Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V

Review Index – (updated 26 August’10)

PCMag has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘The HX5V boasts great image quality, unmatched video recording, innovative software features, and a big, beautiful LCD. It’s not perfect, however: You can get more zoom elsewhere and its connectivity options could stand to be improved.’

DPS has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘Why you would buy this camera: you want to shoot AVCHD or MPEG4 movies without the need to lug a camcorder; you want to enjoy a superb panorama camera; you want the burst feature. Why you wouldn’t: you need movie capture with top quality sound; you want aperture or shutter priority exposure control.’

Wired has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘Image quality was also near the best of four other GPS-enabled cameras we tried, thanks to several helpful features like the multishot high dynamic range (HDR) mode, which combined highlight and shadow detail of two late-afternoon shots of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into one evenly balanced photo.’

Pocket-lint has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘The only feature it conceivably misses out on at this level is the new 3D Sweep Panorama functionality added to the most recently announced trio of Sony Cyber-shot point and shoots. But unless you’re the proud owners of 3D-enabled TVs to view the results on, the HX5 does more than enough to justify a place in your pocket, without battering the wallet next to it.’

Stuff.tv has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘Photos are sharp and detailed and noise-free at lower ISO settings, and colours are clean and accurate. Some cameras (the Canon S90, for instance) deliver punchier colours in their JPEGs, but there’s really nothing about the Sony HX5V’s photos that strikes you as sub par.’

LetsGoDigital has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘The Sony Cybershot HX5 surely pleased me. The Sony DSC-HX5 would have undoubtedly been the photographer’s favorite. Nevertheless, I name the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX5 as the favorite camera of the moment, excellent!’

DPReview has posted their travel camera review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘The HX5 is capable of great results, and of all the cameras in this group, it gives amongst the most pleasing images in a range of situations.’

DigitalVersus has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘Sony has pulled out all the stops to really take on the big names in this field. The HX5V is powerful, full of features and fun to use. That can’t make up for the mediocre screen, which is something we just can’t understand on a camera which should otherwise have such lofty ambitions.’

PCWorld has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘Don’t call Sony’s GPS-enabled, feature-loaded DSC-HX5V a gimmick camera. It supplements its in-camera goodies with great image quality and terrific shooting modes.’

USAToday has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘For just over $300, you get a feature-packed point and shoot that does really well in great light, and not so bad in lower light, if you make the low light work for you.’

LuminousLandscape has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘If you’re a serious photographer looking for a tool that can produce higher quality images, then I would suggest that a shirt pocket sized camera that costs under $300 may not be the choice for you. Also, the HX5 does not shoot raw, and therefore fully baked and sharpened images are the order of the day, making ultimate IQ less than that possible from a comparable sized camera.’

DPS has posted their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V where they write – ‘We’ll admit to not being sold on Sony’s backlit sensor technology, but that shouldn’t be taken to mean the HX5V doesn’t take a pretty picture, it certainly does. Factor in high quality HD video, the 10 fps continuous shooting, fast autofocusing, and super-fun geotagging, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V easily ranks as one of our favorites for the year. No question it comes “Highly Recommended”.’

PhotographyBay
“The HX5V is another winner from Sony that I can highly recommend to anyone looking for a full-featured and highly-capable pocket camera. While not as slick as the touchscreen interface on the TX7, the 10x zoom lens and GPS-capability make the HX5V equally lust-worthy for your gadget bin.”

DPExpert
“The image quality is on a par with other compacts, but we expected it to be better. We compared the Sony with a conventional compact and could not see any reason to prefer one to the other. Sony may be onto something with the new backlit sensor but as things stand we’ll never know. When shopping look at the Panasonic TZ10 – it also has GPS and the NR is less destructive.”

ePhotozine
“If I needed a compact camera, and wasn’t looking for extended manual controls, then the performance of the HX5 has proven itself worthy. I’d recommend it if you fall under that demographic because it’s a lovely camera to use and is very well made. The only reason that it’s not Highly Recommended is because of the price.”
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CameraLabs (Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur Results)
“While there’s still a small difference in brightness (despite identical reported exposures), it’s clear the Handheld Twilight version is cleaner than the one shot in Program. The patchy noise artefacts of the Program version have been greatly reduced, with crisper edges.”
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NeutralDay
“It may not please hardcore enthusiasts (no aperture priority, shutter speed priority, or RAW), but we’re confident that most photographers, especially the more technology inclined will find a lot to like in the HX5V. Given that we have no trouble awarding the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V a “Highly Recommended”.”
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CNET
“If you’re in the market for a compact megazoom camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V is worth considering for its shooting performance and low-light photo quality. Though overall photo quality could be sharper and colors more accurate, the results are generally very good, especially if all you’re after is a decent snapshot. Also, while its Intelligent Auto mode is very reliable, you’ll need to experiment with the different settings and shooting options (and read the instruction manual thoroughly) to get the most from this excellent camera.”
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Video Review @ Tiger Direct

PhotoReview
“Buy this camera if:
- You’re looking for a pocketable superzoom digicam with built-in geotagging capabilities.
- You would like to record Full HD video clips with stereo sound.
- You want good wide-angle coverage and competent image stabilisation for shooting both video and still pictures.
- You want high burst capacity at high resolution.
- You would enjoy the multi-shot modes this camera provided.”
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PhotographyBlog
“And we haven’t even mentioned the frankly astonishing 10fps burst shooting mode, welcome support for Secure Digital as well as Sony’s own format, and a price-tag that while not cheap is at least on a par with the other main contenders. In short, the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX5 is an excellent camera with no major flaws that’s easily deserving of our Highly Recommended award.”
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DCResource
“I have mixed feelings about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V. It’s not the best low light shooter out there (that honor goes to Fuji), nor does it have the best GPS implementation (that award goes to Panasonic). That said, it does a decent job of both, and offers photo quality that’s folks making smaller prints will have no issues with, plus a really nice movie mode and a host and point-and-shoot features. Those of you who want full manual controls and more detail in your photos may want to consider another camera. Either way, it’s worth a look if you’re looking for a compact ultra zoom camera.”

CNET.uk
“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V initially seems like a brilliant camera that works supremely well. But then it goes and turns out these weirdly over-processed images. If it were an £80 budget camera, you might turn a blind eye, but it isn’t. The difference between the quality of the camera and the quality of its results verges on painful.”
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TrustedReviews
“The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 once again demonstrates that when it comes to technical excellence Sony should never be underestimated. The camera is well made, handles and performs extremely well, and is capable of producing very good results under a wide range of circumstances. It is a technological tour-de-force loaded with more features than anything else on the market.”
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CameraLabs
“The bottom line is Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 delivers a highly compelling combination of traditional and unique features, and while it may fall down on a couple of aspects, the overall experience remains very strong. As such it easily earns our Highly Recommended rating, although it goes without saying you should very carefully compare it against Panasonic’s equally good TZ10 / ZS7.”
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CNET (Hands-On Review)

PhotographyBay (Hands-On Review)
“The Sony HX5V is sure to be a hit with the resolution, high ISO potential and HD video options. Other features like the killer Sweep Panorama mode and in-camera HDR mode will just add icing on the cake. I think Sony has combined a feature set into an attractive price point with the HX5V. “

Digital Trends (Video Preview)