Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V

Released June 2015

A pocket 30× travel camera with a pop-up OLED viewfinder, selfie screen, lens control ring and built-in GPS.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 18.2
Lens: 24–720 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 218 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers praised the pocketable zoom, tilting screen, viewfinder and broad controls, while noting small buttons and short bursts. Photography Blog found image quality competitive with Panasonic’s TZ70, whereas Cameralabs found that rival less noisy. Cameralabs measured strong stabilisation; Photography Blog found it less reliable in dim light and at maximum zoom.

From photographyblog.com, cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com and cameralabs.com

Specifications

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Image 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: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensions
Image formats: JPEG Fine or Standard; no RAW. 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and square stills plus stitched Sweep Panorama
ISO detail: Ordinary single-frame ISO 80–3200. Multi-shot Noise Reduction extends to ISO 6400 and 12800 using interpolation and composite exposures
Image processor: BIONZ X

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom: 30×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 10 fps
Lens detail: ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens; 11 elements in 10 groups including 5 aspherical elements, five-blade iris; actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent still range 24–720 mm at 4:3, 25–750 mm at 3:2, 26.5–795 mm at 16:9 and 27.5–825 mm at 1:1. Customisable lens control ring; digital Clear Image Zoom distinct from optical zoom
Autofocus: AF-S, direct manual focus and manual focus; AF-C in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point wide, centre, flexible spot S/M/L and expanded flexible spot; Lock-on AF, manual-focus peaking and magnification. Minimum focus from lens front approximately 5 cm wide or 250 cm telephoto
Shutter: Mechanical shutter: Auto 4–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual and shutter-priority 30–1/2000, aperture-priority 8–1/2000. Above ISO 3200 the slowest shutter is 1/4 second
Burst detail: Approximately 10 full-resolution photographs per second, up to ten frames. Flash lowers the rate and some modes prohibit bursts. Focus and exposure locked from first frame in Cameralabs testing
Stabilisation detail: Optical still-image stabilisation; Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotation
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; auto, fill, slow, rear-sync and off modes. ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3.0 m telephoto; no external-flash shoe
Exposure controls: P/A/S/M for stills and movies; three Memory Recall positions. Multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: XAVC S 1920 × 1080 at 60p, 30p or 24p/50 Mbps; AVCHD 60p/28 Mbps, 60i or 24p/24 or 17 Mbps. International PAL/NTSC selection switches to 50p/50i/25p; main rate represents NTSC. MP4 includes Full HD 60/30 fps and 720 p30 fps. XAVC S requires Class 10 SDXC. Optical zoom during filming; AVCHD/XAVC clips approximately 29 minutes, MP4 28 Mbps approximately 20 minutes due 4 GB limit. HDMI4 K output is for stills, not 4 K video recording
Audio: XAVC S LPCM stereo, AVCHD Dolby Digital stereo or MP4 AAC-LC stereo; microphone reference-level control

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 921,600
Touchscreen: No
Display detail: 4:3 Xtra Fine TFT LCD tilts upward approximately 180°; five-step brightness control, no touchscreen
Viewfinder detail: Retractable 0.2-type OLED Tru-Finder, 638400 dots, 100% coverage and0.50 × 35 mm-equivalent magnification; eye sensor and −4 to +3 dioptre adjustment. Pop up housing and extend eyepiece to use

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 390 photographs
Body weight: 218 g
Release detail: Sony Japan’s 19 May 2015 announcement specifies sale on 5 June 2015; Sony Hong Kong specifies mid-June after 8 May–7 June pre-orders. June precision retained without treating the Japanese day as a confirmed international first-sale day
Recording media: Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC(UHS-I). Memory Stick Micro and microSD/HC/XC require adapters
Ports: Multi/Micro USB with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and micro HDMI; HDMI audio during playback only
Wireless connections: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC Forum Type 3 and built-in GPS location logging; maker specifies GPS only, without compass. Non-V HX90 is a distinct non-GPS model
Battery life detail: NP-BX1; maker CIPA claim 390 shots/195 minutes with LCD or360 shots/180 minutes with viewfinder. Actual movie use70 minutes LCD/75 minutes viewfinder; continuous movie105/115 minutes with clip limits
Charging: In-camera USB charging and external power with supplied AC adapter and battery
Dimensions: 102.0 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm(width × height × depth), CIPA
Weight detail: Approximately218 g camera only, or245 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-BX1, AC-UB10 C/UB10 D adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional mains fittings vary

Pros and cons

Pros

24–720 mm equivalent optical zoom
Pop-up viewfinder and 180° tilting screen
GPS, Wi-Fi and NFC

Cons

No RAW recording or touchscreen
Full-speed bursts stop after ten photographs
No accessory shoe

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-WX500	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	24–720 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	209 g	2015
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX60V	Compact	1/2.3-type	20.4	24–720 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	246 g	Mar 2014
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX80	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	24–720 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	–	Apr 2016

Sources

Photo: Sony Japan exact HX90V black front-oblique product photograph; complete supplied studio canvas retained

Sony HX90V raised electronic viewfinder and rear display detail: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V rear display showing the memory-recall registration menu: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
A photographer using the Sony HX90V outdoors: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V held with its electronic viewfinder raised: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V held outdoors beside a building: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V front view held by its grip: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V front close-up with its flash raised: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V physical mode-dial close-up: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V held with its screen tilted upward: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V rear screen viewed while photographing a fruit basket: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V front and top-control photographs shown together: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained
Sony HX90V shown with its optional fitted case beside the case finish lineup: Sony Japan official exact-model photograph; complete supplied canvas/background retained

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