Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Review
The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 30x Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080 Video is big on features, big on lens (27-81mm) and has a comfortingly big feel in its construction quality too.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 30x Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080 Video
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Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Construction & Features:
The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 30x Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080 Video has a nice hand grip and the matte black finish gives a quality feel to it. The viewing screen is crisp and clear and contains an articulated aspect, meaning you can tilt it up or down.
Interestingly, the camera has the ability to sense that you are looking through the viewfinder as opposed to using the screen. There is a sensor near the viewer, and it can tell when you put your face up. I think that more serious photographers will want to frame their pictures this way.
I also liked the fact that Sony has installed a GPS function for the pictures taken. As with the iPhone, you can then look at your pictures via a map, showing where they were taken. That’s really a neat feature.
The zoom range is huge, with up to 30 times available, and a further 8 power is available on the camera when looking on the screen. The 3D is an added bonus, although you have to go and hook up to a compatible TV or monitor. I did this, and the images were very nice. However, it is not something that I think that I would use very often. It’s more of a gimmick than anything else, to me…
The face detection facility is a really nice feature. This is especially true for family events. At such an event, I found that the auto focus function is really good. While I was walking around talking to people, and snapping images simultaneously, I wanted the camera to do a little bit of the work for me. It did this quite well. The images were great.
The menus are easy and intuitive, and if you do get in to bother, the “help” function comes up with basic instructions and solutions.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Memory and Battery Life
The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V accepts both SD (including SDHC and SDXC) and Memory Stick Duo-type memory cards.
The battery has a very good lifespan. I never ran out of power, even during heavy use, including video. Helpfully, there is an indicator, which indicates approximately how many minutes of power the camera battery has remaining.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Video Capabilities
The video quality is excellent (full HD 1080), and the playback is smooth. You can take stills while in video mode. This can save you the bother of trying to track down a nice shot afterwards on your PC. The video quality on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 30x Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080 Video is similar to many dedicated video recorders; it’s really that good, seriously.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Short Comings and Issues
The start-up time is a little bit slow. Also, the video footage took up a lot of memory. This creates large files, so be sure to use a lower setting if you are out and about. Also, the screen can be blinded by sunshine. Shade it and all is good.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Reviews
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Conclusion
For a camera so loaded with features, this is not gimmicky at all. And for all its features, the auto settings work great while you learn maximise its potential. It is easier to use than you might imagine when you first take it out of the box.
I found the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 30x Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080 Video is great value for money all round.
