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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 · Photo source

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1
Photo 1 of 9

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 · Photo source

Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Released April 2009

A bridge camera combining a stabilised 20× G zoom with manual exposure controls, full-resolution bursts and sweep panoramas.

Type
Bridge
Sensor
Other
Megapixels
9.1
Lens
28–560 mm equivalent
Video
1440 × 1080 at 30 fps
Body weight
453 g

What reviewers say

Photography Blog and digitalkamera.de praised the versatile lens, manual controls, tilting screen, fast shooting and easy panoramas. Both criticised slow burst processing and limited panorama resolution. Photography Blog found ISO 800 usable with reservations at ISO 1600; digitalkamera.de was more critical of texture loss from ISO 400.

From photographyblog.com and digitalkamera.de

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
Bridge
Sensor format
Other
Sensor type
Exmor CMOS
Effective resolution
9.1 MP
Largest image
3456 × 2592
RAW recording
No
Standard ISO range
125–3200
Sensor detail
1/2.4-type progressive-scan Exmor CMOS; 10.3 million total and 9.1 million effective photosites. Optical format is not a physical sensor measurement
Image formats
Fine or Standard JPEG still photographs; no RAW recording. Sweep Panorama produces stitched images up to 7152 × 1080 pixels horizontally
ISO detail
Burst and bracket shooting, DRO Plus and Advanced Sports modes limit the selectable range to ISO 125–800; ordinary still shooting extends to ISO 3200
Image processor
BIONZ; 12-bit DXP processing

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens
28–560 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture
f/2.8–5.2
Optical zoom
20×
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
10 fps
Lens detail
Sony G lens with actual 5–100 mm focal range; 13 elements in 10 groups including one aspherical and one ED element; 57 mm filter diameter. Optional VCL-DH1757 1.7× teleconverter is separate from the built-in lens
Autofocus
Nine-point multi AF, centre AF, flexible spot, semi-manual and manual focus; AF illuminator. Focus distance from lens front is approximately 1 cm to infinity at wide angle and 150 cm to infinity at telephoto
Shutter
Mechanical shutter; Sony specifies 2–1/4000 second in Auto, 1–1/4000 in Program, 30–1/4000 in shutter priority or Manual and 8–1/2000 in aperture priority
Burst detail
Up to 10 full-resolution frames at 10 fps; High, Mid and Low drive modes. Focus, exposure and white balance remain fixed from the first photograph; flash is disabled and slow shutters reduce speed. Internal-memory burst recording is limited to VGA; full-resolution bursts require a supported card
Stabilisation detail
Optical SteadyShot with continuous or shooting-only operation
Flash
Automatic pop-up flash with forced, off and slow-sync modes; ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–9.2 m wide and 1.5–5.1 m telephoto; ±2 EV adjustment in 1/3 EV steps
Exposure controls
Program, aperture priority, shutter priority and Manual; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. Hand-held Twilight and Anti Motion Blur combine six exposures into one image

Video

Highest video resolution
1440 × 1080 at 30 fps
Video detail
MP4 MPEG-4 AVC/H.264; 1440 × 1080 at approximately 30 fps in Fine or Standard, 1280 × 720 at 30 fps and 640 × 480 at 30 fps. Optical zoom remains available while filming; maximum continuous clip approximately 29 minutes or 2 GB. Recorded width is 1440 pixels rather than 1920
Audio
Built-in stereo microphone and playback speaker

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Electronic
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
230,400
Tilting screen
Yes
Display detail
Clear Photo LCD Plus TFT with adjustable angle and brightness
Viewfinder detail
Electronic viewfinder with approximately 201,000 equivalent dots

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim)
390 photographs
Body weight
453 g
Release detail
Sony's US announcement, reproduced in full by DPReview, specifies April 2009 availability. Sony Japan gives 24 April 2009 for Japanese sale; the international first day is not established
Recording media
Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo; approximately 11 MB internal memory. Fine, Standard and 720 video modes require PRO Duo or PRO-HG Duo
Ports
Proprietary multi terminal for USB, AV output and HDMI through the supplied adapter; Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and DC input. HDMI cable is separate
Battery life detail
NP-FH50 InfoLithium H battery; maker CIPA claim approximately 390 still photographs or 195 minutes, and approximately 150 minutes continuous movie recording
Charging
Supplied BC-VH1-series battery charger
Dimensions
Approximately 114.5 × 82.8 × 91.8 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail
Approximately 453 g camera only; 504 g with NP-FH50 battery and Memory Stick Duo, according to Sony's original announcement and archived specifications
In the box
NP-FH50 battery, BC-VH1-series charger, dedicated USB/AV cable, HDMI adapter, shoulder strap, lens cap and cap strap, software CD and instructions; power cable varies by region

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 28–560 mm equivalent optical zoom
  • Tilting screen and electronic viewfinder
  • Full-resolution 10 fps shooting and stereo HD video

Cons

  • Ten-frame burst with first-frame focus and exposure
  • JPEG stills without RAW recording
  • Memory Stick storage without an SD slot

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H7
BridgeOther8.131–465 mm equivalent640 × 480 at 30 fps375 g2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H9
BridgeOther8.131–465 mm equivalent640 × 480 at 30 fps407 g2007
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H2
BridgeOther636–432 mm equivalent640 × 480 at 30 fps389 gApr 2006

Sources

  1. sony.jp/cyber-shot/products/archive/DSC-HX1/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200903/09-0325
  3. sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/HX1_im_GB.pdf
  4. sony.jp/cyber-shot/emdown/data/HX1_hb_GB.pdf
  5. dpreview.com/articles/1729679445/sonydschx1

Photo: sony.jp

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