The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is a feature-packed compact digital camera, offering a 10x, 25-250mm zoom lens, 10.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, built-in GPS tracking complete with a compass and full 1080i high-definition video recording with stereo sound and HDMI output. Other key features of the Sony HX5 travel-zoom camera include the new Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode, which now compensates for moving objects, a 3 inch LCD screen, 10fps burst shooting mode at full resolution, ISO range of 125-3200, Optical SteadyShot with new Active Mode which cuts camera-shake while you’re shooting handheld HD video, Intelligent Auto, Program and full Manual shooting modes, and support for both Memory Stick PRO Duo and Secure Digital cards. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is available in black and gold.
The DSC-HX5 is Sony's first entry into the increasingly popular travel-zoom sector, which typically offers a 10x or bigger zoom lens in a compact camera that you can still fit inside a pocket. Panasonic started the trend a couple of years ago with the debut of the market-dominating TZ-series, but they've since been joined by offerings from Samsung, Nikon, Casio and now Sony, who have seemingly stuffed virtually all of their competitors' main features into the new HX5. It really does read like a traveller's wish-list, with even a Manual shooting mode included, something that took Panasonic three generations to finally offer on the recent DMC-TZ10 and TZ8 cameras.
The Sony DSC-HX5 has a conventional 10x extending optical lens with respectable maximum apertures of f/3.5 at the 25mm wide-angle setting and f/5.5 at full telephoto. The HX5's lens is a joy to use, with a 10x zoom in such a small package making this camera more adaptable than you might first think, with everything from ultra-wide landscapes to candid long-distance portraits within easy reach. The 25mm focal length provides an entirely new wide angle of view that can only increase your creativity. You won't want to go back to a "standard" 35mm zoom after using the 25mm lens on the DSC-HX5, or even a 28mm one - 3mm at the wide-angle end really does make a big difference. Even when set to 250mm, the lens doesn't extend too far from the front of the HX5, making it look to all intents and purposes like a "normal" compact camera. Also, the combination of the f/3.5 aperture, effective optical image stabilizer and maximum ISO speed of 3200 makes this camera well suited to hand-held low-light photography. Sony has fitted a dual image stabilisation mechanism in the shape of both optical SteadyShot and an ISO range that extends up to ISO 3200. If not quite class leading, it's better than you'll find on an average point-and-shoot - you can see some examples on the Image Quality page. Note that you can't actually turn off the SteadyShot function.
Despite its big zoom lens, the HX5 is still quite a slender camera, measuring less than 3cms at its narrowest point and weighing 200g with the battery and memory card fitted, with a large 3-inch, 230k-dot resolution LCD screen at the rear. As you'd expect with a screen of that size on such a small camera, the HX5 has no optical viewfinder to fall back on. Providing the means of gripping the camera is a slightly indented vertical channel on the front and a similar thumb-shaped indentation on the rear, making the DSC-HX5 easy to get to grips with despite its smooth metal surface. Also located on the front of the HX5 is the lens, a small and narrow window for the flash and a porthole on the far right for the self-timer/AF illuminator.
Specification
