Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Released March 2012

A bridge camera with a stabilised 30× Zeiss lens, GPS route logging, a tilting screen and progressive Full HD video.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 18.2
Lens: 27–810 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 531 g

What reviewers say

Photography Blog and ePHOTOzine praised the useful zoom, solid handling, tilting screen and image quality, but considered the launch price high. Photography Blog highlighted consistent handheld telephoto results while finding the jog dial fiddly and viewfinder easy to overlook. ePHOTOzine praised battery life but noted purple fringing and a lens cap that can obstruct startup.

From photographyblog.com and ephotozine.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Effective resolution: 18.2 MP
Largest image: 4896 × 3672
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type progressive-scan Exmor R CMOS; approximately 18.9 million total and 18.2 million effective photosites. Optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG still images and MPF 3D images; no RAW. High-resolution Sweep Panorama produces stitched 10480 × 4096 images, distinct from single-frame resolution
ISO detail: Ordinary single-frame range ISO 100–3200; ISO 4000–12800 uses Clear Image technology and multi-frame compositing, rather than ordinary single-frame sensitivity
Image processor: BIONZ

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 27–810 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2.8–5.6
Optical zoom: 30×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 10 fps
Lens detail: Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*; actual 4.8–144 mm; 11 elements in 10 groups including 1 aspherical element. Equivalent range is 27–810 mm for 4:3 stills and 29–870 mm for 16:9 stills. Lens ring selects electronic zoom or manual focus; 60× Clear Image Zoom includes digital enlargement and is distinct from 30× optical zoom
Autofocus: Nine-area multi AF, centre AF, flexible spot, subject and face tracking, and manual focus; AF illuminator. Focus distance from lens front approximately 1 cm at wide angle and 200 cm at telephoto
Shutter: Mechanical shutter; Auto 4–1/4000 second, Program 1–1/4000, Manual and shutter priority 30–1/4000, aperture priority 8–1/2000
Burst detail: Up to ten full-resolution images at 10 fps, with a Low option. Focus, white balance and exposure are fixed from the first frame and flash is disabled. Internal-memory bursts are VGA; a compatible memory card is needed for full-resolution bursts
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot for stills; Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotational movement
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; Auto, forced, off, slow-sync and rear slow-sync modes. ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–12.4 m wide and 2–5.9 m telephoto
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program, aperture priority, shutter priority and Manual plus scene modes and picture effects. Internal ND filter; memory-recall settings. Multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: AVCHD 2.0; region-dependent 1920 × 1080 at 60p or 50p, 28 Mbps; the main frame rate represents the 60p-compatible version. FX and FH record 1920 × 1080 at 60i or 50i, 24 or 17 Mbps; HQ records 1440 × 1080 interlaced at 9 Mbps. Interlaced rates count fields, not progressive frames. MP4 records 1440 × 1080, 1280 × 720 or VGA at 30 fps or 25 fps according to region; optical zoom available while filming; continuous clips approximately 29 minutes
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone and mono playback speaker; Dolby Digital audio for AVCHD and AAC for MP4

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 921,000
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Xtra Fine TFT LCD with TruBlack and upward/downward tilt; approximately 921000 dots
Viewfinder detail: 0.2-type electronic viewfinder with approximately 201000-dot equivalent resolution; eye sensor switches automatically between finder and rear screen

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 450 photographs
Body weight: 531 g
Release detail: Sony Japan's original 28 February 2012 announcement specifies sale on 9 March 2012. March precision is retained without treating that Japanese day as a confirmed international first day
Recording media: Approximately 105 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo plus SD, SDHC and SDXC. Memory Stick Micro, microSD and microSDHC require separate adapters
Ports: Micro USB, Hi-Speed USB 2.0, mini HDMI and separate DC input
Wireless connections: GPS and digital compass record position and shooting direction; GPS Log records a route. No built-in Wi-Fi. TransferJet requires a compatible optional Memory Stick; Eye-Fi support uses a separate card
Battery life detail: NP-FH50 InfoLITHIUM battery. Maker CIPA claim approximately 450 photographs or 225 minutes with LCD, or 490 photographs or 245 minutes with EVF; continuous movie recording approximately 120 minutes with LCD or 130 minutes with EVF. Still-photo test has GPS off and Standard display resolution
Charging: Battery charges in the camera through the supplied AC-L200C/L200D adapter and DC input, approximately 100 minutes. A computer can also charge it over micro USB with the camera switched off; USB charging does not imply USB power supply
Dimensions: Approximately 121.6 × 86.6 × 93.3 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail: Approximately 531 g camera only, or 583 g including NP-FH50 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-FH50 battery, AC-L200C/L200D adapter, mains lead, micro USB cable, shoulder strap, lens cap and cap strap, and instructions; mains fittings vary by region

Pros and cons

Pros

27–810 mm equivalent optical zoom with a focus or zoom ring
Tilting screen, electronic viewfinder and manual exposure
GPS geotagging, compass and route logging

Cons

No RAW recording
Full-speed bursts stop after ten photographs
No built-in Wi-Fi

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H200	Bridge	1/2.3-type	20.1	22.3–580 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	430 g	2013
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX100V	Bridge	1/2.3-type	16.2	27–810 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	525 g	Apr 2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX300	Bridge	1/2.3-type	20.4	24–1200 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	623 g	Mar 2013

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V, rear display and controls: Sony Japan exact-model published image-index rear original, 740×555
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V held while photographing a duck, with rear screen visible: Sony official product photograph
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V lens close-up with maker-supplied Zeiss identification: Sony official product photograph
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V side and rear composition showing articulated screen: Sony official product photograph
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V mode dial close-up: Sony official product photograph
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V zoom, focus and custom-button close-up: Sony official product photograph
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V top controls and grip detail composition: Sony official product photograph
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V rear view with photograph displayed on screen: Sony official product photograph

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