If you like function over form, then the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V is the digital camera for you.
This 10.2 mega pixel camera has functions that appeal to tech-friendly snap shooters.
Let’s start with Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V’s backlit sensor that solves low light performance. It also has a good 10x optical zoom, good considering its a compact camera.
Another cool feature of the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V is the Handheld Twilight mode and Anti-motion Blur, both features allows you to take sharp pictures in spite shaky hands and little light source. It’s an amazing feature that not most digital cameras have and which Sony has perfected.
There is also the iSweep Panorama feature that makes panoramas as easy as pressing the shutter and “sweeping” your intended scene with the camera.
You can also shoot HD video with the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V.
Another awesome feature is the GPS capability in which the camera can pinpoint the exact location where you took the photo via geotag. You can view the location via Google maps.
Highlights of the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5V:
- 10.2 megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor. This backlit designed sensor moves the circuitry that normally covers a typical compact’s sensor to the rear of it, theoretically improving its light gathering capabilities
- 10x zoom “G” Lens 4.25-42.5mm (25-250mm 35mm film equivalent). 10 elements in 7 groups including 4 aspheric elements make for an impressive compact lens, but one hampered by lack of aperture range (basically f/3.5 and f/8.0).
- 3 Inch LCD Display. The large display is nice enough and works well even in bright light, but lags the competition with a resolution of 230K.
- 10 FPS Continuous Shooting. In burst mode the HX5V fires of 10 shots in one second, impressive for sure, but it takes almost 10 seconds to then write all those files to memory.
- 1080i AVCHD Movie Mode. The HX5V allows users to choose between AVCHD (better quality) or MP4 (easier to edit) formats for video. In addition to 1080i at 60fps, the HX5V also shoots 720p at 30fps, and 640×480 at 30fps.
The HX5V also records stereo sound. Integrated GPS and Compass: The HX5V can tag photos with longitude, latitude, and altitude, and also provides a useful compass. The GPS can be turned off to mitigate privacy concerns if desired.
Check more best digital cameras here.
Sony Cyber-Shot 10.2-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Capture those special moments with this digital camera that features a 3.0" Clear Photo LCD display that makes it easy to compose shots and view photos. Smile Shutter technology automatically captures a smile the moment it happens.
10x optical/2x digital zoom; 3" Clear Photo LCD display; BIONZ image processor; PictBridge compatible
Product Features
- Picture Motion Browser 5.0 software provided To help organize and add special effects to images.
- Direct printing With any PictBridge-enabled printer so you can connect your camera to a compatible printer and print photos without using a computer.
- High-speed USB 2.0 port For easy connection to your computer.
- >> Store more photos! Find compatible memory cards in our Memory Center!
- TransferJet technology Allows you to transfer up to 10 files between 2 TransferJet-enabled devices just by touching them together.
- GPS and compass function Records the location and direction of every shot you take and allows you to view images on a map (compatible computer and Internet applications required, not included).
- HD movie mode With HDMI output records video clips with stereo sound in 1080i resolution.
- 45MB internal memory Supports Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo, Secure Digital and Secure Digital High Capacity formats (media not included).
- Built-in auto flash With slow sync and red-eye reduction for natural-looking eyes in portraits.
- Burst shooting mode Captures 10 fps for up to 10 fast-action shots.
- White balance modes Including auto, daylight, cloudy, incandescent, flash, one-push and 3 fluorescent options achieve natural tones under different lighting conditions.
- 9-point autofocus For the clearest picture possible. Macro mode lets you focus on a subject from as little as 1.9" away.
- 11 scene modes Include high sensitivity, twilight, twilight portrait, portrait, landscape, beach, snow, fireworks, advanced sports shooting, gourmet and pet.
- Face detection technology Isolates subjects in-frame and optimizes conditions to take the best pictures of friends and family.
- BIONZ image processor Delivers high resolution and fast performance for quality shots.
- Optical image stabilization Minimizes the effects of a shaky camera.
- 3" Clear Photo color LCD monitor For easy use and a clear display.
- 10x optical/2x digital/20x total zoom Through a wide-angle Sony G-lens.
- 10.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS Captures high-resolution images.
- From our expanded online assortment; not available in all Best Buy stores
| Manufacturer | Sony |
|---|---|
| Model | HX5V Black |
| Width | 4.1" |
| Height | 2.3" |
| Depth | 1.2" |
| Weight | 7.1 oz. with battery (6 oz. without) |
| Shockproof | No |
| Coldproof | No |
| Waterproof | No |
| Smile Mode | Yes |
| HD Movie Mode | Yes |
| Color Category | Black |
| Software Included | Picture Motion Browser 5.0 |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Imaging Sensor Size | 1/2.4" |
| Imaging Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Digital Magnification | 2x |
| Audio | Yes |
| Exposure Control | Exposure compensation (±2EV in 1/3 steps) |
| Image Storage Capacity | Varies |
| AC Adapter | No |
| Batteries | 1 lithium-ion (included) |
| Video Outputs | A/V output on optional docking station |
| Camera Dock | Not included |
| Interface | USB 2.0 |
| ISO Equivalent | Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 |
| Self-Timer | 10 sec. or 2 sec. |
| Flash Modes | Auto, on, slow sync, off |
| Focus Range | 2" - infinity (wide); 39.4" - infinity (telephoto) |
| Movie Mode | Yes |
| White Balance | Auto, daylight, cloudy, fluorescent 1, fluorescent 2, fluorescent 3, incandescent, flash, one-push |
| Flash Range | ISO Auto: 2" - 12.5' (wide); 3.3' - 8.5' (telephoto); ISO 3200: 24.9' (wide); 17.1' (telephoto) |
| Aperture Range | Auto, Program Auto, Manual: f/3.5 - f/8 |
| Shutter Speeds | Auto: 2 - 1/1600 sec.; Program Auto: 1 - 1/1600 sec.; Manual 30 - 1/1600 sec. |
| Internal Memory | 45MB |
| Compatible Memory Formats | Memory Stick Duo|Memory Stick PRO Duo|Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo|Secure Digital (SD)|Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) |
| Shots Available with Image Stitching | Up to 100 |
| Image Stitching | Yes |
| Panorama Mode | Yes |
| Burst Mode | Yes |
| Image Stabilization | Optical |
| Face Detection | Yes |
| Viewfinder | LCD only |
| LCD Screen Features | Clear Photo LCD |
| LCD Screen Size | 3" |
| Lens Focal Length(s) | 35mm equivalent 4.25-42.5mm |
| Lens Features | Sony G-lens |
| Digital Zoom | 2x |
| Optical Zoom | 10x |
| Megapixels (Effective) | 10.2 |
| Vista Compatible | Home Basic |
| Included Items |
|---|
| Picture Motion Browser 5.0 software CD-ROM |
| USB cable |
| Lithium-ion battery |
| Sony Cyber-Shot 10.2-Megapixel Digital Camera |
| Main Features |
|---|
| 10x optical zoom Sony G-Lens with 25mm wide angle; 1080i AVCHD Movie records high-quality HD movies |
| Recording Media : 45MB internal Flash Memory, optional Memory Stick Duo Media, optional Memory Stick PRO Duo Media, optional Memory Stick PRO Duo (High Speed), optional Memory Stick PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC media |
| Fast capture with 10fps at full 10.2-megapixel resolution |
| iSweep Panorama Mode captures stunning panoramic images |
| Accessories included: Battery charger BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE (1); Power cord (mains lead) (not supplied in the USA and Canada) (1); Rechargeable battery pack NP-BG1 (1)/Battery case (1); USB, A/V cable for multi-use terminal (1); HDMI adaptor (1); Wrist strap (1); CD-ROM (1); Cyber-shot application software; Cyber-shot Handbook; Instruction Manual |
| "Exmor R" CMOS sensor for stunning low-light performance |
| Optional Accessories |
|---|
| Pixelmator |
| Aperture 3 |
| Manfrotto 7302YB M-Y Tripod with Ball - Replaces 725B |
| Serif PhotoPlus X3 |
| Sony LCSCSW/S DSC Carrying Case (Silver) |
| Similar Products |
|---|
| Sony SDHC Card 8 GB SF-8N4 (Black) |
| Sony LCSCSQ Soft Carrying Case for Sony T, W, and N Series Digital Cameras (Black) |
| Sony LCS-CST General Purpose Soft Carrying Case for Slim Cybershot Digital Cameras |
| 2 PACK Sony NP-BG1 Replacement Battery for Sony Cybershot DSC-H20 / DSC-HX5V / DSC-W290 CMOS Camera |
| 2x Sony CyberShot DSC-H55 DSC-HX5V Digital Camera Premium Clear LCD Screen Protector, no cutting is required! Exact fit and satisfaction guaranteed! |
Product Images
Additional Images
AMAZING VIDEO, mediocre pictures
I was slightly disappointed with the still picture quality. I was hoping for a camera that would be good for taking pictures indoors in medium to low light (baby). Sadly, the Exmor R sensor does not perform as advertised (at least on this model) Don't get me wrong, the camera takes as good, if not better pictures than most other point and shoot camera on the market, but not really stand out quality. It's also missing some manual controls that would have been really nice. Now that I got that out of the way, I really do love this camera! I was completely blown away by the video. It does beat most high end camcorders right now. The SteadyShot Active mode does an incredible job at keeping the video stable while panning looks natural. Even though the still low light performance is nothing special, shooting video is low light comes up with a surprisingly low amount of noise. The only frustrating thing about the video is, for the best quality, you should shoot in AVCHD, which is an enormous pain to work with on a Mac (not really a camera flaw, just a warning. I have found the Toast 9 player works best)
Simply Awesome, Can't Wait until It Gets Here
I had a chance to play with this camara at the PMA Show earlier this week. I have a small Sony 8MP now and have been waiting for these kinds of features to come out in a small package I could take motorcycling, into client sites, etc. Size is excellent. 3" display is clear and simple to use. Controls are intuitive. Panarama Mode is so ingenious, simply hold the camera level, press the button and sweep the camera. It stitches the images together automatically. New sensor really shines in areas where I need a camera, in an industrial plant with poor lighting, outdoors on a mountain pass, etc. The 1080i video is just an added feature, but with the zoom (most cameras do NOT allow you to adjust the zoom while shooting video) this becomes a possible replacement for video shoots at client sites, etc. And I didn't even get to the 10 frames per second capabilities! Thanks Sony...I can't wait to order one! I'll add a second review after I get one in my hands and get a chance to use it in my world, not on a trade show floor. Simply impressive!
Best Camera EVER! pretty much sums it up!!!
I bought this camera about one week ago and it was my first semi nice camera. This thing has got it all! From the amazing quality of the HD video to the stunning sweep panorama feature, it is a overall great camera.
LOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
Whoever said that this camera doesn't have good indoor quality must've gotten a defected one. I tested this camera both indoor and outdoor and the quality was awesome!! it was bright and sharp!! I even cropped it out and blew up the size to test it out as well and it was sharp as a knife! Even in completely dark with no light... totally balances all the lighting to bring out the object I was aiming for. the video on the other hand was NOT very impressive. I think canon SX210 IS provides better resolution for the HD vid... other than that this camera is awesome!! I think i have finally found THE one i like after exchanging about 5 of cameras!!! gosh it was quiet a work!! But in the end i found the keeper!!!
poor pictures
thei camera has alot of neatfeatures---but picture quality (sharpness) is pretty poor.I usualy crop the pics and blow them up to 8X10---this camera just gives poor results-much worse than my current Olympus 750 and Nion D70---if you only want 4X6 its OK--but for $400 it should be good for everything.I retunred it and ma looking at the Canon 210IS
Great Camera
In normal automatic mode takes excellent pictures. It has practically instantaneous when you press the shutter (Important with kids). The special modes that can take very low noise pictures in dark environment or increase dynamic range are not so tolerant of moving subjects (kids), but otherwise work amazingly well. The panorama function is very nice and easy to use. Battery life is only a little short without using the GPS, with the GPS you will likely need an extra battery. The previous camera we had could go for days of heavy use before needing a recharge this one only last about a day (no GPS).
Excellent Camera
Pictures are excellent, HD recording is impressive, zoom is great (10 x Optical), GPS is very nice, adding location to the picture properties. Only downside is battery (I think somebody else also mentioned this problem) and also when you are recording and zooms the noise of lens is also captured. Other than these, camera is awesome. Worth the money.
Sony Camera
One of the best camera's I've ever own, I'm a Canon man, but this time around I selected Sony because a buddy of mine had one and his quality of photos were a lot sharper than mind. So with that said, I’m defiantly happy about my purchase and the switch to Sony’s camera.
Great pictures!
After having a Sony DSC-S700 that took horrible pictures, I decided to upgrade to the Sony HX5V. I'm very, very please with the quality of the images. I'm not quite into manually adjusting settings so it was great to see such a good image with Sony's auto settings. Indoor and out, the images look great. Also, the large zoom is nice to have. The high-def video on the camera is a nice feature have. It takes nice video but I have to say that the placement of the left and right mics are not in a good place. You have to watch your finger placement when shooting. All and all, I would definitely recommend this camera.
Good camera with some flaws
This is a good camera from Sony. Not great but good. The HD stereo video is really nice. Cam can now take SD cards. Panorama pic is a nice function. However edges of buildings, walls, etc will curve or lean as you pan. The back-lite CMOS sensor that is supposed to take better indoor low lite pics isnt any better than the others with CCD sensors. 24mm x 10x zoom lens is great. You get a wide pic or can zoom in for close up. The rear lcd isnt the best. Washes out in bright light and doesnt 'gain up', the lcd in indoor scenes for some lightbulb types can look very red. This was really odd to see red color in the lcd when viewing a beige wall with CFL bulb lighting. Many ppl complain color in pics have red tint aswell and I saw that too. Camera felt good in my hand. easy to see/ use buttons and settings. However, manually adjusting the white balance to compensate for color in low light worked to fix the red issue but isnt a quick setting. Same for manually setting the flash, which is odd. I mostly used the P (program) mode for most pics as the preset ones have limited manual settings (ofcourse) but make it difficult to adjust the pic to what you want. The competition like Canon sx210, Panasonic ZS5, and Casio ex-h15 are good but also have their draw backs. The casio takes very good pics and very long batt life but video is not the best. Canon has good pics and great long lens 14x? but confusing dial with small icons. The wide lcd for their HD movie viewing isnt a great idea as pics are small in the window. Camera is a still cam first then video, not the other way around. Pani zs5 is bulky, didnt like the on/off switch instead of a button, lcd didnt zoom in as good as others, and the video suffers from light streakswhen the sun is in view. Overall, the Sony HX5V is a good camera but has some drawbacks as do all small point and shoot cams.
Finally - one worth the money and more!
This camera is the most perfected camera I've bought in the last six years - and that's alot of cameras. It's wonderful to be able to write a glowing review for a change.
GREAT CAMERA
Freakishly amazing 1080i daylight video for a device that fits easily in your pocket. I shoot footage of my Grandaughter regularly with this little camera, and it's just utterly amazing. I should probably add that it takes better pictures than the Cannon SX210IS I took back, after just one week.
Excellent Point and Shoot and Video
I decided to replace a 3 year old Sony point and shoot to get better resolution and video capability to aid in basic website creation for clients. The picture quality is amazing for such a small camera. The sweep panorama mode is nothing short of incredible. The video looks like a Blu-Ray on my 24" HDMI connected monitor at 1920x1200 resolution. This camera rocks and for the price you can't touch it. I have a Canon 7D on the way for more demanding projects but it will be hard to beat the Sony on value. Couldn't be happier with this purchase.
Excellent Performer
Camera is excellent choice for shots of landscapes, and buildings and their interiors. Extra wide angle lens and the panorama sweep function make wide shots easily within reach. The long optical zoom range is a big plus as well. The camera also shifts itself to macro mode without having to manually tell it. Why hasn't any other manufacturer figured this out? I can only criticize two significant issues: Limited aperture settings and the menu system.
Great camera
Could not be happier with this camera. Looked at comparable canon and panasonics, and think I picked the right one. The genaral picture quality seems good, but the features are where this camera shines for me. We were looking for a longer zoom camera with decent low light shooting and this one surpasses our expectations. We bought this camera before a trip to Europe where we knew we'd be in alot of indoor circumstances where flash would not be allowed. The handheld twilight mode is incredible for low light shooting. The camera takes 6 shots very fast, and creates an image that is close to what your eye is actually looking at. It's really good. Also, the sports modes and burst shot modes are good for action photos. The panoramic feature is really awesome too. No more saving photos for stitching together later. Just put the camera in panoramic mode, press the shutter, the camera cues you to move the viewer across the scene you want, and the camera auto-stitches it together into a panoramic photo. The smart auto mode is nice for when you want to just point and shoot. It decides if you are taking a landscape photo, macro, etc, and puts the camera in the correct mode. No thinking required. I wasn't sure how I'd like the gps location feature, but since it did not appear to be an impact on batter life which is good, it's the way of the future for storing and sharing your photos in both time and location basis. At least one time we used the on screen compass to just figure out which direction we were heading on a city street in Europe. All in all, a great point and shoot, but the features Sony has added on top of the hardware really make this a great camera.
I love my new Cyber-Shot!!!
Back in college, I had an Olympus Camedia C765 4MP that I absolutely LOVED. I took it everywhere and photographed everything. I had it for about four years, until it broke and was unable to be fixed. I was crushed! I had a Best Buy product replacement plan (which I also recommend!), and replaced it with a FujiFilm FinePix S5100, which I never liked as much. The picture quality wasn't as good, and because of its size, I never took it anywhere, and I just stopped taking pictures. Since I was about to go on my first real vacation to Las Vegas, I wanted a camera that would a) not be a pain to carry around and b) take much better pictures at night. After reading some online reviews on BestBuy.com, I went into Best Buy, and ended up with this camera after intending to buy a Canon Powershot. I couldn't be happier! The photo quality at night isn't perfect, but it's easily 100 times better than my FujiFilm! Also, the video quality is excellent! I was able to get great videos of the fountains at the Bellagio at night! I also love that the camera has a pet mode, which is perfect since I often photograph my cats. I recommend that anyone who will be using this for a whole day of photography (like on vacation) get an extra battery ... you'll definitely need it! But overall, I'm thrilled with my new camera, and can't wait to start carrying it around with me again like I used to! The Olympus has finally been replaced!
My favorite camers to date!!
I own a number of digital cameras including a Rebel DSLR, my first one was a Canon D80 3megapixel in 1999. The Sony Cyber Shot F80 EXR is my overall favorite so far. The Automatic settings are the most intelligent I've seen. I shoot a lot of indoor pictures of my work and I have never seen a camera that stays true to color regardless of the light source like this one.
Amazing photos
I have owned many Sony products and never regretted one after the purchase. This camera is well thought out except for the microphone holes which you tend to cover at first but that is just a learning curve. GPS is a cool feature, how many times have I wondered years later where that great photo was shot from, now it will be easy to remember. The first thing I did was take it out at night in my yard and try to take some photos with just the yard lights and it surpassed everything I expected. If I were to change anything it would be the zoom placement. The camera is solid to the feel with the exception of the battery door. Look forward to enjoying the camera.
Great Camera! Panaramic feature is fantastic.
I took this camera on my vacation to Europe 2 weeks after it was released. I was most intrigued by the gps feature but I have yet to figure out how it is useful. The software that comes with the camera only works using the supplied cable, not with the SD card. Panoramic function is great and picture quality is very good.
Love it!
This camera is so fast it allows me to capture pictures of my 2 year old granddaughter as she speeds by. No other camera has allowed me to get those clear shots. Also recently attended a Merle Haggard concert and was way back from the stage and the camera zoomed in so that I got clear shots of the band in action! It was great!
Nice Camera has the best of both worlds.
I photograph/video amature fast action sports indoors and outdoors, macro and telephoto still objects, and do both in all kinds of lighting. I primarily upload video to youtube and sometimes watch it on my HDTV, pics & vids mostly are viewed on my 22" LCD flatscreen. Seldom print out pictures. Positives; I had the Zi8 and also a decent casio, one took great video the other great pictures (for my purposes). I found myself carrying 2 gadgets around and for me that was 1 more- too many. After searching and reading many many reviews and going store to store to look at cameras, camcorders, pocket cams and everything in between. I finally decided on this Sony. The reason is that it does both and it does both really well, the optical image stablization with video "active mode" all but keeps your subject locked perfectly steady in the frame. As a test I drove around town with the zi8 which has digital stableization and drove with the sony while videoing and the effect is dramatic. Optical destroys digital in every way! If your looking for an all in one unit this is currently the best you can get for ~300.00. It has the capability to do HD for your HDTV or for youtube, based on your settings (AVCHD or MP4). It is one step below full blown blue ray HD in that its 1080i -vs- 1080p which is reserved for larger full blown digital camcorders and DSLR cameras costing much more $$$ and bulkier. Very happy owner here but I am an amature at best, for the cost of a zi8 and a cheap point and shoot combined, this is the best all in one deal going as of 6/2010. Negatives; It seems a bit fragile to me, because its heavy and theres not much to hold on to so I wear the wrist strap just in case, also the tripod mount is on the right side which will make the cam tip over very easily, this is a big negative for me becuase I use a small 13" tripod and find it wanting to tip over a lot. Other than that, if you can justify ~350 for a advanced P&S go for it you wont be dissapointed. Dont listen to the reviews where this camera is stacked up to professional quality DSLR's. For what it is and what it does its great, and those reviewers need to lighten up on this consumer grade advanced P&S camera, of course a 4 inch pocket cam wont take as good of a picture as a mammoth DSLR costing 10X as much, and I dont expect it to- I dont know why they do either?
Great Promise But Fails to Deliver
I purchased this camera with great excitement. The landscape feature is really cool and I was off! But once I started taking pictures, I noticed strange things. There was distortion of the photos. And the photos all lacked detail. There is some kind of smearing on all the photos. Lastly, indoor photos and night photos were not what the camera promised. It has the potential to be great but the camera fails.
Great camera with tons of great features
This camera is definitely worth your money! Check out my review on youtube if you want a more in-depth look at the camera. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJS9JFjST_c I purchased this for $350 a couple weeks ago (and got the difference refunded to me by Best Buy after the price was reduced). Now that the camera is selling for less, it is a no brainer of a purchase. First the good: the camera gives you very good quality pictures, it has TONS of practical features as opposed to just a bunch of gimmicks. The handheld twighlight is AMAZING at captureing low-light pictures with no flash. Full HD movies. The sweep panarama mode is tons of fun to use. The burst mode gives you 10 full-resolution shots in one press of a button -- amazing. Now, the bad: manual mode is lacking big time. it has a full manual mode but no apature or shutter priority modes. on manual mode, it only has two settings for the aperture, but it does give you a lot of control over shutter speed. NO MANUAL FOCUS which is dissapointing. plus, changing the manual controls aren't as intuitive as some other cameras. it really is designed to be a point and shoot.
Chosen over the SONY DSLR I had in my hand
I was considering the SONY DSLR and had it in my hand to use with my old school zoom lens when I walked by this camera. I loved the burst shooting and the panaramic features; I ended up putting the DSLR back and getting this one. Well worth the money and so easy to use. My only complaint is the battery doesn't last more than 1 soccer game - so easy fix I bought another battery to keep in my bag!
Terrible picture quality
I was very disappointed with the picture quality of this camera. I thought I was getting a better camera when I purchased it but it really is a poor quality. Will be returning very soon!
A great point and shoot for $350
I gave the camera and overall 4 out of 5 stars though I would have actually given it 4.5 out of 5 stars (same for picture quality). There are a series of different modes with this digital camera and the amount of customization is rather limited. This is where many digital camera users have their issues; they don’t want to give up photo control to the camera. Well, the Sony HX5V is smart enough to handle multiple tasks with ease. This is due in part to three different aspects of the camera: the Sony G lens, Exmor R CMOS Sensor, and BIONZ image processor. The Sony G lens is their top-of-the-line release for their point-and-shoot line, DSLR cameras, and even high end HD video camcorders. In terms of rank, the lenses Sony uses are in the following order: general Sony lens
Exactly what I needed
This is a great camera and easy to use. I had an old Canon and always had red eyes when the pictures were taken in the dark. This camera is great for the twilight. Took panorama pictures with the city background in the dark, it turned out great! Like a poster. The smile face function takes great relaxed pictures because people have to laugh to make the camera work (of course everyone tries not to, but then bursts out laughing). Everyone finds this function very amusing.. Zoom makes a huge difference! Two of my friends bought the same camera after they saw mine.
Not Good For Business
I wanted the camera to help take some photos of people with jewelry. The problem is that I get strange photos when the lens is at its widest point. Also, many of the photos are blurry and I cannot get the detail I need for my business. In summary, I do not recommend this for business. It has some unique features though. HD video is cool.
Good Camera - Great Video
Pros: Low Light pictures look great Excellent Video Image good zoom Panorama Excellent features for the price Cons: Indoor images can be blurry Audio can have background noise Images not as sharp as Digital SLR
Great Point & Shoot
This camera was cross shopped with the Sony HX-55, Nikon S8000, Panasonic DMC-ZS5, and Canon SX210IS. I tried the HX-55, did not like the picture quality, and returned. Likewise, I tried the DM-ZS5, did not like the picture quality, and returned. Note: I did not try the Canon or the Nikon but read enough reviews and handled them enough in the store to safely rule out (I hope). Finally, I tried this camera, the HX5V, compared with the same pictures taken with the other cameras, and this one won hands down. Of course I ended up spending more $$ than I wanted, but then again I want quality pictures. I typically research, ad nausea, each purchase I make, and this was no exception. The mistake, IMHO, that most people make when evaluating the picture quality of point&shoot cameras is to compare to a SLR. Not a fair comparison. If one desires the quality of a SLR then by all means purchase a SLR. A point&shoot by its nature is a compromise, the trick is to find the one that does the best job with this compromise. Note: the only reason this camera ended-up on my short list was due to Sony's decision to finally embrace SD media. No memory sticks for me! Bottom line - I feel satisfied with my purchase and expect this camera to produce great results for many years to come.
Awesome camera! Great photos! Super easy to use!
First of all - this was an impulse purchase. I'm normally a Canon DSLR user that hates lugging it for everyday kind of use...soooo quantity of photos has definitely decreased over the years...we hoped that the Sony would increase the amount of photos/video life record that we have...After approx. 1 month I can truly say the investment has been well worth it. The quality of everything is fantastic...Ease of use is seriously ridiculous. Love the flexibility and the size is great. Got the Lowepro Santiago 20 case so I can just throw it in my bag and I'm always ready for photo ops! The panoramic feature is soooo awesome. Tthe smile detection feature is fantastic in good - even lighting a little problematic in high-contrast - flash situations - but overall very nice feature - would be awesome if you have little kiddos.
Fun Then Disappointing
The camera has potential. It has all the bells and whistles you would want. Unfortunately, the bells and whistles don't work properly. You would expect a Sony product to take good photos. This camera fails miserably in that area. At $350, this camera is simply not worth it. I do not recommend this camera at all.
Great All Around Camera... Excels in Video
This camera does it all very well. Has great features. I tried many other well known brands (Canon,Panasonic) etc and decided the Sony had the best all around ease of use and features. The HD Video is excellent while the still pictures are just a little soft but still very good. Look for a good sale price and you can't go wrong....
Great all around camera
GREAT camera.. quality of pictures is incredible.. huge fan of the 10 frames!!
Absolute great buy!
Just bought this camera after reading many reviews to update a 5 year old Panasonic. The camera is absolutely great! Hoping to get used to camera so we can take good pics of 2 year old's first trip to Disney and the camera did all the work. It automatically adjusts to the light, distance, and focus for all types of photos. Great action shots for our fast mover. Excellent purchase, and although I was hesitant about spending so much, it is well worth the money! Panoramic was great as well but haven't played with it as much. 4g SD card gives about a hour of HD video.... awesome!
great features, unwieldy interface
things i like: it's an uber-compact point-and-shoot; the GPS responds more quickly than GPS on my considerably larger Nikon P6000 and slightly larger Panasonic SZ-7; it's got a nifty one-shot panorama-stitching feature (just click the shutter once and pan; when you stop panning it stops shooting and automatically stitches a suitably-merged panorama, which is a lot easier than the shoot-multiiple-images and stitch using a separate procedure method on other cameras). things i don't like: i find it hard to figure out the user interface. maybe i'm just too used to the nikon/canon/panasonic UIs, but i'm generally able to pick up any one of those cameras and be functioning pretty quickly and effectively. Sony all to often seems to want to do things its own way, and in this case, that disserves me and diminishes the camera's value. I'm going to do some further testing vs the SZ-7 and then decide which to keep (there's no question the p6000 will produce better images than either of them: it's got a considerably larger sensor, even though it's still a "pocket" camera). The p6000 has an optical viewfinder, too, which is a big plus, but its GPS is sooo slow, and the battery drains quickly. The Sony's battery life seems to be the best of the three, though the SZ-7's holds up well too. I'll keep the p6000 regardless. I'd have linked to "related best buy products" but that link's "browse all products" offers only audio, home and appliances, and music products--sorta dumb for supplementing a camera review.
Confusing Camera
This camera has so many bells and whistles that it is confusing. I hit the picture taking button and all these boxes appear on the creen. I have no idea what is going on or how to change the settings. I would like a simple camera that allows me to understand what is happening. There are supposedly settings helping low light photos. Either I do not know how to make them work or they do not work properly. If you are a little older, this is not the best camera.
Bad, Bad and Worse
I am not sure who all these people are that are writing positive reviews. One look at the images from the camera and the viewer sees the smearing effect that Sony has created. If we wanted paintings, we would hire a painter. But we bought the camera because we wanted digital images reflecting real life. The distortion in the photos is awful. I no longer use the camera and do not recommend it. People keep asking me what is wrong with the camera I am using when I send them photos by email.
Great Camera - very easy to use
The camera is so simple to use, as soon as you read about ALL the features " In the Manual". I love the Panoramic settings on the camera...the pictures it takes are amazing. With a turn of the wheel the twilight setting is takes photos in places where a flash would wash them out (or where flash photography is not allowed). We are getting RAVE REVIEWS on the pictures we are taking with this camera. It is small and lightweight too...it fits nicely in a pocket but still takes fantastic pictures!! This is a great Camera and I would HIGHLY recommend this to any one.
Picture Quality Like a 3 MP
I bought the camera based on the promise of great low light images and the latest technology which should produce the best photos. However, after posting a bunch of photos to family and friends, people were asking me what was wrong with my camera. They said that compared to my aunt's old 7 MP Canon camera, my photos were far inferior. After further examination, there is just something strange about the photos this camera takes. They do not look realistic. People look a little distorted when using the wide angle lens. It is strange. I like the HD video. I can hear the zoom lens moving in and out on the video, but that does not bother me so much. Also, there is something wrong with the audio. It appears to go in and out of stereo sound for no reason. The landscape mode is excellent and fun. The night modes are ok. You can get a night photo that brightens things up, but the photo is still not printable. The cord that came with the camera is proprietary. So I need to bring a card reader around because I cannot rely upon a standard USB cord fitting the camera. I do not recommend this camera to anyone that needs to take good photos.
Great photos, with great features
Am enjoying using the camera for all sorts of subject. A little afraid to open the battery and card compartment as it appears to be very flimsily built. Would like to have the GPS give an exact location instead of just giving the Latitude and Longitude site. Called Sony and was told there are no software to convert GPS locations. Would not have purchased the camera if it takes only the Memory stick.
My phone takes better photos
I know very little about cameras but I can recognize a good quality photo when I see it. Consumer Reports rated this camera quite highly but I found it produced flat-out awful photos. An object shot twenty feet away was horizontally distorted, no matter the camera settings. Close-ups were no better. In fact, my family and I took the same shot with four devices: an iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, an HTC Incredible Android phone, and the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX5V. The Cyber-Shot came in third, following the HTC Incredible (very nice quality, especially for a phone) and the iPhone 4 (a close second). The Cyber-Shot photo was washed out as if the flash was too bright -- only there was no flash. At other times, the photos were fuzzy, as if the light was too low. So, we've got distorted, washed out, and fuzzy. Not much to be impressed with.
Amazing Video, Zoom, and Low-Light Photos!
Great camera overall. The auto-mode without flash makes taking great photos easy. In addition, the zoom is extremely useful. It feels like I have a DSLR in a point- and-shoot's body. My photos and videos from Europe turned out very nicely!
Excellent pictures - Highly Recommended!
After long search, I've finally purchased Sony HX5V over Panasonic ZS7 and took many pictures on our vacation. (I also own Sony, Panasonic point and shoot and Canon DSLR camera). 1. Most importantly, picture quality is Excellent. In general, Panasonic pictures have more vibrant colors but colors looks little fake at time. HX5V's pictures are more natural and real. 2. Controls are simple and even my young daughter figured them out quickly and used many different functions like White Balancing, mode for taking food pictures. 3. I tought Panoramic fuction was just another Sony's gimmick but they are really functional and easy to use. Panoramic pictures are quite impressive. My kids loved this fuction. 4. Battery lasted several hundred pictures. 5. One of the important deciding factor to purchase HX5V over ZS7 was the capability to take the pictures in low light condition/indoor. This task is bit difficult to achieve on Point and Shoot camera. However, suprisingly, many indoor pictures weere taken without using flash and the quality is quite good. 6. This camera is very fast. Good at taking pictures of moving object. 7. Youcan't go wrong with ZS7 but I would highly recommend Sony HX5V to anyone. Be sure to purchase faster (Class 6?) and larger (more then 4 Gb) memory card.
Very impressed
We purchased this camera before our cruise vacation and I have to say that I am very impressed with the picture quality. The only thing that I dont like is that some of the settings are confusing.
Great Camera and Easy to Use
I bought this camera for both work and personal use, but it gets a lot more personal use now that I have it. It takes good, not great, but good pictures. Consider what you want it for. If you are doing small prints (smaller then 11x14) or are using it for on-line media or digital pictures on your computer or entertainment system, then this takes great pics. I really like the burst mode, but don't usually use the 10 FPS because it does take a while to save and I really don't need that speed. I do use the 5 FPS a lot for motorsports, and it works great. The panorama feature is very easy and kind of fun to use. The low light and back light modes work exceptionally well and I find myself using this a lot. The video is amazing considering the small point and shoot camera size. I've used it several times and it makes for some great Youtube and on computer videos. I wouldn't consider it for your only video camera, but push come to shove...it certainly takes great video. you can't use the zoom while shooting video, but thats OK with me. You can zoom in as needed and then start recording. I think most people do too much zooming while shooting anyway, so this isn't a negative in my book. Overall, I'm really happy with the camera and I'm still exploring its use and capabilities. I've had it now for about a two months and have used it a lot. Very happy with this purchase!
Great camera in proper lighting
Had the camera for a day and returned for Canon S90. The panorama option is great as well as the pictures that I took outside of people and buildings while testing. But the main reason I wanted the camera was for indoor pictures of my younger kids and those photos turned out very grainy. I hated to return as it is so much camera for the money but it has to be better indoors for me. If Sony adds a wider aperature lens like the S90's 2.0, this will be a major contender next round.
Great for concerts!
I picked the HX5V because it's supposed to be really great in low light conditions, and it really is! I take it to concerts, art galleries, dark parties, and leave every time with sharp, focused pictures Also, it's supper fast! Granted, you can't get perfect photos 100% of the time, but for a point and shoot camera, the HX5V really delivers. The video is excellent too! The controls take a little bit of getting used to, but they're not bad. I'm someone who usually has the camera set on Manual, but the HX5V is smart enough to have it on Auto most of the time. Initially, I had problems uploading videos to my computer, but the Sony help team was really great. It's a little expensive, but well worth it if you want a fast camera for low light situations.
Very Good Point & Shoot Camera
I purchased this camera because of the ability to shoot 1080i video in a compact size camera. The video is great and the photos are also pretty good. I have been doing professional photography for over 20 years so I'm very particular when it comes to cameras. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the manual exposure is limited, no really good flash control, and no RAW file mode. I guess I'm expecting too much but it's getting closer with each new model.
Easy to use, quality photos
i purchased this because my cybershot finally dropped enough times to qualify as broken. battery and memory cards were compatible was a plus. primary goal was to find a fairly priced camera with 10x zoom at least. buttons allow for quick access to camera to video and visa versa, love the multiblast option. the panaramic photo op. was new but easy screen directions. also excited about being able to zoom in and out while in video mode something the cybershot never allowed me. overall photo quality was good, able to enlarge without the fuzzy lines. i did turn off the GPS, this tended to drain the battery and not a asscessory i need.
Best in class!
I love this camera! It takes very clear, crisp pictures and the backlight feature is amazing! I'm in real estate and it's hard to find a good, compact camera that can make a darker room show up really well in photos - this feature is worth purchasing the camera for alone! I was looking for a compact camera w/ good zoom & wide angle capabilities. I first puchased the cannon sx20is (I think) and gave it to my husband after I bought this Sony- this by far has better color clarity and again, the backlight feature makes the darker shots so much brighter - worth every penny! I highly recommend this camera!
Beware of the software
I purchased this camera to replace a point and shoot which recently expired. First, I have to say the camera takes phenomenal pictures. They are very clear even when you zoom in. The video mode is easy to work and I love the multiple picture option. However, after spending a weekend shooting I proceeded to move the pictures and video to my MAC. After hours of trying to figure out how to download the software, find the English version of the manual file which was embedded withing a series of folders poorly labelled as country codes, download upgrades ... I still have not managed to move anything off the camera. To begin with the instructions are very very poorly written. I work on computers for a living and I couldn't figure it out. Tonight I'm going to try uploading to my PC instead - which is a problem as my Photoshop program is on my MAC.
Sony HX5V camera
I have owned the HX5 for about a month now. I use it for family events mainly. I am generally very pleased with my purchase and believe it is a good value for the money. I am somewhat disappointed with the lack of detail in the photos. As others have said, the photos are somewhat soft. I know very little about camera use but, this camera has been very easy to use. The low light photos are good, about what can be expected of a point and shoot. The HiDef movies and panoramic features are a big plus as I don't need to purchase a video camera.
wonderfull camera
works great panarama ok closeup by itself ok love it all works better than the add
Great HD videos and pictures for a small camera
I shoot mostly music videos with this camera, and I like it because of it's size and ease to carry around, and also that it makes great HD videos. The battery life is about 40 - 45 minutes of constant shooting in the large size (1080i) HD, with the GPS, and BEEP turned off, so if your going to do a lot of shooting, you will need extra batteries, and a larger memory card. The only other negative is that extreme low bass sound is attenuated slightly; I wouldn't say it's a big deal. The camera does have a stereo microphone which helps with the sound. The hand shake stabilizer works great; the focusing mechanism does a very good job during shooting, and there are no other problems that I have noticed shooting my videos, and I have shot a ton of videos in the last month. The photo's I have taken in the (P) program mode have been excellent. They are very sharp and when the ASA is set to 800, and the focusing seems to be fairly fast. The only negative I have noticed, and it is a minor thing, is that some pictures are a little on the underexposed side, and the shadows are sometimes a little dark. I think it can be compensated beforehand with the EV adjustment, but I correct for it afterwards with adjustments in my computer photo program, which I find is very easy. The camera came with a users guide for the initial set up, and getting started, but the Sony official website has a more comprehensive users manual that can be downloaded, which I like a little better. Overall I think it's an excellent camera, and the price is coming down from what I purchased it at about a month ago, which makes it an even better buy.
I wanted a simple point and shoot with video.
This camera has done everything I've needed so far. I love the 10x optical zoom. I wanted something simple to use. i'm a gadget guy but not so much with cameras. The panorama mode is pretty cool. You can see how it does it if you look at the picture close enough but thats okay by me. Regular pics are great, auto focus is pretty fast. It has a burst setting of up to 10 pics. I love that I can take the memory card out and import the videos into iMovie w/o having to convert them into 14 different formats first.
Gave up my DSLR for this... Pretty Satisfied
I'm pregnant with twins and no longer have the time to pursue my photography hobby, so I gave up my Canon Rebel XSi (DSLR) for this camera so that we would have a camera with video and one that everyone could use without needing a "lesson". I think this is a great point and shoot camera - the best I have owned so far. I do miss my DSLR, as this camera does not measure up in picture quality/clarity, but it shouldn't have to, since it's only a point-and-shoot. Overall, the quality of the pictures are quite good, even in poor lighting, which is impressive. The price of this item was excellent considering all the extra features you get, such as manual and P modes. It's fairly easy to use coming from a DSLR, but I did have to break out the manual to figure a few of the settings out. I love the quick buttons on the camera to easily switch to video - great feature! I turned off the GPS mode and my battery life still seems less than desired, but that's an easy fix if you purchase a 2nd battery that you can keep changed at all times. Overall, this is a great product and I'm pretty satisfied with it!
Great for Starters!
- Great zoom - Excellent features - Easy use for first-time users
the best
i have owned many digital cameras and i would have to say that this is by far the best camera i have ever had. I love it
it is awesome
i love it, and i use it every day. the photo is amazing, and HD video is awesome
Not a good camera
I bought this camera after reading reviews from Best Buy, dpreviews.com, cnet.com, and sonystyle.com. I have a sony p150 and it takes great pictures indoor and outside. Time took its toll on this liitle camera so I thought the HX5V would be awesome. But this camera has horrible image quality. We took it on a cruise to Esenada and pictures were not sharp at all. grainy pictures when you zoom in on laptop. It had these white specs on the images as you start to zoom in. Overall pictures are fuzzy with a lot of "noise". Flash is too bright, so images are overexposed. The one main pet peeve is white balance is so off on the LCD image. It gets corrected after you snap the pictures. I tried tweaking the settings on the camera (ISO, Aperture, Shutter speed, white balance) but still the images are not as sharp as the DSC-P150. Whoever designed the camera seems to care too much about GPS, compass and HD movie and not on image quality. A camera's main job is to take great pictures. So I returned this camera and see about getting Canon instead.
Great camera for business and personal use!
I recently purchased this camera for both business and personal use. I already have the Sony HX-1 and previously had the TX1 (which I recently sold). I purchased this model because of the great 10X optical zoom and because I was familiar with the great Sony Cybershot features. For business, I use it to take pics of our rental properties to document repairs, etc. and to take pics to post online when renting/leasing space. This camera takes such wonderful pics for that purpose. Most recently, I took it on a trip to NYC. I am glad I took this camera rather than my HX1. While the HX1 has more zoom (20X), its a little too big to be carrying around on a trip. This camera was perfect. It fit nicely in my purse and was always at-the-ready to take pics of the wonderful sites in NYC. Since I am familiar with the extensive features on Cybershot cameras, the learning curve was minimal. Of course the zoom was great. With my old TX1, I could only get in to 4X, but I really noticed the difference with the 10X zoom on this camera. I was able to really get close-up shots. And of course the low-light capability and the panorama came in handy, not to mention the wonderful HD quality movies. The only reason I gave it 4 starsinstead of 5, was that sometimes, the night shots are a little grainy. I think if I play around with the settings, I may be able to improve these shots. If you're looking for a great digital camera for both business and personal use, look no further.
So far so good
I've only been using this camera for about a month and have been pretty happy with it so far. Still getting used to the features and learning how to use them. A lot of reviews claimed blurry pictures, but I give that to them not knowing how to use a camera (I've taken great pictures). The zoom is good and the burst mode is pretty awesome. I'm a big fan of the panorama also.
Very Satisfied Customer!
I love this camera! The pictures are sharp and clear. The price was a bit high, but as they say, "you get what you pay for". The zoom is great on this camera! Best I've seen on a p & s. The video is awesome, you can zoom in and out while recording and can play it back on your hdtv. I highly recommend this camera, you won't be disappointed!!
Awsome
All I have to say is AWSOME. Great camera. The handheld twilight mode is out of this world. The AVCHD video mode n 1080 is outstanding. With this mode I can burn straight to bluray which is a must. Also works with iMovie on my macbook pro. The zoom is great as well. Very clean pictures in every mode. Panoramic is AWSOME geotagging is also great feature. You can not go wrong with this camera. Even has memory stick and SD card slot in the camera. You won't be disappointed with this camera from beginner to expert you will all agree this is the best out there.
Love the camera!!!
This camera is very easy to set up and use. I like that you can view the pictures on the TV. That's fun. It's also easy to download pictures to my computer. Overall, the camera works great!!
Excellent Camera...major issue with lens...BROKE
I loved this camera. I have always bought SONY and this camera has a lot of neat features that make the camera fun to use. Smile detection....neat idea. Panaramic...fun! GPS....neat.. Again...I LOVE THIS CAMERA...but.... I have recently bought this camera and two other sony (DSC-W120) and for some reason they all have the same problem. The lens is "hidden" inside the camera. When you turn on the power button it comes out of the body to take a pitcure. In all three sony cameras that i have they all have the same problem. The lens gets stuck half-way open and does not operate. I used for two weeks and returned the camera. I do not want another one because I have a feeling the same will happen. I had the SONY DSC-H10 and the lens is outside the camera with a lens cover. I think I will wait for a camera that comes out with the lens outside the camera.
Easy to use...Pictures, however, are unusable.
My husband bought this camera for me as an early Christmas present. He wanted to make sure I had it before Thanksgiving and out upcoming vacation, so that I could play with it and get the hang of it. I've had it for several days, and taken over 300 pictures with it in varying lights and settings, and overall, the picture quality is terrible! To be fair, the camera is VERY easy to use. There are several different preset settings and a panorama mode, which are really neat. My problem is that almost every pictures I have taken is grainy. It doesn't matter if the camera is zoomed all the way in or not zoomed at all: GRAINY. Flash or no flash : GRAINY. Intelligent mode, easy mode, preset mode, manual mode: GRAINY. Now, I am not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination. I am just your average "everyman." Perhaps this camera would produce better pictures for someone who understands the ins and outs of f-stops, and things like that. But, for your average user looking for a great point-and-shot, this is NOT the camera for you.
Its not the cheepest but well worth it.
Best low light camera I have used in the small size not slr type. Very cool easy to use panorama feature that is automatic. Just shoot well panning and camera takes care of the rest, a one step process. Camera is as automatic or customizable as needed. Very smart camera. I looked at the cheeper 14 megapixal but through my research and what I was told about this camera its sensor size is larger than the 14 and to be honest I don't know if I needed anything more than 4 or 8 especially considering the quality of pictures I got. Cameras should start advertising low light/sensor size as I hate what other cameras that don't do low light well get redish pictures. Has alot of other cool features too but don't wan't to clutter review to much, enjoy. Untouched first panorama picture added. Just shot and thats it. No cropping or post editing,stiching needed.
Great camera with many features
this camera shoots great pics with the "Intelligent Auto Adjustment." Of course there are many other shooting options to use. The camera will start up within 2 seconds and is ready to shoot. The button for video makes recording simple and quick also. I really like sony's operating system, I find it very easy to use. Battery life is this camera's downside. I have never owned another HD Video camera before but you need more than a full battery to fill 4gb of video. Battery life for pictures is good and last plenty long. I find myself covering the stereo mic with finger during video recording which is a nuance.
Replaced both camera and video camera
First day at Disneyland and and I was getting tired of changing back and forth from still camera ( Olympus 10x zoom ) and Video camera ( Hitachi mini disc ). Also neither was real good in low light. I went to Best buy and got great help. Ended up with Sony DSC HX5V/B. Real easy to use. great intelligent mode for most shots. Great low light shots. Has easy panoramic shots, just hold the shutter button and move the camera. Anti blurr feature It also has multiple image capture. 2, 5 or 10 frames per second. Great for world of color or fireworks. Also has a fireworks specific mode as well. 10x optical zoom Video camera as well with VGA up to 1080i HD video. The Zoom works well in video mode keeping the focus most all of the time while zooming. You can easily set it into video mode or if you are in camera mode there is a button on the back to instantly take video. So you can easily shoot pictures and then video and then pictures again. Very easy to use nice indents in camera body for your thumb and fingers to hold it. Very well designed. Sony now supports standard SDHC memory cards, so memory costs are much lower than memory sticks. I took hundreds of pictures and hours of video. It did just great. Best camera purchase in 30 years. If you want one camera for pictures and HD video this is it.
Okay for what it is
My hope for this camera was that it would let me capture clear action shots of my kids' events. The zoom level was key, and the price was such that I thought this would be high-end enough without going to SLR. This camera took clear shots, but the zoom was not was I was looking for, and it could not capture action shots without blur. It was also sub-par in low light with zoom. I felt this camera was not worth the price, and returned it.
Easy to use, great pic's!
This is my 2nd Sony Cybershot, and my 3rd digital camera in the last 9 years. I purchased this camera in August, so I would have enough time to learn it for my vacation to the caribbean. My first thoughts of the camera were that there were too many features, so I wanted to learn everything I could. However, with all the Preset's that are offered, just turn the dial and your good to go. Some of my favorite features are the 10 shots in a second (Burst Mode), and the iSweep (Panoramic Mode). This camera takes excellent action shots, I took some pics of Devin Hester returning kickoffs at the Chicago Bears training camp using the 10 shots in a second, and you can see how he catches the ball and goes! I'm looking forward to taking some scenic shots in the caribbean soon. The battery has a long life as well. One thing to consider, iSweep works well, but to make your experience better with it, utilize a tripod.
Pretty awesome, but a few things to be aware of
This camera is LOADED with features! And I love the full HD movie taking, and the awesomely smooth AVCHD format as well as MP4 format choices. Sweep panorama is really cool, making panoramic shots simple as can be. Overall picture quality and video quality is very good, although subjects are stretched around edges and corners of pics (apparently common, but none of my Canons ever did that). Great image stablization, especially in videos. Autofocusing in videos works great too. I thought pictures were pretty high in sharpness, contrast, and saturation (usually a good thing but can be bad at times, and unfortunately there are no adjustments for this while shooting) and sometimes a bit strong on the reds. I noticed slight overexposure here and there, washing out some details. Has a slight delay snapping the photo when using the flash. Indoor shots without flash could be a little yellowish, but pretty clear. Low-light noise reduction and blur reduction features work great for awesome night or low-light shots but pics take longer to process and record in these modes. Burst mode is amazingly fast, with quick access to turn burst on and off. Features like exposure bracket shooting and SCN+ can help make sure you get the best pic possible. The one thing I really hated though was the sound. The audio in recorded movies is really bad, and was nerve-wracking to listen to on our TV. It's clear, but the tone is awful, and people don't even sound like themselves. On top of that, the microphones are positioned where you'll likely cover them with your fingers. Another problem is where the flash is located -- you can easily block it with your finger just holding the camera normally. Good manual controls, although no shutter or aperture priority modes. Great automatic features and scene detection too. Great wide-angle lens, although that leads to effectively less zoom than other 10x zoom cameras. Overall though, a pretty amazing little camera!
Good value for the price
I liked this Sony point and shoot. Very user friendly. The only thing I didn't like about it is that the play preview screen shows 2 white borders along one side of the screen which keeps you from seeing a clear view of the photos you take. I tried finding instructions on how to remove them but had no luck. Hence, I returned it for a camera that gave me a full preview screen.
Didn't live up to hype
A friend got this camera and loved it. I however am not thrilled with the results and expected more from a $300+ camera. I loved that Sony finally accepted SD cards - big step! The battery life has been fine and the camera has lots of features. HOWEVER, I have not found any setting that is quick enough to take good shots of my preschoolers AS they do something cute, not after the fact. In addition, the color is warm or yellowish on a lot of the indoor shots. I have to take multiples to try to get one good one. Lots of fuzzy or soft shots and the photos are just not crisp. Often they are over-exposed. Can't find the right setting? Don't know. Possibly my last Christmas with a family member and only 1 group shot came out decent but soft. Probably won't blow up well. :( Another issue is where the button is. The settings dial is on the far right and the button to take pics is inside of that to the left. Somewhat akward to use. I think my $120 Kodak Z915 does a better job. Should have been happy with it but wanted to try the Sony after reading the hype. Should have taken it back but didn't want to return it and lose the 15% restocking fee. Live and learn. Would rather have had an ipod with the $300!
best camera we ever had
we bought this camera to ensure we got good pictures on our trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. We have had a lot of cheap digital cameras (< $150) and none of them were great. Most of them were too slow to take consecutive pictures or take sports pictures. Some of them were even bad taking normal stills because you had to hold the camera super steady. Wow, were we surprised how good the pictures turned out with this camera. I tried making still pictures by shaking the camera and it actually worked. There is even a special feature that helps even more. It even has 1080p video which looks amazing on our 42 inch HDTV. The panorama mode is supercool to take scenery pics. There are many different modes including a mode that makes it easy to use for even novices. It has a burst feature that lets you take 10 pictures in a second or in 2 seconds which is nice for sports or seeing somebody dive. The DSLR cameras might be better but you can't beat this one for cost and size. Battery life is great, we got the sony spare that has infolithium that displays time left. The GPS is very neat, it not only shows where you took the picture, it also shows in which direction.
Packed full of features
I've always liked Sony Camera's, and this one certainly does not disappoint. With features like 10x Zoom, HD Video Recording (yes with optical zoom), GPS picture tracking, and the ability to take Pro-Duo as well as standard SD cards - You get it All! Sharp bright pictures, and good video quality. .
Amazing product! Buy an Extra Battery or Two
I have used Sony for years for digital cameras - number one reason? Low Light and Night pictures - no one can compare. Even when looking to upgrade before our trip to South Pacific, i reviewed and looked at others, even the sales rep said you cannot beat Sony for those type of pictures. The panoramic is amazing - albeit, you need to remain steady or picture will have a jump in it I took clear, quality amazing pictures of the Fireworks off Harbour Bridge in Sydney on New Years Eve and they are Spectacular! Tons of settings and options - including smile and blink detection. Has a setting for multiple burst pictures which is amazing for action shots (was able to capture the fireworks going off across the bridge, step by step) BAD NEWS: This thing chews through batteries (even with GPS OFF). I used at least a battery a day (taking between 150-300 pictures). I had two spares (one was not Sony made) and the camera does NOT like the non-Sony battery and would shut down. I never would have made it through the trip without having at least one extra battery (and they were charged every night) so make sure you pick up an extra as well as decent sized memory card (I used two 8 GIG cards) Sony software, once again, does NOT work with MAC, so some of the features will be lost (such as the GPS Tagging) since the software is not usable for us MAC people - camera does import fine with iPhoto, etc. on the MAC. Overall, an EXCELLENT product for the money!
Decent Camera that give good photos
I purchased this hoping it was quick so I did not miss a shot. It takes good photos but still a bit slow to react ... easy enough to use and small enough to fit in pockets, purse etc.. I returned it for something that works quick snaps fast and actually takes amazing photos..
Very high quality images for a point and shoot
This camera is pretty awesome. I think it takes the best still images of any camera I have used in low light situations. The GPS function is also highly beneficial if you are taking photos all over the world and you have a hard time of keeping track of where you shot them. My complaints about the camera are: 1. Extremely limited battery life 2. The zoom has a heavy delay which often has a mind of its own as to how far you want to zoom in or out. 3. Sony's software is horrible. Any sony product I have owned with software always has functionality or compatibility issues. This one does too. It will not recognize .jpg photos from my phone and causes the PMB software to crash. Sony's tech support tries to pawn you off on other software companies citing its not sony's fault. I dealt with Microsoft directly and found out that it is Sony's fault indeed. 4. When taking close up photos of moving objects such as people it tends to blur a little more than expected. Overall I like the camera. I use it mostly for taking outdoor photos in all kinds lighting scenarios. For the price I paid $269.00, I don't think there is anything that comes close to the list of functions this camera provides or the final quality of the photos it produces. It has many built in settings you can change to with a turn of the selector knob that will cover nearly any environment or scenario.
Great quality for min dollars
This camera has it all. The video quality with sound is great, the easy mode allows for the novice to take vibrant pictures, and the various options, such as panorama, macro, and burst give many different ways to capture the intended target. Battery life better than most in the various modes.
Great Camera for travel
The panorama is a great feature on this camera. The low light setting is amazing, great battery life time, and gorgeous pictures for scenery or everyday use. The only downfall is that in order for the videos to go onto the computer, you need the photo program it comes with which is not available to Mac computers.
Great camera for a beginner
It has so many kinds of funtions that you can take photos in almost any time or any situation. But when you shoot a paniting, you will find out the color is a little bit different from the original picture. For example, the blue-green color become blue. No wonder by camara or TV, I prefer I can see the original color. And the video record is not good in sound record.(sound changed). I have a sony video recorder(mini casset) , its sound record is much better then this camara.
easy to use and perfect quality
perfect camera reguarding price and quality. perfect for begginers and and ideal for the easy to use.
Perfect camera for snapshots
I have been using the same 35mm camera since 1971 and needed something for family and quick snapshots and the sony fit the bill. I have been using it in various program modes and have been happy with it's quality pictures as well as it's fast operation.
Very bad purchase. Waste of money.
Very bad purchase. Waste of money. Will not buy anything at Best again.
Innovative, takes getting used to
This really is point and shoot. I have an Alpha 700 which I love and it takes lots of attention to settings to get things to work well. This camera is really the opposite. Except for backlit or low light, I just use the IA setting and let the camera decide how it wants to handle things. I usually get good results. The zoom range is also impressive - 25mm to 250 mm 35 mm equivalent. This can be quite useful. It is small enough to take anywhere and I do. My Alpha is a great camera but I can't have it with me all the time. I am having lots of fun with this camera. The panorama mode is also a great feature. I am not much on video but I imagine I will try a few from time to time. If you zoom the lens during video, it does make noise.
Easy to use quality product
Easy to use quality product. Another fine product from Sony.
This is a great camera
You may wait for HX9v..but for the price range within 250, this is a great camera.
Pretty Dang Good Camera!!!
A week ago I returned the Canon Power shot SX210 IS because of pixel issues. I had them do a straight across exchange for this camera. So I didn't have to pay for anything, besides initial purchase of the canon. I charged it and then started to play with it, taking pictures of my family and animals. I went outside to my dogs and started to take pictures of them. This camera didn't miss a beat of them playing. None of the pictures are blurry.... I then started to record them, lets just say that I am very impressed with this camera. It mostly gets rid of me purchasing a video camera. The only thing now is I have to get a better Memory card. But that wont be hard. I then figured out how to use the picture burst mode. The ten photos are awesome! All of them are perfect. There is no smearing at the edges of them moving. Later that night I went out and took some pictures of the out side just to see how the twilight work and the pictures were dark but they weren't grainy like the canon. The only thing that I would have to say to sony if they are listening is INCREASE THE ZOOM, Because then you would kick more butt. That is the only thing that was better on the canon. OH the GPS! it is a awesome feature if I was going on a trip out of country...
All I wanted in a digital camera!
I wanted something relatively small but was able to take multiple frames per second. I was looking at more expensive models when the Best Buy Associate showed me this model. Boy was I blown away with the demonstration of what this camera can do!! I can capture up to 10 frames per second with the touch of a button at the top of the camera. The recovery time before the camera is ready to take another picture is acceptable. One of the other features that I absolutely love is the panaramic option which will come in handy on my vacation to Ireland. The 10x zoom will ensure I get all the beautiful landscapes that I want. The technology of the Sony Cyber-shot is amazing and can discern if the people you are taking the picture of are smiling. No more wasted shots!! You can even set the level of smile from slight to "large and cheesy ". I recommend that, when possible, you get an additional memory card, possibly another battery and a larger carrying case to hold the cables, etc. so when you want to upload the pics to your laptop, etc. you have them handy. I was on vacation in Florida for 4 days and was using the GPS feature which drained the battery quick . I would have been happier if I would have brought my battery charger with me or had a backup battery so I wouldn't have had to "edit" which photos I took. The pictures are amazing! I love this camera and have told all of my family and friends about it!
(2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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