In this blog entry dated Feb 13, I’ve listed what I thought would be the Top 10 ultrazoom wide angle cameras. I have also asked, as I concluded the post, “What next? A Sony 24x optical zoom camera?”
I speculated that the Japanese giant, which already has a present in the ultrazoom segment, might have been saving the best for last.
So when Sony announced the 10x optical zoom DSC H20 about four days later, I couldn’t help but feeling a bit disappointed.
But early this month, Sony emerged with a bang at the PMA 2009 by announcing a new Cyber-shot, the DSC HX1, a camera which is emerging to be one of the most compelling and intriguing point-and-shoot cameras of 2009.
There are two features that set the camera apart from other models in the ultrazoom wide segment despite having a “lower” resolution of 9.1 megapixels and “standard” 20x optical zoom.
Pan and stitch
The first, is what the camera is best-known for: it’s ability to auto-stitch massive panoramic picture in just seconds.
You just pan the camera while pressing the shutter and moments later all the images taken at 10fps at full 9.1 resolution will automatically be stitched together. It can take up to 224-degree horizontal or 154-degree vertical shots.
You can still take that amount of panoramic picture with other cameras but it will be time-consuming, not to mention painstaking, trying to assemble the shots on PC.
New approach to low light photography
The second feature is its unique approach to low light photography.
Traditionally, to shoot in low light with point-and-shoot cameras, you need to play with a combination of slow shutter speed, slightly higher ISO (not too high as excessive noise will creep in) and large aperture or just let the “night shot mode” do the setting.
Now, the Sony HX1 adds another trick. First, it takes six shots in quick succession — a fraction of a second, Sony says — and then superimposes them to make a single picture.
Sony says that by doing this, “The camera calculates the position of objects in each frame and composes the sharpest picture possible, resulting in clearer, sharper images.”
I bet the ability to super-impose pictures also has its use other than for low light photography.
For more information, click on the two clips here. The clip on the right is the HX1 official trailer while the other one is a footage from the recent PMA 2009 by Aving TV.
Did Sony indeed save the best for last? I certainly think so.
So, did I regret buying the Canon SX1 IS before everyone else announces their camera model? I guess, I am now. The only consolation is Canon is updating the SX1 IS’ firmware to include a support for RAW.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It will be perfect if it got Carl Zeiss len. I was used to have a DSC-H1 (1st Sony Superzoom!). I liked it very much, even though it is slower and got lot of noise in low light shooting.
Ya.. Carl Zeiss is such a brand, that it is synonymous with optical quality!
I just purchased the Sony Hx1. A primary reason–after exhaustive research of cameras in this line–was the multi burst 10fps feature. However, after trying it out–I can only get clear multi burst pictures if I am outside with a lot of light.
Inside–even with a lot of light, no shadows, no flash needed, etc…–I get blurry pictures–which defeats the purpose of this feature. I was looking forward to using it inside with our kids at times–for reasons other than just being outside watching sports.
After all of my research I am surprised that no one else commented on this. Perhaps I am missing something. Anyone experience something similar?
which is best lumex fz38 or hx1