It may seem redundant purchasing a digital
compact camera these days, given that most of us typically have some kind of
smartphone (with reasonably decent built-in digital camera) in our pocket. But
once you decide to do some image editing with those smartphone shots, chances
are they won’t look as good as they did on your smartphone display.
That’s why the digital compact camera isn’t
quite dead yet, as users who demand better image quality and features won’t be
satisfied with the cameras found on smartphones, no matter how many megapixels
they sport.
The
DSC-HX20V falls into Sony’s compact superzoom category, sporting a 20x optical
zoom.
The DSC-HX20V falls into Sony’s compact
superzoom category, sporting a 20x optical zoom. This makes it a handy companion
to your holidays and travels, with the 20x zoom letting you get close to the
action while at a distance, something your smartphone cannot achieve.
The HX20V feels well-constructed, with a
metal and plastic body. While the HX20V may not be slimmest compact camera
around, it is pretty impressive for Sony to be able to squeeze in a 20x optical
zoom into a small body. Turning the camera around reveals the high-resolution
3-inch 921k-dot LCD display. The screen was sharp; though visibility under
direct sunlight was merely average. The buttons on the rear are quite small too;
those with large fingers may find this a minor issue.
The HX20V’s menu system appears as a long
list of settings and options to the left of the screen; scrolling all the way
down takes a while. Reaching the bottom will reveal another sub menu, so if
you’re in a hurry to adjust a setting, locating it may take a bit more time
than you would have liked. The camera does start up pretty quick and we found
autofocus to be snappy, even in low light.
Turning
the camera around reveals the high-resolution 3-inch 921k-dot LCD display.
The HX20V’s optical image stabilization is
sufficiently stable to allow for handheld shooting at the longest end of its
zoom range. Colors are vivid, but do take note that the HX20V employs very
aggressive noise-reduction, so details tend to get smudged and lost at higher
ISO sensitivities. Details start going at ISO800, and if you really need to
capture that shot, ISO1600 will do in a pinch, though at the expense of more
noise.
.
Details start going at ISO800, and if you really need to capture that shot,
ISO1600 will do in a pinch, though at the expense of more noise
The Sony DSC-HX20V will appeal to frequent
travelers as well as those looking for that extra zoom range in an easy-to-use
package. Autofocus is quick and the camera features quite a few modes for the
casual shooter, such as two Auto modes, high dynamic range (HDR)and Anti Motion
Blur modes. Image stabilization is good, but image quality but the HX20V’s
noise reduction results in detail loss, while its user interface needs some
refinement. The HX20V’s design is nothing to shout about, and some users may
prefer a more contemporary and attractive look and feel. But if you don’t
intend to pixel-peep, regularly post photos online and need something simple to
use, the HX20V is more than capable.
The
HX20V’s design is nothing to shout about, and some users may prefer a more
contemporary and attractive look and feel.
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Basic
Specifications
§ CCD
effective megapixels: 18.0 megapixels
§ CCD
size: 1/2.3in
§ Viewfinder:
none
§ LCD
screen size: 3.0in
§ LCD
screen resolution: 921,600 pixels
§ Optical
zoom: 20.0x
§ Zoom
35mm equivalent: 25-500mm
§ Image
stabilization: optical, lens based
§ Maximum
image resolution: 4,896x3,672
§
File formats: JPEG, MPO; AVCHD, MP4 (AVC)
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