Sony's affordable superzoom bridge camera for 2006, announced in February that year as the successor to the DSC-H1 and positioned below the DSC-H5, which added a larger screen. It aimed at family and travel photographers who wanted long reach without the cost or bulk of a DSLR outfit.
A 6-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD sat behind a 12x optical zoom covering 36-432mm equivalent at f/2.8-3.7, stabilised by Sony's Super SteadyShot system. Composition used a 2.0-inch 85,000-dot LCD, video recorded at 640x480 up to 30fps with optical zoom usable while filming, and power came from two AA batteries. Storage was Memory Stick Duo or Pro Duo alongside 32MB of internal memory.
The long stabilised lens made it a capable choice for casual wildlife, sport and holiday shooting, and AA power meant spares were easy to find on the road. The small, low-resolution screen and shallow burst depth show its age, and dynamic range is limited by the small CCD.
On the used market check the zoom motor runs smoothly through the full range, that stabilisation engages quietly, and that the LCD is free of bright spots. AA power keeps running costs low, but a Memory Stick Duo card is required and the format is discontinued, so an included card adds value.