A day after Canon came out with their new models of digital cameras, including the professional EOS 1Ds Mark III and the advanced EOS 40D, Sony announces three new Cyber-shot compacts.

Let's start with the long-zoom model. The new Cyber-shot DSC-H3 boasts a 10x optical zoom lens that benefits from the Super Steady Shot technology compensating for unwanted camera motion.

Unfortunately, despite being manufactured by Carl Zeiss, the lens itself is not something to brag about. The main problems lies in the maximum aperture performance. At the wide angle, the 6.3-63mm (with a picture angle equivalent to that of a 38-380mm lens mounted on a 35mm camera) lens can't open the aperture more than f/3.5 and at the tele end it stops at f/4.4.

In terms of ISO sensitivity, the H3 can go between 100 and 3000, but keep in mind that small sensors, like the 1/2.5-inch one found in this Sony, generate a lot of noise when used over ISO 400 or even ISO 200.

Speaking of image quality, the good news is that the camera benefits from the Dynamic Range Optimizer, which was originally developed for the Alpha digital SLR system. As the press release informs, this technology "can analyze captured image data, and instantly determine the best exposure and tonality of each picture before JPEG compression".

And since face detection is so hip nowadays, Sony's H3 can also recognize faces and adjust exposure and focus for best results.

If the 2.5-inch LCD fitted on the H3 is not to your liking you can always connect the camera to a HDTV set with Sony's VMC-MHC1 high-definition component cable (sold separately for around $40). Note however that the high-definition TV set will make the noise extremely visible, so be careful with the ISO sensitivity.

Overall, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H3, priced at around $300, is not a "wow" camera, but it's not bad either, especially since long-zoom cameras are very similar nowadays.

The second model on Sony's announcement list is the stylish DSC-T200, which offers an 8-megapixel sensor, a huge 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD and 5x optical zoom lens. This model will be available in silver, black and red.

The third is the DSC-T70, with a 3-inch wide LCD touch panel and 3x Carl Zeiss optical zoom lens. It will be offered in silver, black, white and pink.

Aside from the usual Sony features, like the aforementioned image stabilization and "Photo TV HD" mode for viewing the images on your high-definition TV set, both models have a new baffling feature, smile detection. I have no idea how the two cameras identify a smile, and Sony only says that "With the cameras' new "smile shutter" function, which automatically detects and captures a person smiling, you'll never miss a smile due to shutter lag or distractions. The function is turned on or off by pressing the shutter while in smile shutter scene mode". I want to know how they can tell between a smile or a facial expression of pain.


The Cyber-shot DSC-T200 and DSC-T70 digital cameras will ship in September for about $400 and $300, respectively.

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