Sony · Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
A pocket travel camera with a stabilised 20× zoom, GPS route logging, manual exposure and progressive Full HD video.
- Type
- Compact
- Sensor
- 1/2.3-type
- Megapixels
- 18.2
- Lens
- 25–500 mm equivalent
- Video
- 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
- Body weight
- 221 g
What reviewers say
Reviewers praised the long zoom, responsive shooting, stabilised video and useful panorama modes. Photography Blog found excellent low-ISO stills and dependable GPS, while Expert Reviews was less impressed by noise-reduced textures and telephoto sharpness. Both noted limited manual exposure options; menu navigation and pauses after bursts also restrict control.
From photographyblog.com and expertreviews.co.uk
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specImage and sensor
- Camera type
- Compact
- 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 Exmor R CMOS with approximately 18.9 million total photosites; optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensions
- Image formats
- JPEG stills and MPO 3D images; no RAW. High-resolution Sweep Panorama stitches images rather than increasing single-frame resolution
- ISO detail
- Ordinary single-frame ISO 100–3200; ISO 6400 and 12800 use pixel interpolation and superimposing technology
- Image processor
- BIONZ
Lens and shooting
- Built-in lens
- 25–500 mm equivalent
- Maximum aperture
- f/3.2–5.8
- Optical zoom
- 20×
- Stabilisation
- Optical lens stabilisation
- Maximum continuous burst
- 10 fps
- Lens detail
- Sony G lens; actual focal length 4.45–89 mm. Movie equivalent range with Standard SteadyShot is 27.5–550 mm at 16:9 or 34–680 mm at 4:3. Clear Image Zoom is digital enlargement
- Autofocus
- Multi-area, centre and flexible-spot AF with manual focus, face detection and subject tracking. Approximate minimum focusing distance from lens front 1 cm wide or 170 cm telephoto
- Burst detail
- Up to ten full-resolution images at 10 fps. Focus, white balance and exposure remain fixed from the first frame; flash disabled. Internal-memory bursts use VGA resolution, so compatible card required for full-resolution bursts
- Stabilisation detail
- Optical SteadyShot; Active movie mode adds electronic correction
- Flash
- Built-in pop-up flash. Original operating manual specifies ISO Auto range approximately 0.4–7.1 m wide or 1.5–3.9 m telephoto; current UK support lists 1.7 m as the telephoto near limit
- Exposure controls
- Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program, Manual, scenes and panorama. Manual aperture uses two settings with an ND filter; no aperture- or shutter-priority exposure modes
Video
- Highest video resolution
- 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
- Video detail
- AVCHD 2.0 records 1920 × 1080 at region-dependent 60p or 50p; main rate represents the 60p version. Interlaced 60i/50i modes count fields. MP4 also supported; optical zoom available during filming. Clips limited to approximately 29 minutes
- Audio
- Stereo microphone and mono playback speaker; Dolby Digital stereo in AVCHD or AAC in MP4
Screen and viewfinder
- Viewfinder
- None
- Screen size
- 3″
- Screen dots
- 921,600
- Touchscreen
- No
- Display detail
- Fixed Xtra Fine TFT LCD with TruBlack; no touchscreen
Connections and design
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- 320 photographs
- Body weight
- 221 g
- Release detail
- Sony Asia Pacific’s 28 February 2012 announcement lists availability from March 2012. Sony’s US announcement instead lists May 2012; no exact first-sale day is established
- 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 with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and mini HDMI, as specified in original operating instructions; current UK support instead lists micro HDMI
- Wireless connections
- GPS, compass and GPS log recording; no built-in Wi-Fi. Wireless LAN in the shared operating manual applies only to HX30/HX30V
- Battery life detail
- NP-BG1 supplied; NP-FG1 optional. Maker CIPA claim approximately 320 photographs or 160 minutes; GPS disabled for the test
- Charging
- In-camera micro USB charging using the supplied AC-UB10/UB10B adapter or a computer
- Dimensions
- 106.6 × 61.9 × 34.6 mm (width × height × depth) in original operating instructions; current UK support lists incompatible 92.9 × 54.4 × 13.4 mm dimensions
- Weight detail
- Approximately 221 g camera only, or 254 g including NP-BG1 battery and Memory Stick Duo
- Materials
- Body partly uses Sony SoRPlas recycled polycarbonate
- Colours
- Black in Sony’s US launch announcement
- In the box
- NP-BG1 battery and case, AC-UB10/UB10B adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and operating instructions; mains fittings vary by region
Pros and cons
Pros
- 25–500 mm equivalent optical zoom
- GPS and compass for location recording
- Full HD progressive video and manual exposure
Cons
- No RAW recording or viewfinder
- Full-speed bursts stop after ten photographs
- No built-in Wi-Fi
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sensor | Megapixels | Lens | Video | Body weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 1/2.3-type | 16.1 | 24–384 mm equivalent | 1280 × 720 at 30 fps | 192 g | 2012 | |
| Compact | 1/2.3-type | 18.2 | 24–384 mm equivalent | 1920 × 1080 | 204 g | 2012 | |
| Compact | 1/2.3-type | 18.2 | 25–500 mm equivalent | 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps | 221 g | Mar 2012 |
Sources
- sony.co.uk/electronics/support/compact-cameras-dsc-hx-series/dsc-hx20v/specific…
- sony-asia.com/corporate/resources/en_AP/pdf/newcybershotcameras.pdf
- bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/44043.pdf
- helpguide.sony.net/gbmig/44240861/v1/eng/contents/02/04/05/05.html
- prnewswire.com/news-releases/get-closer-to-the-action-with-new-high-zoom-sony-c…
