70%
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70%
Reviewed:
Jun 2010
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Released summer 2010, the feature-rich Sony Cyber-shot HX5 comes equipped with a 10MP Exmor R back illuminated CMOS sensor, 25-250mm lens and offers AVCHD 1080i Full HD movie recording, image stabilization and Intelligent Sweep Panorama. The HX5 is also equipped with a built-in GPS and compass. Externally, the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is similar to the H55, but the few differences between the two models are fairly major.
Although the span of the lens is the same, at 25-250mm in both models, they do not share a sensor. The HX5's sensor is of a lower resolution than the H55, at 10 rather than 14 million pixels, but it is EXMOR-R, a backlit CMOS type, designed to be more sensitive in poor light than a conventional small-format imager. It also packs a powerful video mode, and offers 1080p HD video recording, in the AVCHD format. The HX5 also adds a built-in GPS receiver and magnetometer (or in plain English: a compass). Other features include Sony's Super SteadyShot optical stabilisation system, and the same Smile Shutter and blink detection modes that are found on the H55. Overall, the HX5 is essentially a good camera, let down by very little customization and poor operational speed.
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| Announced: | Jan 7, 2010 |
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Average rating:
4.15
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Opinion: This is a great breakthrough in small camera world. It's ten times faster than my old Sony DSC-H5 and a quarter of its weight and size. That alone is amazing. As amazing as it can play full-HD movies through the included HDMI adapter straight to my television on its own battery. With 10x zoom, it can double as a telescope, I could read the name on a large ship some 5 miles away (Sincerity Ace), although the image began to look quite grainy. On the other hand, the panorama feature makes almost 180 degree photographs that will make PTGUI users cry. It requires quite some time to get used to the right mode for the right picture, it can be puzzling at times. With this camera in hand, one can wonder what will come next. No more D-SLR dreams for me... small cameras is the way to go.
Problems: This camera is VERY picky on SD Card memory. It simply won't work with A-Data Class 6 16Gb or even take a single picture with Hema 8Gb SD cards, so I'm stuck with an old Sandisk Class 2 SD 8Gb memory.
There's almost no metal in this camera. It fell some three times and is severely scratched, but still works!
There's a problem with auto mode at low light at night. The faces are washed out down to a few colors.
The USB cable is larger than the camera itself and that's a problem because it's a unique connector cable, and it weights as much as the camera!
Opinion: My first and last Sony camera.
GPS works so-so, but it is a cool feature for the price.
Included combo USB and video cable is ludicrous, very cumbersome and awkward. the camera has a propriety plug on it instead of a mini USB. I use my card reader and bypass using the supplied software.
Color accuracy is poor in the reds.
Good bracketing and seems to respond to changes in light levels.
Good continuous shooting, but slow to record the images, I missed some shots while it was busy.
The LCD screen is unusable in very bright conditions.
Heavy for pocket camera
I like the panorama feature.
Mode dial on top frequently gets bumped to wrong setting, either it moves too easily or is poorly located.
Problems: Today the plastic lens cover flaps stopped opening and closing all the way. I have had the camera 2 months and have taken almost 1500 photos, I think I am using it with care and storing in a case when not used. I am shipping it to Sony under warranty but I have to pay shipping and insurance. Too late to return it to Amazon.
Opinion: As a professional seeking a carry-along shooter on casual explorations, my expectations are in proportion to what one can possibly expect with a small sensor camera. In my opinion, the worst aspect of this one is the digital artifacts that appear at close inspection, even at 125 ISO. They appear to be sharpening done inside of the camera. It's a shame that a "raw" file format isn't offered, but that would probable do a great deal to enhance the final image quality, without introducing such artifacts. Other than that, the Sony is quite amazing in its capability, offering 10 shots/second full res image sets (of course you can't expect it to process that quickly!!) that take about 20 or more seconds to write to the card. The SD card that I'm using is a 16 GB Class 4 Sandisk Ultra II, which works flawlessly, btw. Videos focus continuously and rather well, considering the cost and type of instrument this is, with adequate sound quality. The special effect setting for low light shots impressively reduces noise like nothing I've seen before, and can capture pretty good images. The i-auto works good too, and will switch to macro automatically if the subject is close to the lens; pretty cool. There's lots of unique features (like the GPS, which I consider not useful for me) which are packed into this little wonder that make it quite a little performer. It takes a couple hundred shots to learn your way around the thing, and naturally there are some niggly things for me like the excessive button pressing required to change the exp. comp. setting or the ISO, for example, but this type of camera isn't designed to handle like an SLR, let's face it. It slips into your pants pocket easily, and it's unobtrusive as well, allowing for ultra convenience and candid photos--- unlike carrying along the 'ol SLR.
Problems: Not technically, but it's annoying that the f-stop range is so limited, and the manual setting feature is a bit awkward to implement. These aspects along with in-camera image-sharpening artifacts are probably the biggest detractors from what I think is a fine lightweight and very capable p.n.s. camera.
Opinion: Overall I am very pleased with my HX5. The image quality is great, except for some smearing of fine detail due to noise reduction. You should be able to shut this off. I post-process all my photos and the base photo, except for the smearing, is excellent to work from. However, if you do not like the camera output and do not post process, the HX5 does not offer you any ability to adjust noise reduction, contrast, saturation or sharpness in camera at all. So in that case, I would not recommend it.
However, if you can live with the default noise reduction and either post process your photos or are happy with the camera processing then I highly recommend it. I am especially pleased with its excellent dynamic range (even in Program and Manual modes) , which rivals a DSLR.
The 10FPS is wonderful for action shots (although without a viewfinder it can be hard to follow birds, etc and the special modes can be very useful. I do wish it had at east an aperture priority Mode in addition to its Manual Mode.
I hope that Sony will put out a version with full manual control, RAW, and in-camera adjustments of noise reduction, contrast, saturation and sharpness.
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