Sony Announces High-end HX Models

Sony has announced two new high-end point & shoot 16.1 megapixel cameras: the $450 DSC-HX100V and the $350 DSC-HX9V. The two new models share the same back-illuminated sensor and can both shoot 1080p high definition video.

At $450, the HX100V is the more expensive model, mainly due to the long 30x zoom lens. This has a 27mm wide angle setting and a very long 870mm zoom setting, which would be easily long enough to get close into the action at a school football game. The aperture range of this lens is decent: it has a range of f/2.8 to f/8.0 at the wide zoom setting and f/5.6 to f/8.0 at the telephoto end. As well as the 3-inch LCD screen, the HX100V offers a small electronic viewfinder above the screen.

The HX9V is priced at $350, and offers a shorter 16x zoom lens. However, this lens has a wider 24mm wide angle setting, which would be useful for landscapes or group photos. The maximum zoom length is 416mm, with an aperture range of f/3.3 to f8.0 at the wide zoom and f/5.9 to f/8 at the telephoto end.

Both cameras share a number of features, including both using the same 1/2.3-inch Exmor R CMOS sensor, with a resolution of 16.8 megapixels. This captures 16.2 megapixel images, and 1080p video at a frame rate of 60 interlaced or progressive frames, with the 60p video being saved in MPEG-4 format. Other frame rates are saved as AVCHD videos. The cameras also offer a new active image stabilization mode that compensates for yaw rotation as well as left-right and up-down movement and 3D image capture. Both also include a GPS receiver that allows images to be tagged with a location so they can be linked to a particular location. The cameras also both offer a 3-inch LCD screen with 921k resolution.

The DSC-HX100V will cost $450, and the DSC-HX9V will cost $350. Both cameras will be available in February.