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Power and price

A few weeks ago we reviewed the Sony DSC-TX9, from the Japanese manufacturer’s new range of compact cameras. Another device in that range is the DSC-H70, which is somewhat less compact but offers much better value. It’s also good for tricking your Facebook friends into thinking you own a big, expensive camera. The H70 has a large wide-angle lens, using Sony’s “G” lens technology. I was quite surprised at the quality produced with this 10x optical zoom lens. Some of the shots taken with this camera look as if they came off a bigger, expensive DSLR camera. The H70 also offers manual and programme shooting modes, allowing more experienced photographers to mess with settings, which make this camera more versatile than other point-and-shoot compacts.

As for video, the H70 will shoot in 720p high definition with autofocus. Again, the quality of the resultant videos will fool even trained eyes into believing you used a far more expensive device. Then there’s its sweep panorama mode Sony has integrated into its latest camera models. With this feature, shooting panoramas is as simple as holding down the shutter button and sweeping the camera over the scene you want to capture. It was my favourite feature of the H70, although I wish it would allow me to capture panoramas using portrait orientation instead of landscape.

The image sensor on the H70 offers 16.1 megapixels – more than anyone needs – and you’ll want a large SD card for this camera to store the resulting large photograph files.

Finally, the price of this camera makes it easily the best value in its class. You won’t find better quality in anything under R3 500 and the H70 costs considerably less than that. Sony wins again.

REVIEW

VERDICT: The best value compact camera on the marke.

COMPLEXITY: Simple point-and-shoot functionality, plus advanced shooting modes.

PRICE: R2 200.

ALSO CONSIDER: Canon PowerShot S95.

VALUE RATING: 9/10
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