Sony HX9V
Announced February 22, 2011
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Sony HX9V is a robust travel-zoom camera that pairs a versatile 16x lens with high-quality Full HD video recording. While it delivers impressive performance and a sharp display, some photographers may find the lack of raw shooting and restricted manual controls limiting.
Weighted from 19 reviewer scores
Pros
- Versatile 16x optical zoom lens with wide-angle capability
- High-quality Full HD video recording with stabilization
- Effective panoramic and low-light shooting modes
- Fast autofocus and high-speed continuous shooting performance
- Solid, durable build quality
Cons
- Absence of raw format support and limited manual exposure controls
- Inconsistent GPS performance and slow signal acquisition
- Chunky physical dimensions and small, difficult-to-use buttons
- Aggressive noise reduction and soft image quality at default settings
- Slow buffer clearing and sluggish interface response
- Launch price $349.99 (USD)
- Sensor 16.2MP BSI CMOS
- Burst 10 fps electronic
What the Reviewers Say
All 19 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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Sony packs its latest digital ideas into the Sony HX9V, a 16-megapixel, 16x pocket long zoom, offering high-resolution stills and Full HD video. The result is a versatile digital camera with a wide zoom range and plenty of tricks to get great shots in difficult conditions.
- Cameralabs 82%
The Sony Cyber-shot HX9V is a 16.2 Megapixel pocket super-zoom with a 16x range, built-in GPS and 3in screen.
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[F]or the price, it cannot be beaten.
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The HX9V is a powerful compact but faces stiff competition from its cheaper rivals such as the Panasonic Lumix-DMC TZ20 and Canon PowerShot 230HS.
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The Sony Cybershot HX9v is an extremely well built camera, with a high quality metal body, and good design.
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The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V is the best travel-zoom camera that we've reviewed to date, taking on and beating the market-leading Panasonic DMC-TZ20.
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The HX9V is an outstanding travel compact, albeit one with a somewhat premium price tag.
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Though not 100% perfect in each and every regard, the Sony Cyber-Shot HX9V nonetheless comes very close in most.
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A superb camera that only falters on a few matters, but is still an impressive compact camera on all fronts.
- CNET 8.2/10
It’s not quite the ultimate compact megazoom, but it’s pretty close–closer than any others I’ve tested for 2011. And if you want something to do double duty for movie clips and photos with a versatile zoom lens in a pocketable body, you want this camera.
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The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V holds a lot of appeal for photographers who won’t mind a camera that does things differently from the norm.
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The Cyber-shot HX9V is an excellent compact camera that leaves little to be desired.
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Enticing the point and shoot merchant who has got a little more serious about their photography, Sony has packed a lot of firepower into the Cyber-shot HX9V's chunky, if pocket-sized, chassis.
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The HX9V comes very close to greatness, and with a lower-resolution sensor it might have earned itself an award. However, at this price only the very best image quality will do.
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Quality: excellent in all my shots. This one of the skateboarder is an enlargement from about a quarter of the full image.
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This is one of the best compact point-and-shoot cameras we have seen, and if manually adjusting aperture priority or shutter priority is not your thing, then this one should definitely be considered.
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Now on to my final opinion about this camera itself, I think this Cyber-shot camera from Sony does a really good job in all the different areas you want from it.
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[...] I recommend going for it if you want a nice camera that will take videos and take pictures and more so fit in your pocket more than anything.
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For folks in my boat – non-professionals looking for a really nice point and shoot with no blur and a great zoom – I recommend this Sony camera.
