The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is an innovative super-zoom compact camera, offering a 20x optical zoom range (28-560mm) and a G branded lens that was originally developed for the Sony Alpha DSLR family. The 9 megapixel Sony HX1 features a new Sony-developed Exmor CMOS sensor which promises to deliver outstanding images with reduced noise, and the powerful BIONZ image processor supports full-resolution shooting at a remarkable 10 frames per second. Other standout highlights include 1080/30p HD movies, a 3.0 inch tilt-angle LCD screen, and a new Sweep Panorama mode which captures extra-wide landscapes easily and quickly. Retailing for around £480 / $500, we find out if the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 can live up to its promise.
Ease of Use
With its numerous new and intriguing features, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 was one of the surprise announcements of 2009. If we consider it a successor to the H50 of yesteryear, then we can argue that Sony is showing a rare example of megapixel restraint here; as the new model has the exact same resolution as its immediate forebear. Instead of upping the pixel count, Sony decided to endow the HX1 with a new lens, faster electronics and some truly unique features - and this was more than enough for the camera to make the headlines. No wonder we were eager to get our hands on a production model for a review!
A camera with a 20x zoom will never be shirt pocketable, but the Sony HX1 is actually quite compact and lightweight; definitely smaller and lighter than most DSLRs with a typical 3x kit zoom. Interestingly, this does not really affect handling in a negative way. While people with large hands will find that the little finger of their right hand has a more comfortable place underneath the camera than on the right-hand grip; most users will find the grip quite nice actually. It is ergonomically sculpted and the textured finish provides great purchase for your fingers.
Arguably the most remarkable part of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is the lens. As mentioned earlier, this is a 20x zoom that spans focal lengths ranging from 5mm to 100mm (28-560mm in old money). While there are a couple of competitors sporting an even more impressive range, this is still nothing to sneeze at - and Sony are even offering a 1.7x add-on teleconverter as an optional accessory; for those who would like to push the telephoto end to an almost incredible 952mm equivalent. The maximum aperture is a fast f/2.8 at the wide end and a more modest, yet perfectly acceptable f/5.2 at the other extreme of the zoom range. The zoom is of course stepped, but feels surprisingly smooth in action. It is quite fast too, especially for the huge focal range it spans.
The lens proudly bears the G designation, originally introduced by Minolta to distinguish their most prestigious lenses from the rest of the pack. Fortunately, it has lived up to our expectations - you can read more about this in the Image Quality section. Putting such a huge zoom on a camera that is intended chiefly for hand-held use would of course be nearly pointless without image stabilisation - thankfully, the feature is on board, under the brand name Optical SteadyShot. From the main shooting menu, you can specify if you want it to be always on or to kick in only when you are actually taking a picture. In the former case, you get a stabilised live image that helps with your composition, while in the latter, you theoretically get more effective stabilisation and definitely less battery drain. The Optical SteadyShot feature can also be switched off completely, for tripod work.
Above the lens is a bulge that resembles a prism hump, although of course there is no pentaprism to be found on the HX1. You can frame your shots using either the rear screen or the electronic viewfinder (EVF). Switching between the two is done by way of a button to the left of the mock prism housing, viewed from the back. I would have preferred Sony to place eye proximity sensors around the viewfinder eyepiece, so that the switch would occur automatically when you lift the camera to your eye, but you can get used to the button too. The EVF itself is crisp and reasonably fluid, but very small. One gets the feeling that this was one of the areas where Sony cut corners in order to keep the price within reasonable limits.
As far as the rear LCD goes, it is a three-inch, 230,400-dot affair that tilts 90 degrees both up- and downward. This makes it more flexible than the one on the A330/A380 DSLRs, which does not tilt that much down, but it's still not quite as great as the vari-angle design of some competitors. Outdoors visibility is quite good; perhaps not the best we have seen, but definitely a lot better than many other screens.
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