Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 9.1MP Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch LCD: Customer Reviews & Product Details

This is just a quickie with the camera straight out of the box. I'll update the stars later. (Updated March 11, 2010)

1. It takes a trained monkey to attach the lens cover to the camera so it doesn't fly off into the wilderness. First you get a thin paper clip and make it into a straight wire with a long narrow hook at one end. Insert the hook through the tiny eyelet in the attaching cord, then pull both strands of the cord through the eyelet to make a loop. Run the free end of the loop through the tiny little attaching point on the camera lens and pull the first loop through the loop just threaded to attach the cord to the lens. Next, undo the strap on the left side of the camera and thread the strap through the first big loop between the buckle and the camera body. Reattach the strap through the buckle. Now the lens cap may jump off every time you turn the camera on, but it won't go very far because it is captured.

2. I have had a lot of experience with Sony Cybershots, but the new economy has caught up with me. This is the first one that didn't come with an undersized memory stick. What it came with is a grossly undersized internal memory. Buy a stick if you want to test the camera out of the box (4 GB is supposed hold 800 of the biggest pictures).

Update:
3. Things you aren't supposed to do with this camera: let it get hot (plastic may warp), let it get cold (no snow below 32F), let it get wet (not splash proof), drop the battery (may explode), take it to the beach (no sand). The list is much longer, but you get the idea. Gone are the days when you could drop a camera body into a manure spreader and shake it out and continue photographing.

4. I've made a few pictures with the DSC-HX1 on long telephoto. This is a dull cloudy day, and the lighting is relatively flat, but the detail is nice and sharp when enlarged to 8X10 prints. The DSLRs are potentially better, but I never could accept the responsiblity of keeping up with a 500 mm:f/5.2 lens for the DSLR. I have an 18 mm f/3.5, but it cost as much as the DSLR body and barely equals 28MM effective, whereas the DSC-HX1 has a 28 mm:f/2.8 equivalent built into the 500 mm f/5.2 telephoto. A tradeoff's a tradeoff.

5. Update March 11, 2010. Shot some more long telephotos but in the rain this time (the subject, not the camera). Subject was about 20 ft from camera. Brilliant Red, really three dimensional whites, and true mottled greens. Just like the book said: A rainy day really makes the colors jump out.

We travel a lot and definitely needed to upgrade to a wide angle camera. We looked a lot to find one that included a powerful zoom as well as the wide angle and decided to go for the Sony HX1 since we've always had Sony cameras and once again we weren't disappointed.
We were a little worried that it would be too heavy or big to be carried around during a long trip but this camera is just the right size and weight.
It works wonderfully well. We specially liked the panoramic function which allowed us to take wonderful shots of squares, archeological sites, etc. and in showing the whole area it brings you the sense that you're there.
A great plus is that it includes a compact wall charger, so you don't need to purchase a separate travel charger as with the older cameras.
I definitely recommend this camera.

The DSC-HX1 has been around Sony's Cybershot H series family for awhile now, and it doesn't seem to want to step down from its throne as the king of the Sony superzoom series. Having won the TIPA award for best superzoom digital camera in 2009, this camera is kind of tough to beat, even for Sony. I wonder if the engineers at Sony Japan is cracking their heads trying to come up with the next best superzoom as I'm typing this late review of a camera that has already been out there conquering the world for nearly a year.

The HX1 doesn't have the best image sensor. At 9.1 Megapixels, its sensor's resolution is less than impressive when an entry level Sony Cybershot can easily give you 10.1 Megapixels, or more. In fact compared to most smaller digital cameras out there, its CMOS sensor tends to be a little on the noisy side. The WX1 and TX1 have better output at ISO 800 and above, the HX1 struggles with noise in the dark. The uploaded images showing the noise levels from ISO 125 all the way to ISO 3200 proves it. However, when you're considering buying a camera like the HX1 or any superzoom digital cameras, you're looking for something that can zoom beyond the pathetic 3X, 4X or 5X, and the G-lens of the HX1 does a fantastic job at bringing you an almost distortion free, 20X (from 28mm to 560mm) of optical zoom.

I use my Sony Alpha 550 to shoot stock photos for obvious reasons (low noise, great details), but when I want something that weighs less than a brick that I can lug around with me all the time while I'm out with friends having a good time, a super compact like the S950, TX1 or the WX1 just seems to be missing something. For one, these cameras, as good as they are with noise supression, does not allow manual control of my exposures, which can be a bit of a nightmare when I need to shoot in the dark. I understand that point-and-shoot usually doesn't happen at places completely devoided of light, but from my experience, there are occasions when you just want to use your compact to take in the dark atmosphere as it is, and this is where these super compacts refuse to work with me. Even the so-called long exposure modes like the night mode, fireworks mode will only open the shuttle of these super compacts for 1 to 2 seconds, which I find rediculous.

The HX1, thankfully for its manual and shuttle speed control, let's me control the length of the exposure up to 30 seconds (no bulb mode here, unfortunately). So, along with all the convienience of a super compact (if you can get over the size, it's not exactly big, but not something you can slip into a pocket either), the HX1 gives you just enough manual controls, including manual focusing to let you compose your shots more freely when you want to take over. Super compacts like the S950, TX1 and WX1 simply refuse to let you do anything beyond pressing the shuttle halfway down to focus, and all the way down to capture.

Is the HX1 a perfect camera? No. But does it perform? Yes. As a superzoom with DSLR controls, it does way more than any super compact could. It may not deliver the cleanest pictures (maybe Sony can fix this with a firmware upgrade?), but its superzoom G-lens allows you to pull in objects so far away that no DSLRs can do with just one lens. The most powerful zoom lens from the Sony alpha family can only zoom up to 14x, from 27mm to 375mm, whereas this tiny little (compared to a DLSR) bridge camera zooms from 28mm to 560mm. Oh yeah, and just like any compact cameras, you don't need to switch lenses to shoot in macro. With my alpha system, I have to carry a DT30mm F2.8 macro, a DT18-250mm F3.5-6.3, a 50mm F1.4 and a 70-300G, to make sure I can handle everything that I may come across when I'm shooting out there. These lenses weigh more than 10 pounds combined. The HX1 weighs less than 2 pounds.

So, if you're looking for a bridge camera with a mega zoom lens that does everything a super compact does but want manual control, this camera should be just perfect for you. It may not give you the best quality JPEGs, perhaps in a few more years Sony will fix that but for now, this superzoom is going to see alot of actions along with my DSLR than any of my super compacts.

Pros:

1) Great zoom, 28mm to 560mm
2) Punchy colors, rich, deep, vivid tones
3) Manual controls like DSLRs
4) Compact camera features like smile detection, face detection, color tone controls, multiple scene selections.
5) Large 3" LCD display
6) Supersteady shot works to allow you to shoot at shuttle speed below 1/30 second.
7) Incredibly lightweight for such a powerful zoom camera.

Cons:

1) Pictures tend to be noisy, but there's a noise reduction control (3 levels) to suppress the noise.
2) Slow to start up, takes about 5-7 seconds.
3) Doesn't use AA, if you like the convenience, but the infolithium battery tells you exactly how many minutes you have before you need to recharge.
4) Continuous shooting limited to 10 frames per burst, then stops for like 17 seconds to store the images.
5) Limited DRO-plus usage, up to ISO 800 only.
6) No flash hot-shoe to use external flash.

Brought this camera as a gift for my dad.
He is really impressed. I got my chance to play with it for a couple of weeks and I know why he is so impressed with it.
First of all it is really easy to use.
I used it to capture some nature , abstract objects , night shots , low-light shots , long distance shots. The images were absolutely gorgeous.
It is really amazing that a camera that is packed with so many features / zoom ranges can output such high image quality.

The best feature I found was the sweep panorama mode. Used it to capture bridges , tall buildings , hills , freeways. Nowhere did it disappoint. Works perfectly all the time.

Overall the camera is really easy to use for a point and shoot kinda guy and also has lots to play around tweaks / adjustments built for the more serious photographer.

Would definitely recommend it !

I bought this DSC-HX1 because it is fully automatic but allows manual operation if desired. Having had it for less than a month, I have not yet read the instruction manuel so I have only used it in automatic mode. I am pleased with the ease of operation and the quality of picture it takes automatically. I am anxious to begin to learn and use its many features.