Sony Cyber-shot DSC HX20V Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V highlights a responsive travel camera featuring a versatile 20x optical zoom lens, high-resolution 3-inch LCD, and fast autofocus, all in a pocketable design. Key strengths include excellent 1080/60p video recording and effective multi-shot modes such as HDR and Intelligent Sweep Panorama. Conversely, the 18.2-megapixel sensor suffers from high noise, leading to aggressive in-camera processing that compromises fine detail at 100% view, alongside a tendency for the meter to underexpose. The review also cites limited manual controls, specifically the lack of RAW support and restricted aperture choices.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V is a sturdy, 18.2-megapixel travel-friendly pocket camera highlighted by an impressive 20x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 25-500mm), built-in GPS for automatic photo geotagging, and a high-quality 1920x1080 50p HD movie mode. Its design includes a chunky rubber grip for stable handling and an automated pop-up flash. In terms of performance, the camera shines with its fast and accurate intelligent auto modes, which consistently deliver bright, evenly exposed images with punchy, realistic colours and great macro capabilities down to 1cm. The video recording is exceptionally sharp, handles fast-moving subjects smoothly, and utilizes dual-level stabilization to remove camera shake while walking. Despite its strong performance, the camera has notable limitations when pushing past its core optical boundaries. Its advertised "40x Clear Image Zoom" does not maintain superb image quality, producing dappled, unsharp, and noisy details when images are viewed or cropped at a 100% scale. Additionally, testing revealed instances of minor chromatic aberration, which shows up as a pink or turquoise fringe halo on sharp, high-contrast edges in the corners of the frame. While low-light performance preserves...

The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX20V is a feature-rich pocket ultra-zoom camera launched at £318, praised for its excellent video capabilities and innovative shooting modes. Its standout features include the ability to capture clean, low-noise 1080p videos at 25fps while simultaneously snapping 13-megapixel photos every few seconds. It boasts excellent optical image stabilisation that eliminates shaky footage, a rapid one-second startup time between shots, a high-speed continuous shooting mode of up to 10fps, and a unique high-resolution sweep panorama mode that creates 43-megapixel portrait-stitched images. However, the camera falls short in photo quality and file management, all while carrying a higher price tag than its direct competitors. While wide-angle shots are sharp, the 18-megapixel sensor's aggressive noise-reduction processing heavily smudges fine textures like grass and hair, and fails to handle skin tones or out-of-focus background details cleanly. Telephoto shots suffer from soft focus, and the video mode frustratingly locks out all manual settings, including white balance. Additionally, users face poor file organisation, a sluggish 12-second folder-writing delay upon inserting a blank SDHC card, and a poorly positioned USB port on the base...

The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX20V is a highly capable, recycled-plastic compact digital camera that offers a massive upgrade over its predecessors by featuring a powerful 20x optical zoom lens and an 18.2-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor. The reviewer praises the device as a top-performing all-rounder, highlighting its exceptional Full HD 1080p video recording with smooth autofocus tracking and highly effective optical image stabilisation at maximum zoom. Additional standout pros include an automatic macro feature that triggers seamlessly at a close 10mm distance, a quick 2-second startup time, and a creative "sweep panorama" mode. The camera also delivers a remarkably clean low-light photo performance, managing to keep noise minimal up until ISO 3200. Despite its high quality, the camera has notable limitations that may deter advanced photographers. The primary cons are its lack of RAW image capture and its physically small 11mm sensor, which restricts creative control compared to larger-sensor systems. Furthermore, the 7.6cm rear LCD screen becomes completely unusable under full sunlight, and the camera prohibits shooting still images while a video recording is actively in progress. Lastly, the reviewer notes a lack...

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V is a highly capable, compact point-and-shoot superzoom camera that excels in performance and image quality. It is equipped with a sharp 20x (25-500mm equivalent) zoom lens and an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor packed into a pocket-sized body measuring just 2.5 by 4.25 by 1.4 inches. The camera includes built-in GPS for automatic photo geotagging, captures sharp images that exceed 2,363 lines per picture height, and shows good high ISO noise control up to ISO 800 and 1600. It operates quickly, starting up and shooting in 1.5 seconds with near-zero shutter lag, and can record crisp 1080p or 1080i AVCHD video while simultaneously capturing 13-megapixel still images. Despite its high rating of 4.0 (Excellent), the camera does have a few drawbacks. The main con is its expensive price tag compared to basic models, alongside the fact that it completely lacks Wi-Fi capability. Additionally, while its burst shooting mode is fast at nearly 7 frames per second, it requires a lengthy 9.9-second recovery time after a 10-shot burst. The GPS functionality also takes over 3 minutes to lock onto...

The What Digital Camera review of the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V highlights the travel compact as a robust, enjoyable device featuring lightning-fast autofocus, solid handling with a textured grip, and a lens capable of producing punchy colors. Key cons include a consistent tendency for the light metering system to underexpose, limited fine detail rendering due to the high-megapixel sensor, and a maximum aperture of f/3.2 that restricts creative flexibility. What Digital Camera

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V features a versatile 20x, 25-500mm equivalent F3.2-5.8 zoom lens packed into a compact body, offering excellent reach and a sharp 3-inch 921k-dot display. The camera includes a conveniently located, variable-speed zoom controller and a dedicated video button for quick, responsive shooting. DPReview However, the design limits functionality with an unthreaded lens barrel that prevents filter attachment and lacks an external flash shoe. User controls, particularly the rear four-way controller and scroll dial, are small and can feel cramped during operation. DPReview

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V is a premium, well-built travel camera featuring an 18.2-megapixel sensor and a versatile 20x optical zoom lens, offering good image quality and numerous creative shooting modes. It provides excellent performance for a portable, all-in-one device, capable of capturing a wide variety of focal lengths. Conversely, the camera's primary drawback is its high retail price compared to similar travel zooms on the market, which can be found for roughly £80 less. While it is an excellent performer, the review suggests it is best suited for users with a higher budget.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V is highlighted as a durable, pocket-sized travel zoom camera that packs an impressive 18.2 Megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor alongside a powerful 20X optical "G" lens (25-500mm equivalent). Designed primarily for effortless point-and-shoot travel photography, it features advanced automatic shooting aids like Intelligent Auto and Superior Auto modes, which utilize multi-exposure layering to deliver vibrant, consistent photos, alongside a high-resolution one-touch panorama option. Its standout capabilities include Full HD 1080/60p video recording with stereo sound, a quick 2.2-second zoom travel time, a built-in GPS and compass structure for basic geo-tagging, and an exceptionally sharp 3-inch LCD display featuring 921,000 pixels. Despite these stellar features, the review notes several ergonomic and performance flaws. On the downside, the camera is physically bulkier than some competitors in its class, and it experiences notable low-light image noise accompanied by an LCD display screen that struggles to stay bright in darker environments unless the ISO is dialed up. The physical layout is also compromised by poorly placed, hidden micro-USB ports and a tripod mount that blocks access to the battery/memory...