 Much better than anticipated. Pre-sale reviews are overly critical |
| Review Date: May 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Andrew J. Marton, Los Angeles, CA USA |
I was looking for a new digital camera to replace my Leica V-Lux 1 which a bought a couple of years ago. I sold the Leica and was planning to use the money to buy a current camera. My dilemma was whether to stay with a super zoom camera (flaws and all) or take a step toward an entry model DSLR. I also wanted a 2009 model as I wanted the most current technology available so I would be less inclined to feel the need to buy an "upgrade" in another year or so. Ultimately, I narrowed my search down to the Sony HX1, Canon SX1, Panasonic G1 and Sony a300. For me, build quality and feel, size (travel convenience) and lens versatility were my main priorities (not necessarily in that order). I think it is very important to figure out exactly what you really want out of your camera so you get a good fit that matches your expectations. So for me, low light picture quality was not a major concern as I expected to use the camera mostly outdoors or in good lighting situations. And in-door shots were probably going to be portraits or museum shots so again it was not a big concern for me.
Initially, I really liked the form factor of the SX10 (SX1 was not out yet) and its feel in my hands and layout. But I did want a reusable intelligent battery vs. AAs and I was not that impressed with the screen resolution and EVF. Reviews of the SX1 were also a little disappointing so I decided to pass on the Canon. I next explored the DSLRs. I really liked the Sony a300 but in the end couldn't justify the cost (this is a minor hobby for me and kids are teenagers so there are a lot less Kodak moments for m) and I didn't want to lug lenses around as I did that most of my life when I had old fashioned film cameras like the Nikon FE2 / N6006. The G1 was very intriguing but I was leaving on a summer vacation in early June and did not want to wait too long as I wanted to be completely familiar with the camera before the trip and know how to "work" the camera so I got good results (experience has taught me that there is a learning curve on getting descent pictures from a particular model) so I passed on the G1 as its release date was in June. In the end, I "talked" myself out of buying a DSLR system for one main reason - I simply was not ready or committed to traveling around with all the lenses I would want - wide angle and zoom. Basically I went with convenience / ease of use over picture perfection. For ME the step up in picture quality was not worth the trouble of walking around with all that gear. I do a fair amount of camping and scenic trips so I like to keep my load light. HD video was not an issue at all as I have the Canon HV30 which is simply an amazing camcorder. It also takes incredible video in low light situations. I highly recommend it.
In the end, I decided on the HX1 because of the features that I thought were cool and would inspire creativity on my part. For me, convenience is a big factor. At some point, my enthusiasm drops off in direct relationship to whether or not it is a PIA to do something. This is a character flaw for me but worth considering if you have similar tendencies over time. Interestingly, this also happens to be my first Sony camera although I have had several Sony camcorders in the past - so I don't believe that brand loyalty or familiarity with Sony played a part in my decision (aside from my confidence that Sony products made in Japan are exceptionally well made). The panoramic picture, twilight and anti-blur features and burst picture mode (10 frames) ultimately swayed. I thought that all of these features, despite some valid weaknesses added value to the camera and would enhance my digital camera experience. I also really liked the build quality, menu structure and ergonomics. As for the features, the panoramic picture feature works well once you understand how to use it and recognize its limitations. So far I have been very happy with the results. I am working on sharpening the picture as I think it is a little soft for my tastes. But it is so easy to use and I use it often just for fun! I find myself exploring options - something I would not do before and certainly not during post production when I am trying to tweak the 100s of pictures that I have taken during some adventure. Same for the twilight and anti-blur features. I find myself trying out each feature and comparing the results. Again, I am very happy with the results. Is it exceptional - no, but pictures turn out better than if you did not have the option and I am not overly critical as it looks great on the screen or 4x6 print out. Even 8x10 is respectable. Quite frankly, it's really nice not to have to do all that editing in "post production". (I use Adobe CS.) I think the lens quality is exceptional and like the way the camera lens extends out when you power up the camera - as it pushes off the lens cap. A small cute feature that everyone seems to have overlooked in their reviews. But quite easy to get used to - like all the little auto on features in your car (and the lens has a strap so it safely hangs by the side of the camera). I am not sure if that is an intended result but I love it.
I wish the initial start up was a tad faster but it's not slow - I just wish it was faster. Zooming in and out is average. Nothing to write home about but not necessarily slow. My recollection is that the Panasonic Z26 I had at one time was faster. I also wish the lens was slightly wider than 28mm but it will have to do. (I am spoiled on this point as my son has a Nikon 10.5mm lens on his Nikon D2H and it is amazing when taking close ups of flowers, etc. - I love the distortion). But on the flip side the zoom is amazing on the HX1 and the anti-shake feature seems to do the job. I love the way I can pull a subject in to fill the screen! So overall I am very happy with the lens' performance. The EVF is small but has nice resolution. The 3" screen is beautiful and much better than what I saw on the SX10. The Sony screen reminds me of HD TV - it is that smooth and the colors are fantastic. It appears to have a very good anti-reflective coating. Hopefully it will last. I wish it had a swivel mount like the canon so I could turn in the screen to protect it when it is put away but the articulating stem is better than nothing.
Menu navigation is relatively easy for me with the HX1 and I prefer it to the Canon menu for some reason - even though I have HV30 camcorder. I think Sony started from scratch on this menu or adopted the basic scheme from the a300/a350 series and it makes sense and is intuitive. I like it better than the menu tree on my past Nikons, Canons and Panasonics.
All in all, I am extremely happy with the HX1 (only had it for a week so far) and strongly recommend that you check out the camera in person as I read every (and I mean every) pre-sale review on it and found that a lot of the criticisms were overly hyper-technical or ultimately less significant during my test of the camera.
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Fantastic Camera
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| Review Date: April 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Tim Martin, Wisconsin |
| This camera is fantastic. I have had it for about almost a week and I can honestly say, it takes beautiful photos. The zoom really gets out there, and even the smart zoom works well. I usually do not use the digital zoom, but it works when you need it. The burst mode is awesome when you use it. Great for sports photos. I shot some baseball team practice photos and it just stops the action. The twilight mode works well and even the high ISO shots are acceptable. The panoramic mode is cool. While taking the photos separately and stitching them together would achieve better results, this is more convenient. Battery life is great. I am still using it on the initial charge. Over 300 shots and 10 short videos and there is still over 90 minutes left according to the camera. After playing with a Panasonic DMC-FZ828 & Canon SX1 I am confident that this is the best camera for me for the money. The image quality is on par or better than the others, the HD video is better, and there are just so many more features on the Sony that make it a winner. |
BEST COMBINATION OF POSSIBILITIES
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| Review Date: May 16, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Joseph C., San Francisco, CA USA |
Before to order Sony HX1 through Amazon, I did a lot of reserch works with all possible information online, my considerations were among Canon SX1,Canon T1i, Nikon P90 and Sony HX1.Now after almost two weeks of practice with Sony HX1,I can surely to say it's really the best combination of all cool possibilities you can find on current market:
Possibility 1: Super optical Zoom up to 34X( equv. to 952mm)if you use 1.7x tele-conversion lens which is not offered by Canon SX1. DSLRs cannot easily reach this zoom range unless you are rich enough and strong enough to bring those lenses in your backpack.
Possibility 2: Great picture quality with the sharpness comparable to most low-end DSLRs if you have enough kownledge and technics of photograghy, for example by adjusting ISO, aperture or speed etc. HX1 offers almost all features you can find in DSLRs when you turn the mode dial to M,A,S,P. The best picture is not made by the camera, it's by your brain. Sony HX1's professional G lens made the good quality possible.
Possibility 3: Great sharp HD Video with stereo sound,you can record video as long as your memory card can hold, with a 16GB card you can easily take hours of HD video. The resolution of 1440x1080p is already sharp and smooth enough and when you watch your video with TV or computer, what you see is the same video quality as full HD at 1980x1080. Yes, Canon SX1 has the REAL 1980x1080, but it has a limitation of 4GB or 30 min, while its' video file MOV is much larger which can quickly occupy all your memory card. Canon T1i has HD video too, but it's with mono sound and same limitation.
Possibility 4: Graet performance with low light conditions.HX1's unique Hand-held Twilight and Anti-Motion Blur modes are so cool that you don't need a tripod to shoot good pictures at night, in church or any indoor occasion. They are both based on Sony's technology of combining 6 speedy shot pictures into one final photo.Besides,you have the option to change ISO up to 3200.
Possibility 5: HX1's Panorama (both horizontal or vertical)is the only fantastic feature you can find now in the whole world.
Possibility 6: Very friendly nevigation Menu lets your job simple,easy and convenient.
Possibility 7: Camera body is very solid but light weight with Sony's stylish design.
Possibility 8: High-speed shoot at 10frames/s with full resolution,so you never miss the important moments when your kids play sports. It's the highest speed which even surpasses the high-end DSLRs. Though it has a limit of 10 pics per shoot and a 17-second waiting time to saves these pics, as an ordinary amateur I'm satisfying with this feature.
Possibility 9: You can add many cool digital color filters through the built-in menu to gain the same resault of the real filters.
However, the only cons I noticed right now are the limit of 10 continuous shoots and the design of the tilt LCD.It's better to let LCD reversible(like Canon SX-1)so I can protect the screen easily. I highly recommand to apply a protective film with your LCD.
I'd like to rank SONY HX-1 with 6 or 5+ stars if it's possible. You'll not regret to own such a great combination of all possibilities at a right price range for our amateurs. The bottom line is, if you are not in the industry of publishing,advertising or media, you probably need only this camera along with your journey around the world, no matter you need high-quality,high-zoom,high-speed,HD Video,high-ISO,panorama,low-light shoot,low-light weight, HX-1 offers you all. Good luck!
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The perfect stop gap camera - Two weeks use report
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| Review Date: May 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Bay Wiz, SF, CA |
I was somewhat scarred as a youth having to carry around a huge film SLR. Looking back now I appreciate the film quality, but it made me a point and click user for most of my adult life. Now that I have a child, I really wanted to get back to the best possible picture quality and also capture HD movies.
The HX1 is exactly the camera I need and can afford right now. The photo quality is the best I've experienced in years and the HD video is top notch. My previous cameras, the Sony T500 and W290 had very good 720p HD video. The HX1 1080p HD video is noticeably better. After two weeks and weekends of use, here are my pros and cons:
Pros
- Great photo quality
- Full size HDMI cable support. It comes with an adapter so you can use any HDMI cable which is much cheaper than buying a Mini HDMI cable
- Camera feels very solid
- Panorama mode is fun, especially if you print it out
- HD video is fantastic. Stereo sound is great
- Great feel in your hands, comfortable grip
- LCD is nice and big. Swivel screen feature gets used a lot
- Automatic mode gets the perfect shot most of the time
- I love that there are different levels of shooting modes including full manual. I feel this is the perfect trainer before moving to a full SLR
- Camera is very light
Cons
- Camera turns on and off fairly quickly, but not instant (fast enough that I haven't missed any photo ops though)
- I wish the LCD swiveled to protect the screen. I highly recommend a screen protector as the LCD rubs against your chest when using the neck strap
- Low light performance is better than point and clicks, but it's no SLR
I feel the HX1 is the perfect camera for those seeking great photos, sharp HD video, and a high zoom for a price more affordable than a full SLR with HD video and high zoom lens. When I visit friends and family, the HDMI cable is so easy to plug in to HDTVs for quick viewings. At home, I connect my pro duo card to the PS3 which reads the data flawlessly.
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Awesome camera!
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| Review Date: May 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: kuangw01, |
I just took this camera on a 2 week trip to Brazil and Argentina and I absolutely love it! I have owned 5 Sony cameras and this is the best that I've seen. Prior to this, I've had 4 point-and-and-shoot cameras from the cybershot series as well as the DSLR A100. I travel extensively, so I mostly use the camera for scenic shots. I've had the A100 for about 3 years now. While I am happy with the image quality, it does weigh quite a bit especially if you have to carry 2 lenses with it. Also, my fiance loves to take videos, so he's been using the T10 as a backup camera and camcorder. I was looking for a lighter camera that also has good video capabilities, and viola! I found the HX1! I struggled between giving 4 or 5 stars on this review, and at the end decided on 5 stars. Here's why:
You must know what type of camera you need before making a purchase. For me, the HX 1 has the perfect package. It has 20x optical zoom (which also works in video mode), perfect for spotting small animals in the Amazon jungle. The innovative hand-held twilight and anti-motion blur modes take 6 burst shots and even out to give a clearer picture. I've tried all these modes with maximum zoom and the image qualities were excellent. Even with super-steady-shot in place, I could not achieve the same clarity with my A100 in low light conditions or with motion. I took pictures of monkeys in motion, landscape shots on a wobbly canoe, zoomed into flowers across the river...and the HX1 always delivered. The panoramic mode was really awesome. I took fantastic panormas of Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls, vertically and horizontally. While the resolution is not high and there are glitches if you look closely, I cannot complain because I would not have taken any of those shots if I had to stitch together the panormic image myself. The 10fps burst mode is really cool. It's true that you have to wait for it to process, but who cares if you can catch something in live action. The HD videos came out very very clear, even on my HDTV. I bought an 8gb memory stick and almost filled up the whole card because it was so much fun to play with all the features of the camera. And the weight really mattered. This camera was so much lighter than what I expected given it's slew of functions, that I took it everywhere, even on long hikes. Many of the photos that I took would not have existed if I had to lug the SLR because it was just too bulky and heavy.
That being said, this camera does have its shortcomings. It is a high end point-and-shoot, so do not expect it to deliver SLR quality shots. For that, you need a real SLR. All the reviews that said it performs poorly in high ISO setting are true, and the noise is definitely noticeable beyond 800 or so. But again for me, I take mostly daytime outdoor shots, so it didn't really matter. In the intelligent mode and program modes, you can only choose "no macro" or "automatic macro". This is kind of annoying when you really need a macro shot of a flower or insect, because the camera sometimes doesn't know what to focus on (it will automatically focus on the object closest to it, which may not be the desired subject). You can choose manual focus, but it's a bit of a hassle to keep changing settings, as you cannot really move the lens back and forth like a real SLR lens. Thus, you will have to choose the distance for the camera to focus on, which may seem too long when the butterfly is about to fly away... =)
I give this camera 5 stars because it's perfect for my needs - namely the 20x zoom, the smaller size compared to DSLRs, the HD video capability (a good HD camcorder will cost upwards of $600), strong battery life (takes up to 380 shots on one charge) and the innovative functions. such as panoramic mode, hand held twilight, and anti-motion blur modes. It does have enough manual functions such as shutter priority or aperature priority modes and manual focus should you choose to use them. All in all, it fits all my needs and I had loads of fun with it. |
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