Last Updated
August 31, 2010

Editor's Rating

• Excellent image quality
• Full 1080p video @ 60fps
• GPS and compass for geotagging

• No HDMI port
• Weak zoom

The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX5 is a 10.2-megapixel digital camera that is small enough to fit inside a pocket, but gives you excellent image quality, 1080p video recording, and an excellent user interface. There are also a few added features, like a GPS and compass for geotagging and a large, 3-inch LCD.

The DSC-HX5 measures 4.13 x 1.17 x 2.38-inches (WDH) and weighs 0.38 pounds, which isn't too heavy for portable carrying and fits in a pocket or small carrying case comfortably. The body, which comes in black only, is very ergonomic and is designed well and feels solid. The backside has a large, 3-inch LCD as well as a directional pad, three buttons, and a dedicated movie mode button. The display has a resolution of 230,400 pixels and looks very bright and colors appear crisp; it even does well in direct sunlight.

Some of the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX5 specifications include a CMOS sensor with 10.2-megapixel resolution, a 10x optical zoom with a 35mm equivalent of 25 - 250mm. The zoom is a little lacking compared to other similar cameras. The focal length is rated at 4.25 - 42.5mm and has an aperture range of f3.5/f8.0 (w/t). Shutter speed is 2 - 1/6000 second, which is pretty fast with minimal shutter lag. Shot-to-shot speed is quick with only about a second and a half between shots.

For more experienced photographers, the DSC-HX5 lets users have total control over shutter speed, ISO settings, and aperture. For more amateur photographers, there are full automatic modes with settings for your particular environment. There's also a few artistic modes, like iSweep Panorama, which takes multiple images to form a panorama automatically while you just slowly sweep the camera from side to side. There is also an Anti-Motion Blur setting which reduces blur from fast-moving objects in the frame.

Geotagging is becoming increasingly popular in these camera models that are slightly above point-and-shoot, but are still portable. This camera has both a GPS and compass to "tag" your photos with their location and direction where they were taken. When viewing these photos in a viewer that is compatible with location data, like Google's Picasa, you can view photos on a map layout.

High-definition video can be shot with the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX5 at a very high resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 frames per second, which over-qualifies as 1080p HD. Video recording can be zoomed both in and out.

There is no HDMI or mini-HDMI port on this camera, which is a downside. If you want to show content on an HDTV, you'll have to purchase an optional adapter. There is also a proprietary cable for connecting the camera to your computer instead of a standard mini-USB port.

Sony's Transfer Jet technology is also compatible with this camera. If you use a Transfer Jet-enabled Memory Stick, you can wirelessly connect the camera to other Transfer Jet-enabled products.

Image quality with this camera is excellent, with bright conditions producing very accurate and sharp images with excellent contrast and brightness. Low-light conditions also produced good pictures, mostly thanks to high ISO settings to reduce noise. Images can be shot in only JPEG format, so all images are subject to some compression.

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