The Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1 Superzoom Bridge Camera : Panorama

Finally, a camera upgrade, this time to the new Song Cybershot DSC-HX1 Camera. Though in the superzoom bridge cameras department and not a professional DSLR camera, it does have some nice features and gadgets that make up for the image quality.

(Obviously,  a promotional video, but it shows the highlights)

Key specs:

• Sensor : 1/2.4 " Type CMOS, 9.1 million effective pixels
• Maximum Image Size  : 3456 x 2592
• Lens : 28-560mm equiv.(4:3), 31-620mm (16:9) ; 20x Optical zoom ; F2.8-8.0(W)-5.2-8.0(T)
• Video Recording : HD Up to 1440×1080 30fps
• Special Scene Modes : Sweeping Panorama, Twilight, Anti-Shake.
• LCD screen : Tilting ; 230,000 pixels ; 3.0 inch TFT LCD
• Continuous shooting  : max 10 fps

Without doubt, one of the most attractive features of this camera – aside from the zoom – is the "Sweep Panorama Mode" (see at 1:04). While it took me forever to do panoramas with any of the other cameras I’ve used, this camera makes it ridiculously effortless. High definition (+-) videos are there too, if you’re really into heavy videoing.

So, to test it out a bit, here’s a panorama I took of my university (Hong Kong’s HKUST), shot from two locations, and after a Picasa compression to 1600px (click on the photo and wait while it loads to see the full image).

Wide

Standard

Wide

Standard

To my unprofessional taste, being able to pull off this kind of panorama in 2 seconds is totally insane. This has to be a standard feature in all cameras.

In HK, the cost of this camera varies, depending on where you’re buying. Since I’m a foreigner and lacking expertise  in the local market where fakes are more common than not, I went for the safer Broadway retailer choice. Surprisingly, showing them prices of other stores and asking them to re-evaluate their offers tends to lower the price a bit (~5-10%) and add a few small goodies.

Received: Camera, tripod, 8GB memory, extra battery, the camera with all the regular accessories and software.

Price: 3760HK$ ~ 485US$ . Compare that with Amazon’s.

Sample reviews : DPReview, CNet . Generally, professional photographers are happy with the new features, but are not pleased with image quality. Honestly, having played with plenty of bridge camera, I don’t think average people like myself notice the differences. :S

A nice little toy. Hopefully, something to boost my quick travel photography a bit till I go for the real thing.