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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 15 October 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 30 September 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 21 September 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 31 August 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 10 July 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 06 July 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 28 June 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 13 June 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 24 May 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 22 April 2009 - |
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- 4 |
DigitalCameraReview 's conclusion / rating - 15 October 2009 |
“ The Sony Cyber-shot HX1 proves to be a veritable Swiss Army Knife of a midsize camera. Need to grab some sports shots? It has the lens and the speed to do it. Headed to the zoo? Again, you're covered. Summer vacation at the Grand Canyon? The HX1 counters with perhaps the most useful panorama mode ever installed on a digicam. Plus, you can get video clips worthy of your 42-inch HDTV from the same device. It really is hard - doubly so if you exclude extreme low-light shooting - to find a situation where the HX1 won't be able to turn in nice shots with ease.
In truth, the HX1's biggest detractor may not come from its performance so much as its price. An entry-level DSLR certainly lacks the Cyber-shots versatility. But in terms of across-the-board shooting speed and outright image quality, a large-sensor, interchangeable-lens camera wins hands down. And given that the HX1, which lists at nearly $500, will set you back nearly as much as a basic SLR kit, potential buyers may have good reason to think twice.
As a technological achievement, though, the HX1 truly shines. Sony has always been known for their gadgetry: lately, it seems, they're figuring out how to make all of this novel tech less novel and more useful. And with phenomenal continuous shooting, a nifty panorama mode, and home-movie-ready HD video capture, the HX1 makes some giant leaps in fusing uniqueness and utility... ”
DigitalCameraReview's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
Imaging Resource 's conclusion / rating - 30 September 2009 |
“ I had a ball with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. Right out of the box you can get great results with the 20x optical zoom Sony G lens coupled to an Exmor CMOS sensor with sensitivity to ISO 3,200 using Programmed Auto, intelligent Auto, or Easy mode. But you can also get cute with Aperture and Shutter priority modes and Manual mode before you tap into some unique shooting capabilities.
They aren't just unique, though. They're useful. The 10 frame-per-second continuous shooting mode helps reframe long focal length images. The Handheld Twilight mode gets shots other cameras can't by combining multiple high-ISO images taken at hand-holdable speeds and combining them into a single image: Ingenious. The Sweep Panorama mode makes panoramic shooting child's play (and just as fun), letting you sweep across the scene with a button press and showing your the stitched image on the LCD right after.
Overall image quality is good, but not quite rising to the 12-megapixel quality we're used to seeing. Of course, that's largely because it's a 9.1-megapixel sensor. Noise suppression does some damage to subtle detail, but if you keep print sizes to below 11x14 inches, you really won't notice at the lowest ISO, and even ISO 800 shots look good at 8x10. The Sony HX1 is a good quality digital camera with a very long zoom that's made for the casual shooter, not necessarily the enthusiast.
Long zooms have always been tantalizing but somewhat awkward. The Sony HX1 is the first to exhibit anything that could pass for gracefulness, and it has plenty of it. So the Sony HX1 should be able to handle the weight of being a Dave's Pick with no trouble at all... ”
Imaging Resource's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraInfo 's conclusion / rating - 21 September 2009 |
“ The Sony DSC-HX1 is a powerful camera that boasts a number of interesting features. And these features actually do what they say: the panorama mode takes great panoramic shots quickly, and the hand held low light mode also produces much sharper and more attractive low light shots. Neither mode is perfect, though; there are definite glitches in the panoramas. The HX1 also produced attractive still images and video; both had good color and plenty of detail. But it's not cheap: at around $500, you could spend just a bit more and get an SLR.
But you do get a lot for your money with the HX1; you get a decent zoom lens and good video quality, and the panorama and low light modes are the cherry on the cake that make it an attractive package for the point-and-shooter who wants a bit more... ”
DigitalCameraInfo's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 31 August 2009 |
“ The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is an undeniably fun camera to use. As you can see from our Sample Images we've used it to capture everything from fast-moving aeroplanes to quaint streets and quiet landscapes, fireworks to interiors and more. Having a long zoom on a snappy camera with almost all the controls you desire made for a very pleasant shooting experience - so much so that we were reluctant to give the camera back! Some of its unique features turned out to work really well, including the Sweep Panorama mode that made capturing panoramic images as effortless as it gets. We were a little disappointed at the resolution of these images though.
This does not apply to the 'regular' 9-megapixel photographs we took with the camera, which contain plenty of detail thanks to the lens that proudly bears the prestigious G designation. Surely enough, we would not have minded a little less noise in our images, but honestly, the image quality is more than adequate for most non-professional uses. As far as the HX1's video capabilities are concerned, they are above average, with optical zooming, stabilisation and stereo audio all on board to help you make the movies you have envisioned. A wind filter would have come in handy though.
Performance was good too, with little to criticise about the speed of operation. About the only complaint we have here is that clearing the buffer after a 10-shot burst took way too much time. Shot-to-shot times in the 'regular' single-shot mode were quite good though, at barely more than a second. Autofocus was commendably fast for this class of camera, although prefocusing and anticipating the action worked better with really fast subjects. One thing we found rather incomprehensible was that the camera would retract the lens just 15 seconds after entering playback mode, which slowed down the operation of what is essentially a zippy little digicam. Two other points to criticise about the Sony HX1 are its lack of a RAW mode and a flash hot shoe.
It is rather hard to describe such a complex - yet fairly easy-to-use - camera in just a few paragraphs, and you are encouraged to read our detailed findings in the Ease of Use section of this review. To sum it up, the Sony HX1 is certainly not 'the' perfect camera, but it's one of the best all-rounders we've seen, and as such, it comes Highly Recommended by us... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
RegHardware 's conclusion / rating - 10 July 2009 |
“ Apart from lacking a RAW image option and the less than Full HD video, the DSC-HX1 offers a pretty good spec. Features such as a powerful optical image stabilisation system, Sweep Panorama and a lightning fast continuous shooting mode are great to have. Video is fine if you’re taking shots of slow moving objects, but performance suffers if your subject is fast-moving. But overall, we liked the DSC-HX1 and if a super zoom compact is on your wish list, you might find that this camera offers the right set of features and performance for the price... ”
RegHardware's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
PhotoReview 's conclusion / rating - 06 July 2009 |
“ Sony has brought its Exmor CMOS technology to the super-zoom arena in the form of the 9.1-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. Styled like a mini-DSLR - but too big to be pocketable - the HX1 is the highest-priced model on the current market. However, it boasts a 20x optical zoom lens plus a couple of features that make it stand out from the crowd, including a Sweep Panorama mode and 10 frames/second continuous shooting speed... ”
PhotoReview's rating: |
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- 4 |
Complete review here
Camera Labs 's conclusion / rating - 28 June 2009 |
“ Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is a camera of two sides: on the one you have the traditional super-zoom aspects which, like several rivals, deliver a massive stabilised range with full manual control and a flexible screen, while on the other you have the CMOS sensor unleashing Sony’s innovation, going beyond the HD video and fast continuous shooting of the Canon SX1 IS, to offer some truly unique capabilities.
It all comes together very well too. Judged as a traditional super-zoom alone, the camera performs respectably with a decent range, flexible screen (albeit tilting vertically only), the choice of manual control or clever automatic modes, quick auto-focusing and good image quality.
In itself, these would be sufficient to make it a contender, but it’s the CMOS sensor, and crucially what Sony’s done with it, which makes it truly unique in the market. The HD movies may have slightly lower horizontal resolution than the 1920 pixel width of Full HD, but more than making up for it are extremely fast 10fps continuous shooting and innovative modes including the Sweep Panorama. Unlike some of Sony’s previous gadgetry, these modes go beyond gimmickry to become genuinely useful, and the company is to be congratulated for thinking out the box.
As described above, there are downsides and caveats, most notably a maximum of 10 frames on the burst mode and the fact a full set will subsequently tie the camera up for the best part of 20 seconds. But no other camera, DSLR or otherwise, can come close to this speed at the full sensor resolution without spending considerably more.
As detailed above, Canon’s PowerShot SX1 IS offers more traditional photographic features and better quality at the lowest sensitivities, but if you want or need faster than 4fps continuous shooting, then the HX1 is currently the only affordable choice. A number of annoyances or limitations listed near the start of this page prevent the HX1 from earning our top award, but it still easily comes Recommended – and once again if capturing very fast action is your priority, its combination of a long zoom, fast AF and supremely quick continuous shooting is unrivalled at the price... ”
Camera Labs's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DPInterface 's conclusion / rating - 13 June 2009 |
“ Sony has made the Cyber-shot HX1 an apparently hip-looking camera to own – a digital SLR like design, huge 20X zoom lens with a tilting LCD, 10 FPS burst mode at full resolution, “full HD” movie mode (yeah right) as well as the much discussed ‘Sweep Panorama’ feature. Sounds like the perfect super zoom camera, huh?
The Cyber-shot HX1 indeed lives up to part of its hype – the camera handles quite well and has good build quality, there’s full manual controls and good battery life… and it looks REALLY close to a digital SLR. There’s even a large 3 inch screen which you can tilt upwards/downwards. Unfortunately, you won’t find a lot of expandability on the HX1; the camera doesn’t support external flashes (neither wirelessly nor via any hotshoe), there’s only ONE conversion lens available for the camera (telephoto) and unlike the competition, the HX1 lacks a customizable menu section and mode dial spot(s). And no, I don’t consider the so-called custom button (which is limited to just three basic functions) to offset what the camera is lacking.
Before you become too excited about the several unique features on the Cyber-shot HX1, let me forewarn you that each feature has a catch or limitation. Take Sweep Panorama, for example, which ‘forces’ you to capture a panorama which covers the exact field of view that the camera dictates. If you can manage that, the system works flawlessly, but failure to do so (or if you pan too slowly) and the camera will just save an incomplete panorama; plus there’s a pretty high chance that this incomplete panorama will also be messed up (see the example I posted earlier in the review). There are also two modes: Anti-blur and Handheld Twilight, both of which allow you to take sharp photos in conditions which would otherwise require you to use a long shutter speed and/or a tripod. The catch? Resulting photo quality using either mode will be too crummy for anything but tiny prints.
Some more positive things about the Sony HX1 include its handy Intelligent Auto mode, many scene modes for beginners and very sophisticated face detection system. If you love adding effects to your photos, then you’ll appreciate the large selection of playback tools on the Cyber-shot HX1. Oh there’s also good performance and a burst mode which shoots at a blazing fast 10 FPS at full-resolution. But wait, here’s another catch – you can only take up to 10 shots in a row (regardless of image size or burst frame rate) before the camera stops and locks up for a ‘mind-boggling’ 16 seconds to save those images. You may of course, cancel the writing process but obviously, you lose your pictures as well.
One of the other spotlight features on the Cyber-shot HX1 is its movie mode, capable of recording videos at 1080p ‘full HD’ resolution (Complete with stereo sound recording). Well, that’s only half the truth – what you’ll find out by reading the small print or the press release is the fact the camera’s ‘full HD video’ comes from the interpolation of not-so-real-1080p recording (1440 x 1080 isn’t REAL HD). Video quality is not bad, but I’m sure many of us would’ve appreciated the real deal. Of course, there’s a 720p setting if you’re not a fan of upsampled video. Both optical zoom and optical image stabilization are available but there are no other movie options (Wind filter, anyone? How about the ability to take a still photo while recording?) or editing features to be found on the camera.
Moving on, the Sony Cyber-shot HX1 does indeed produce photos with acceptable image quality but nowhere near what you’d expect from a camera which uses a CMOS sensor (note: CMOS sensors are normally associated with good image quality, in addition to high speed capturing). The HX1’s high price is supposedly justified by its CMOS sensor, but somehow, the camera’s image quality is underwhelming; taking away its “CMOS advantage”. The Sony HX1 produces muddy and quite un-natural looking photos thanks to over-sharpening and noise reduction. And to make things worse, there isn’t much of a difference even if you turn down noise reduction or use a low ISO speed – the issue still exists.
To wrap up, the Sony Cyber-shot HX1 looks great on paper and indeed has some appealing features but has too many catches and limitations that put a stop to all that potential fun you could have with the camera. The only thing going for the Cyber-shot HX1 is the initial thrill of having a full-resolution 10 FPS burst mode without buying a $4000-$5000 high end digital SLR. Otherwise, look at the other CMOS super zoom (Canon PowerShot SX1), or if you want to save some money, check out the other, more conventional super zoom cameras in the market... ”
DPInterface's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DCResource 's conclusion / rating - 24 May 2009 |
“ The DSC-HX1 is a midsize super zoom camera made of a mixture of plastic and metal. It feels pretty solid for the most part, save for the usual flimsy door over the battery and memory card compartment. The proximity of the tripod mount to this door means that you won't be able to access the memory card slot while the camera is on a tripod. I found the camera exceptionally easy to hold, with the important controls within each reach of my fingers. I found the shutter release button to be very sensitive, though it may just be my particular camera with that issue. The HX1 features a 20X optical zoom Sony "G" lens, which an impressive focal range of 28 - 560 mm. If that's not enough zoom power for you, Sony offers a 1.7X teleconverter that boosts the top end to a whopping 952 mm. As you'd expect, the HX1 features an optical image stabilization system, which reduces the risk of blurry photos. On the back of the camera you'll find a large 3-inch LCD that can tilt up or down (I would've preferred a rotating display). While the screen is big, the resolution is the same old 230k pixels that you can find on smaller displays. The LCD is very easy to see outdoors, and low light visibility is good, but not great. The HX1 also has a tiny electronic viewfinder, which is half the size of the EVF on the Canon PowerShot SX1 (the HX1's main competitor). Some users may also find the "rainbow effect" on the EVF to be distracting. While the DSC-HX1 supports HDMI output, a clunky "dongle" is required in order to actually do anything. Why Sony didn't built in a mini HDMI port is beyond me.
If you want a super zoom camera with HD video recording and lots of bells and whistles (some of which are quite cool), then it's worth taking a look at the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. If image quality is more important than a 10 fps burst mode and easy panorama shooting, then I'd take a look at the PowerShot SX1 instead. It costs $100 more and has its share of issues as well, but it's the better of the two cameras in most respects. If you don't need HD movie recording at all, then you can save a bundle by buying a "regular" super zoom camera. I've listed all of the competitors below for your convenience... ”
Complete review here
DPReview 's conclusion / rating - 22 April 2009 |
“ The HX1 presents a very attractive package to the potential buyer. The large and versatile zoom range that extends from moderate wide angle to extreme telephoto, the HD video recording, very fast continuous shooting speeds, and unique shooting modes all contained in a well built, mini-SLR style body all go some way to tugging at your purse strings. While the CMOS sensor used in the HX1 doesn't produce better or less noisy images than any of the HX1's CCD-based competitors, it certainly doesn't make it any worse, and it does enable some pretty cool features. The lack of user control over noise vs detail that would be offered by RAW file mode is somewhat overcome by manual control over noise reduction applied in camera.
If you read our Canon SX1 IS review in your research for a new superzoom camera and you have a sense of déjà vu when reading this review, then you are not mistaken. The HX1 has much in common with the SX1 IS, from the use of CMOS technology to fast shooting speeds (though the HX1 is much faster in this regard), to the HD video recording, to the two cameras having the exact same zoom range. Both cameras are versatile, and both offer a compelling package to the potential buyer.
While the HX1 does not offer the RAW file mode recording of the SX1 IS, nor is the HD video resolution quite as high as the SX1 IS, the HX1 utilizes its CMOS technology in some other, considerably more interesting ways. The 10 fps continuous shooting speed (and fast shutter) of the HX1 allows it to offer its innovative sweeping panorama mode, which lets you to shoot a wide panorama in a single sweep. You also get twilight and anti-shake modes which, though slightly less impressive in use, do offer some advantage in challenging low-light situations. All this combined with the many scene modes help you to get out from behind your computer and spend more time having fun shooting photos.
Looking at the market as a whole, with an emphasis on image quality, we just cannot give the Sony DSC-HX1 our highest recommendation, but it's certainly worth consideration if you're looking for a superzoom compact and can live with the inevitable image quality compromises... ”
Complete review here
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