Sony DSC-H5 for the Travel Photographer
Convenience plays a big part when purchasing any still digital camera. I want something small yet powerful, that won't ruin me in the cost of batteries. The Sony DSC-H5 is just heavy enough to feel like it matters, yet small enough to slip into my jacket pocket with ease.
When I turned it on for the first time (and I'll admit a few times after that) it reminded me oh so subtly that the lens cap was still on. Though it may sound like common sense, this simple reminder is exactly what I needed to make the difference between capturing that roaming herd of buffalo out on the savannah and coming home with a camera full of nothing.
And speaking of buffalo, I once rode shotgun through the African outback, trying to capture the amazing wildlife running past us. Had I had Sony's DSC-H5 back then, I would now have framable shots instead of the mess of blurs and streaks lining the bottom of my desk drawer.
The best part of this camera though remains the screen. I'm a big fan of cybershot cameras, but this larger screen impresses me every time I turn it on. I also loved that the camera saves photos directly to the hard drive but you'll need additional media if you take numerous photos.
The one complaint I have with Sony's DSC-H5 is that many of the controls are located on the right hand side next to the screen. Though this makes for convenience when you want to flip through shots or switch to macro mode, I found my thumb easily knocked the feather touch buttons setting the camera into modes I did not want.
Still for the price and convenience it offers and the fantastic photos it produces, any traveler looking for a great camera should get on the beaten path and head for Sony.
James W. Coates,
National Park Expert
