Name of product:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V/BApproximate date of purchase:
September 2010My Review
Highlights: (full specifications are on sony.com)
* Sony’s smallest and thinnest AVCHD capable digital camera (1080i)
* 10x (25mm equivalent) professional-quality optical zoom G-Lens (same lens as professional DSLR)
* 10.2 megapixel back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor combined with BIONZ image processor
* ISO: Auto/125/200/400/800/1600/3200, Panorama, Anti-Motion & movies - HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
* High Speed Shooting – 10 frames per second at 10 megapixel full resolution
* 3-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD display with a special anti-reflective coating
* Backlight Correction HDR and GPS + Compass and Optical Steady Shot with Active Mode technologies
Comparison Prior to purchase:
I reviewed over 50 web sites, spoke to camera stores and had the specifications reviewed by photographic professionals. The Web sites I reviewed gave mixed reviews but in general this camera came out one of the best point and shoot cameras. In fact many of the complaints I read were by people comparing the camera with high end SLRs or DSLRs; clearly not an unbiased or practical test. In my opinion, a device should be compared with products in the same class to be fair. I spoke to most of the major and many other camera stores that carried various brands that were familiar with this camera all of them stated they did not have a point and shoot better than this camera. Some stated the camera was as good as some SLRs, and some pointed out the lens and the CMOS image sensor were the same as that found on high end DSLRs.
My Test Results:
Indoor Camera mode: Camera tested in the Auto mode, photographed people and pets – Tested under natural light, incandescent, and fluorescent lights, and all shots were clear and sharp. Camera tested in a darkened room in Auto mode, and the flash worked; the picture quality was excellent. Extreme test - Camera tested in an almost completely dark room with light seeping through a window blind, and the picture was blurry - camera had trouble adjusting due to streaks of light coming through blind.
Outdoor Camera Mode – Camera tested in Auto mode. Photographed people and pets, pictures were clear and sharp. The camera compensated for my movements, people and animal movement, even when using zoom at its maximum without a tripod. I photographed a manmade waterfall, and you could actually see the water streaming down the rock. Photographed several high trees, all came out straight, even a palm tree.
Movie Mode - Pictures of people and pets clear & crisp.
Camera "pros"
Clear, crisp fixed pictures.
Movies are clear, crisp, and have accurate sound.
HD is excellent.
Auto mode works exceptionally well. Auto mode allows an average user to take excellent pictures in all but very difficult conditions.
Software converts AVCHD to data, standard, and WMV formats.
Camera "cons"
Have to remove battery from camera to recharge it.
