Sony Cyber shot DSC HX5V

Sony Cybershot DSC HX5V Review

The new HX5V belongs to Sony's high-end point-and-shoot camera line, offering a number of image capturing and transfer options that many of the lower-end models do not sport. While coming in at a "mere" 10.2 megapixels the HX5V isn't one of the highest resolution cameras on the market today, but as many people have noted the 10x optical zoom more than compensates for the lack of picture pixel rendering. Further, the internal sensor suite for the camera has proven to be exceptional in many low-light settings, offering some of the best low-light photos possible with minimal noise and other visual artifacts.

Performance wise the HX5V also excels in many ways above its brethren, offering both speedy shooting as well as a compact, lightweight design to allow for the camera to easily be carried into any number of situations. On top of this the built in GPS feature for geotagging photos anywhere in the world is a major added plus for many users today, though unfortunately the actual activation of the feature is less than responsive at times and it can be some time before the actual GPS synchronizes properly (meaning that quick shots might be geotag-free if you need fast results). Overall, though, the responsive touch screen and other integral features of the compact camera make it a fun device to carry with you as well as a useful companion for many photographers on the go - especially given the ability to edit photos easily utilizing the touch screen features and then wirelessly transferring them to other devices.

On the down side of things many people have found that the compact camera does tend to take somewhat softer photos than many of its competitors out there on the market, offering less than stellar results on both still as well as video images (even though the camera is rated to take HD video). A number of the manual controls found on the device are also seen as somewhat cumbersome and difficult to locate without needing to look carefully - the power button on the top, for instance, is virtually flush with the body while the manual controls on the rear are difficult to make out and somewhat hard to press at times.

Nevertheless, all things considered, the HX5V is a fun camera for many people to enjoy that will offer decent results in a number of settings and provide users with feature-rich choices to select from when out and about shooting. It is also a camera of choice for low-light quick snaps, making it ideal for those who wish to capture moments at night or in poorly lit indoor environments. If you're looking to take some serious photos on a regular basis with excellent picture quality this may not be the compact camera of choice for you, though with easy image transfer features built in as well it's the perfect choice for a casual photographer looking for a good device to suit their daily lives.

Sony Cybershot DSC HX5V Pros

• Compact design
• Feature-rich options
• Excellent low-light image capture

Sony Cybershot DSC HX5V Cons

• "Soft" image and video capturing
• Slow activating GPS feature
• Difficult to use manual controls