7 best SLR-like’s specification table; Sony DSC-H5 as a cheap & clever choice

I’ve already talked about my friend’s intention to choose ultra zoom. He bought the Sony DSC-H5 for $350. And his reasons are: it’s a great camera with a big LCD and with everything you need. However, it’s a rule for the modern digital market to fill up a cam with a lot of features which you never need or use. Its manual looks like a novel and nobody can read it entirely. What about new models such as Sony DSC-H7/H9? He says that he wants to have a good digital cam but doesn’t want to pay extra money for latest models.
More SLR-like camera's Comparison.
The newest ones do not mean the best and especially it does not mean the cheapest. I think that it’s a clever method of attacking the shopping to wait for a tomorrow's model to buy today's one. Of course, with new models’ appearances you can calculate on a discount. Now he is happy and I’m happy too because he promised me to lend this gadget for a few days for shooting in sauna. I have a blog about sauna and hamam etc. but my SLR doesn’t like such high temperature. And now (i'm so sorry) it seems to me that his doggy starts hating this gadget.
What about other SLR-like cameras? I talked more than enough at my previous posts: Choosing SLR-like’s compare Panasonic DMC-FZ8, Olympus SP-550, Fujifilm IS-1 / S9600. Choosing Digital zoom cam: Canon PowerShot S5 IS can fight vs. Sony DSC-H9 or H7; Canon, you really can?
And for your convenience I have made the specifications’ table. In any case there are only some technical terms. After all it’s impossible to put into the table any personal bias or any tasks which you ask from your new digital camera. My own opinion about SLR-like cameras you can see in my next post: Canon PowerShot S5 vs EOS350D, Sony H9 vs A100; SLR-like cam never comes to SLR.

Camera Kodak Z710 Canon PowerShot S5 IS Olympus SP-510 UZ Panasonic DMC-FZ8 Fujifilm FinePix IS-1 Sony DSC-H9 / H7 Sony DSC-H5 Format SLR-like SLR-like SLR-like SLR-like SLR-like SLR-like SLR-like Max resolution 3072 x 2304 3264 x 2448 3072 x 2304 3072 x 2304 3488 x 2616 3264 x 2448 3072 x 2304 Min resolution 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 2560 x 1920, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 640 x 480 2592 x 1944, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 Image ratio w:h 4:3, 3:2 4:3, 3:2 4:3, 3:2 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 4:3, 3:2 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 4:3, 3:2 Effective pixels 7.1 million 8.0 million 7.1 million 7.1 million 9.1 million 8.0 million 7.1 million Sensor photo detectors 7.4 million 8.2 million 7.4 million 7.4 million 9.2 million 8.1 million 7.2 million Sensor size mm 1/2.5 " 1/2.5 " 1/2.5 " 1/2.5 " 1/1.6 " 1/2.5 " 1/2.5 " Sensor type CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD Sensor mfr. ? ? Matsushita Matsushita Fujifilm SuperCCD HR (IR sensitive) Sony Sony ISO rating Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, (800 at 2 MP) Auto, 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, (2500 / 4000 with limitations Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1250, (3200 high mode) Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 Auto, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 Zoom wide(W) 38 mm 36 mm 38 mm 36 mm 28 mm 31 mm 36 mm Zoom tele (T) 380 mm (10 x) 432 mm (12 x) 380 mm (10 x) 432 mm (12 x) 300 mm (10.7 x) 465 mm (15 x) 432 mm (12 x) Image stibilization No Yes, Lens No Yes, Lens No Yes, Lens Yes, Lens Normal focus range 60 cm 50 cm 60 cm 30 cm ? 50 cm 50 cm Macro focus range 12 cm 10/0 cm 3 cm 5 cm ? 2 cm 2 cm Auto focus tape Multi-zone, Center Spot AiAF TTL 9-point (with face detection) TTL TTL ? Multi-point 3 area (selectable) Multi-point 3 area (selectable) White balance override 4 positions 6 positions & manual preset 5 positions, plus manual 5 positions, plus manual 6 positions plus manual 5 positions 5 positionsl Aperture range F2.8 - F3.7 F2.7 - F3.5 / F8 F2.8 - F3.7 F2.8 - F3.1 F2.8 - F4.9 F2.7 - F4.5 F2.8 - F3.7 Min shutter 8 sec 15 sec 15 sec 60 sec 30 sec 30 sec 30 sec Max shutter 1/1000 sec 1/3200 sec 1/1000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/4000 sec 1/4000 sec 1/1000 sec Built-in flash Yes, pop-up Yes, pop-up Yes, pop-up Yes, pop-up Yes, pop-up Yes, pop-up Yes, pop-up Flash guide nu. 4.9 m (16 ft) 9 m 5.2 m (17 ft) 2 m 4.5 m (14.7 ft) 5 m 6.0 m (19.6 ft) 0 m 5.6 m (18.3 ft) 6 m 9.8 m (32.1 ft) 8 m External flash No Yes, hot-shoe No Yes, hot-shoe Yes, hot-shoe No No Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, Red-Eye, Forced, Off, Slow 1&2, External Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Red-eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Exposure compensation -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps -2 to +2 EV in 0.3 EV steps -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV Steps -2 to +2 EV in 1/3 EV steps Metering Multi-segment, Center weighted, Spot Evaluative, Center Weighted, Spot ESP multi-pattern, Center-Weighted, Spot Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot 256 segment, CW-average, Spot Multi-Segment, Center weighted, Spot Multi-Segment, Center weighted, Spot Lens thread No Yes, optional Bayonet ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Continuous Drive Yes, 1.7 fps up to 3 images Yes, 1.5 fps Yes, 1.7 fps, 3 images Yes, 3/2 fps, max 7 images Yes, 1.5 fps, up to 4 frames Yes, 2.2 fps Yes Movie Clips Yes, 640 x 480, 10.5 fps, 320 x 240, 20 fps Yes, 640 x 480, 15/30 fps with stereo audio, unlimited Yes, 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 15/30 fps Yes, 848 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30/10 fps 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 30 fps with audio Yes, MPEG VX (VGA, 8/16/30 fps, unlimited) with audi Yes, MPEG VX (VGA, 8/16/30 fps, unlimited) with audio Remote control No No ? No No No No Self-timer 2 or 10 sec 2 or 10 sec Yes 2 or 10 sec 2 or 10 sec 10 sec 10 sec Orientation sensor No Yes No Yes No No No Storage types SD/MMC card + Internal SD/SDHC/MMC card xD Picture Card + Internal SD/MMC/SDHC card + Internal xD Picture Card + Compact Flash Type I or II Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo + Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo + Internal Storage included 32 MB Internal 32 MB SD card ? 27 MB Internal ? 31 MB Internal 32 MB Internal Format JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG (EXIF 2.2) ) RAW / JPEG (EXIF 2.2) RAW / JPEG (EXIF 2.2) RAW / JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG (EXIF 2.2) Quality Levels Best, Better,Good Super-Fine, Fine, Normal Standard, High, Super High Fine, Standard Normal, Fine Standard, Fine Fine, Standard Viewfinder Electronic Electronic Electronic Electronic Electronic Electronic Electronic LCD/Pixels 2.0" indoor/outdoor / 201,000 2,5"/ 207,000 (flip-out & twist) 2.5" Flip-up /230,000 2,5"/ 207,000 (flip-down & twist) 2.0"/ 235,000 3.0" Tilting / 230,000 / 2.5"/ 115,000 3,0"/ 230,000 Video out/USB Yes Yes, 2.0 Yes Yes, 2.0 Yes, 2.0 Yes, HD, 2.0 Yes, 2.0 Battery AA (2) batteries (NiMH recommended) AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended) AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended) Lithium-Ion rechargeable AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended) Lithium-Ion NP-BG1 rechargeable AA (2) batteries (NiMH rechargables included) Weight (inc. batteries) 360 g (12.7 oz) 550 g (19.4 oz) 410 g (14.5 oz) 340 g (12 oz) 750 g (26.5 oz) 440 g (15.5 oz) / 405 g (14.3 oz) 490 g (17.3 oz) Dimensions 98 x 78 x 73 mm (3.9 x 3.1 x 2.9 in) 117 x 80 x 78 mm (4.6 x 3.2 x 3.1 in) 106 x 75 x 70 mm (4.2 x 3 x 2.8 in) 113 x 72 x 79 mm (4.5 x 2.8 x 3.1 in) 128 x 93 x 129 mm (5 x 3.7 x 5.1 in 110 x 83 x 86 mm (4.3 x 3.3 x 3.4 in) 108 x 81 x 92 mm (4.3 x 3.2 x 3.6 in) Notes Face detection Panasonic's new tendency Mechanically linked zoom, special IR sensitive camera (400 - 900 nm) Announced 25-Feb-2006 Price abt. US$190 US$499 US$230 US$299 US$899 US$470 / $390 US$360