| The Good |
|---|
| ISO Speeds up to 3200, EXMOR R CMOS Sensor, 14x Built-in Zoom, 10 FPS Continuous Shooting, 1080p and 720p Video Capabilities, 3” LCD. |
| The Bad |
| Limited Amount of Megapixels, Inability to Zoom While in Video Mode. |
| Yay or Nay |
| This seems like it’s going to be a great camera. The available samples show that its quality should be good, and all of its options should would make it a great point and shoot camera. |
Overview
This camera is being hailed as a go anywhere, do anything camera that is not only capable of taking high quality photos in almost every situation, but also producing great high definition videos in the same wide variety of situations as well. This camera has a multitude of features that are not only cool, but could also come in very useful. However, until this $350 camera is in the hands of a many different consumers, there will be no way to tell exactly how well it performs.
Snapshots
This camera has a 10.2 megapixel EXMOR R CMOS sensor. This sensor is from Sony’s X series, and has been upgraded to record HD video. It also has a nifty little feature called HDR (High Dynamic Range), which actually takes two pictures and then combines them to produce the highest possible quality. There is also a panoramic view that takes pictures as you turn in a circle and then combines them to create the perfect panorama. All of this is on top of a quality and reliable platform, as well as the fact that this camera claims ten frames per second continuous shooting to catch those pivotal action moments.
Video
When you compare this camera to a digital camcorder, it doesn’t really hold a candle. However, when you compare it to a pocket cam or even something like a low end digital handheld, there are many striking similarities in quality. The 10.2 megapixel sensor is very close to what’s used in most of the lower end camcorders, and the ability to shoot in either 1080p or 720p, as well as standard resolutions, gives the user a great deal of control over how the video is shot.
Photo Quality and Extras
In previous cameras where the EXMOR R CMOS sensors were used, the quality of the images were impeccable. Combined with a wide range of ISO speeds, these two features should be able to produce top quality pictures that can be printed. Nevertheless, the 10.2 megapixel sensor does fall short when compared to some of the larger sensors that can reach up to around 15 megapixels.
There are tons of extras on this camera. Everything that can be controlled is, whether by the user or by the camera itself. There is even a GPS chip and compass to give you coordinates and directional information on photographs that you took. The DSC-HX5 also has a number of onboard editing tools, as well as great little features to improve how you take pictures.
Downside
Two drawbacks that may arise are the inability to blow up photographs to the point you want because of the fewer pixels, and an inability to zoom while in video mode.
Conclusion
If everything Sony has said about the camera is true, then it is surely going to be one of the best point and shoot cameras available. However, for those people who are thinking about buying it for an all around camera and don’t have a lot of money to waste, it may be a good idea to wait awhile before purchasing the DSC-HX5 to ensure no major issues arise with it.
