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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V · Sony

Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V

Released 2011

A 16.2-megapixel travel-zoom camera with a stabilised 25–250 mm equivalent lens, GPS and compass, high-resolution LCD and interlaced Full HD video.

Model history · 2 models, 2010–2011

2010Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V Compare
2011Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V

Type: Compact
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 16.2
Lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080
Body weight: 178 g

What reviewers say

PhotographyBlog and Imaging Resource praised the versatile zoom, clear screen, panorama features and fast autofocus and bursts. Both found manual aperture control limited and GPS slow to acquire a fix. PhotographyBlog was more positive about image quality through ISO 800; Imaging Resource emphasised softened fine detail and delays from multi-shot automatic processing.

From photographyblog.com and imaging-resource.com

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Effective resolution: 16.2 MP
Largest image: 4608 × 3456
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 125–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS, 16.8 million total and 16.2 million effective photosites; optical format is not a physical sensor measurement
Image formats: JPEG stills, MPO/MPF 3D stills; no RAW recording. High-resolution panorama stitches 10480×4096 output, distinct from sensor resolution
Image processor: BIONZ imaging processor; multi-frame Hand-held Twilight, Anti Motion Blur, Backlight Correction HDR and background-defocus modes

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.5–5.5
Optical zoom: 10×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 10 fps
Lens detail: Sony G lens, actual 4.25–42.5 mm; ten elements in seven groups including four aspherical elements. 25–250 mm equivalent applies to 4:3 photographs; 16:9 stills 28–280 mm, movie field of view depends on aspect/stabilisation. No filter thread or conversion-lens support in UK table
Autofocus: Nine-point multi-area, centre, spot and tracking AF; no manual focus. Approximately 5 cm wide or 100 cm telephoto to infinity from lens front. AF illuminator confirmed by exact manual and guide, despite one conflicting NO entry in UK table
Shutter: Mechanical shutter: Intelligent Auto 2–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/1600
Burst detail: Approximately 10 fps at full resolution for up to ten frames; limited burst length, not sustained unlimited capture. Focus and exposure conditions/processing affect subsequent shots
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; Standard and Active movie modes
Flash: Built-in flash; ISO Auto approximately 0.05–4.8 m wide and 1–3.1 m telephoto. ISO 3200 distance claims use different conditions
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Program Auto, Manual and scene modes. No aperture/shutter-priority mode. Manual offers f/3.5 or f/8 wide and f/5.5 or f/13 telephoto using an ND filter, not continuously adjustable iris; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps, exposure bracketing and One Push white balance

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080
Video detail: AVCHD MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 maximum 1920×1080, 24 Mbps FX or 17 Mbps FH; 1440×1080, 9 Mbps HQ. Region-dependent 60i/50i counts interlaced fields, not progressive frames. MP4 supports 1440×1080, 1280×720 or VGA, at 30 fps on 60i models or 25 fps on 50i models. Optical zoom while filming; approximately 29-minute clips at 25°C, MP4 file maximum approximately 2 GB; heat can stop recording earlier
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone and monaural playback speaker. Dolby Digital 2-channel AVCHD or AAC-LC 2-channel MP4 audio; lens/zoom operating sounds can be recorded

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 921,600
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 3-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD, 921600 dots; no touch panel or viewfinder

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 290 photographs
Body weight: 178 g
Release detail: Sony Japan 13 January 2011 announcement planned 10 February sale. Maker 2019 support notice confirms 2011 retail generation; earliest actual first-sale month remains unresolved, so year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 19 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC. Movies require PRO Duo Mark 2/PRO-HG or SD Class 4 or faster
Ports: HDMI mini jack plus Type 3b multi connector for SD AV output, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and DC input; cables/adapters vary by purpose, HDMI cable separately sold
Wireless connections: Built-in GPS and compass. TransferJet availability depends on regional device mark and compatible Memory Stick; Eye-Fi uses separately supplied card rather than built-in Wi-Fi. Sony 2019 notice advises disabling automatic time correction after GPS week rollover and resetting date; location and area correction remain unaffected
Battery life detail: NP-BG1 supplied, optional NP-FG1 supported; typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh, 3.6 V. UK maker claims 290 CIPA photographs/145 minutes; Japanese specs and English instructions claim 300/150 with GPS off. UK headline retained and difference explicit. Separate 70-minute movie battery test uses AVCHD HQ, repeated 29-minute clips and no zoom; playback 4400 images/220 minutes is another test
Charging: In-camera USB charging using supplied AC-UB10/UB10B adapter or computer, camera off; approximately 270 minutes from depleted battery at 25°C. USB power supply available for playback/computer connection, not shooting
Dimensions: 101.6×57.6×28.6 mm width×height×depth, CIPA compliant
Weight detail: 178 g body only, 208 g including NP-BG1 and Memory Stick Duo in UK and Japanese exact tables. English/Spanish US instruction PDF labels 178 g including battery/media, conflicting with exact maker tables; body-only headline retained
Colours: Black, gold, white, red and blue in Japanese maker announcement; regional finish names/availability differ
In the box: NP-BG1 battery and battery case, Type 3b USB cable, AC-UB10/UB10B adapter, wrist strap, software disc and instructions; mains lead region-dependent

Pros and cons

Pros

GPS geotagging and digital compass
Optical zoom during movie recording
High-resolution fixed LCD

Cons

No RAW recording
Manual exposure has two ND-filter aperture settings
No viewfinder

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H70	Compact	Other	16.1	25–250 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	164 g	2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-S3000	Compact	Other	10.1	28–112 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 30 fps	119 g	2011
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H55	Compact	Other	14.1	25–250 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	170 g	2010

Previous model: Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V.

Sources

Photo: Sony

Blue DSC-HX7V front view: Sony
Gold DSC-HX7V front view: Sony
White DSC-HX7V front view: Sony
Red DSC-HX7V front view: Sony
Black DSC-HX7V rear view: Sony
Blue DSC-HX7V rear view: Sony
Gold DSC-HX7V rear view: Sony
White DSC-HX7V rear view: Sony
Red DSC-HX7V rear view: Sony
Five DSC-HX7V finishes arranged together: Sony
Gold DSC-HX7V on separately available IPT-DS2 pan-tilt dock; maker motion-overlay illustration: Sony
White DSC-HX7V rear studio view on a reflective surface: Sony
Sony DSC-HX7V finish lineup and grip close-up shown together: Sony
DSC-HX7V G lens close-up in maker studio lighting: Sony

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