Sony Sony HX90V - additional observations

Jock Elliott

Hall of Famer
Location
Troy, NY
As I mentioned in my first post on this camera, the HX90V -- Initial thoughts on the Sony HX90V pocketable superzoom -- this camera is small. It is so small, in fact, that I can palm it in one hand with just a little bit of the body visible between my fingers. This could allow a street shooter to operate very discreetly, working the power and shutter buttons with a thumb.

The construction seems sturdy enough. The main front panel and main bottom plate appear to be metal, with plastic or composite used for the rest. On the top panel, you’ll find a PASM dial, a shutter button surrounded by a zoom lever, a tiny power button that is flush with the top panel, a pop-up flash, pop-up electronic viewfinder, and a switch for releasing the flash. The switch for releasing the EVF is on the left side of the case.

On the back panel is a small thumb pad and next to it a red movie button. Below that is a MENU button that allows access to an extensive menu system for various camera adjustments. Next to the menu button, however, is an Fn button which pops up a quick menu that gives the shooter easy access to adjusting drive mode, flash mode, exposure compensation, focus mode, focus area, ISO, metering mode, dynamic range optimization mode, creative style, picture effects, etc.

Below that is a multi-function four-way controller and wheel and at the bottom of the back panel is the play back button and an info/deletion button.

On the front of the camera, the ring around the lens can be configured for various functions. I have it set up for manual focus in P mode and step zoom I-automatic mode.

Handling a camera this small requires an adjustment period, but I am getting pretty comfortable now. One item of note: there is no rubber eyecup on the electronic viewfinder, so that in bright sunlight, there can be some leakage of light, but if I handle the camera with two hands, I can shade the gap around the EVF with my left index finger while the other finger support the camera and operate the lens ring.

Also, I misspoke myself before: what I thought was low-light mode is actually DRO (dynamic range optimization) mode. But it does the same thing: take 4 shots quickly and combines them in camera.

Here are a couple of shots taken before sunup from my front porch:

P mode

HX90V DRO experiment and bird 003.JPG
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DRO

HX90V DRO experiment and bird 004.JPG
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Cheers, Jock
 
It does look very competent. I'm looking to sell my TZ60 and get something to replace that... must check it out.

I still have the Panny ZS50/TZ70... the one with the 12mp sensor. For a pocketable travel zoom with a 1/2.3" sensor, I'm still quite impressed. Decent EVF and wi-fi but no GPS. It shoots RAW, though. Available for well under $300 (brand new leftovers) in the U.S.
 
I still have the Panny ZS50/TZ70... the one with the 12mp sensor. For a pocketable travel zoom with a 1/2.3" sensor, I'm still quite impressed. Decent EVF and wi-fi but no GPS. It shoots RAW, though. Available for well under $300 (brand new leftovers) in the U.S.
Thats the one I wish I had bought at the time. I dont want GPS so that would not have been an issue. IN Australia, it was north of $600. 2nds world had refurbs for a while but at a time I could not buy, and then, when I wanted the LX100 and I could not get both. OH well, missed boat.
 
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