Sony Cyber-shot DSC HX30 Review | 108 Data compared

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V is a highly capable, premium compact megazoom camera that builds upon the success of its popular predecessor, the HX9V. The camera boasts several key advantages, most notably an upgraded 20x optical zoom lens (25-500mm equivalent) housed within a remarkably pocketable body. It features a resolution bump to 18 megapixels and delivers excellent day-to-day photo quality, particularly under ISO 400. Performance is snappy, with a lightning-fast autofocus shutter lag of just 0.3 seconds and a robust 11 frames-per-second burst shooting mode. Additionally, it offers exceptional 1080/60p full HD video recording with smooth image stabilization, a robust built-in GPS with tracking, and integrated Wi-Fi for quick smartphone sharing. YouTube · On the downside, the HX30V's feature-heavy deep menus can feel overly complicated and intimidating for average users. Image quality takes a noticeable hit when zooming past 75% resolution or moving above ISO 400, where pictures become soft and display painterly noise artifacts. Furthermore, manual exposure controls are frustratingly limited to only two aperture settings at either end of the zoom range. Reviewers also critique the awkward placement of...

The Sony Cyber-shot HX30V is a compact super-zoom camera featuring an 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor and a borderline-ridiculous 20x optical zoom lens squeezed into a pocket-sized body. The camera stands out for its exceptional color accuracy, specifically when shooting in "real" mode, and its highly effective automatic white balance system that handles daylight and fluorescent settings seamlessly. Users will also benefit from feature-rich additions like built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, 10fps continuous shooting, a heavy hardware grip, and an "Easy Mode" with enlarged text for beginners. Furthermore, it delivers excellent bright-light video quality, rendering motion beautifully in sharp 1080/60p format. However, the camera suffers from significant performance and usability drawbacks. Image sharpness is merely fair, with clarity falling off dramatically toward the edges of the frame and degrading further as the lens zooms due to the maximum aperture closing down from f/3.2 to f/5.8. While its heavy software-based noise reduction keeps artifacts low, it cannot be turned off and triggers even at low ISO settings. Furthermore, its built-in Wi-Fi suffers from slow transfer speeds, the GPS rarely locks a strong signal,...

The PCMag review highlights the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V as a highly capable and feature-rich compact point-and-shoot camera. It is praised for its prominent pros, which include a powerful 20x optical zoom lens, an 18-megapixel sensor that produces remarkably sharp photos, and reliable performance in dimmer light conditions. Additionally, the camera stands out for its built-in GPS and Wi-Fi functionalities, allowing users to automatically add geographic coordinates to images and easily transfer shots to iOS or Android smartphones. Its operational speed is another significant advantage, boasting a swift 1.5-second start-and-shoot time and virtually zero shutter lag, making it an exceptional tool for spontaneous and action photography. PCMag UK Despite its strong performance, the review identifies a few notable cons regarding the camera's price and performance limits. A major drawback is its premium pricing; the review explicitly notes that it is a costly option, making it ideal only if "money isn't an object". While it offers great features, it demands a steep financial commitment compared to more basic digital cameras on the market. Performance-wise, the camera's continuous shooting mode is hindered by...

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V is a top-of-the-line compact megazoom point-and-shoot camera that yields excellent image quality both indoors and out, assuming it is provided with plenty of light. Its core standout features include an impressive 20x optical zoom lens that spans from an ultrawide 25mm to 500mm, alongside a 40x digital Clear Image Zoom. Key performance pros include its robust Intelligent Panorama and HR Panorama modes, dual-recording capability for shooting 13-megapixel stills while recording full HD video, and the exceptional Handheld Twilight mode, which significantly cuts down noise and handshake blur during low-light photography. Additionally, its ultra-close macro focusing distance down to 0.4 inches and versatile, creative built-in Picture Effects like Partial Color and HDR Painting make it highly functional for versatile casual shooting. However, the review outlines several prominent cons, warning that buyers looking for high-resolution digital SLR quality will be disappointed. At full size or 100 percent cropping, image details quickly dissolve into a blocky, "painterly" or watercolor aesthetic marred by artifacts, meaning photos are truly only usable at small sizes or up to 10x13 prints. While the...

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V is a premium compact superzoom point-and-shoot camera that stands out for its high performance and robust feature set packaged into a svelte 2.5-by-4.25-by-1.4-inch, 9-ounce body. It is equipped with a sharp 18-megapixel CMOS sensor and an impressive 20x optical zoom lens (25-500mm equivalent) that produces excellent image clarity, scoring well above standard sharpness thresholds with 2,363 lines per picture height. The camera delivers strong low-light performance by keeping image noise below 1.5% through ISO 800 while preserving fine details. Speed is another core strength; it boasts a quick 1.5-second boot time, near-zero shutter lag, and a fast burst mode capable of capturing 10 frames at roughly 7 frames per second. Additionally, it shoots high-quality 1080p or 1080i AVCHD video, allows 13-megapixel still capture while recording, and features a bright, sharp 3-inch 921k-dot LCD screen alongside physically customisable controls. The camera's extensive capabilities are headlined by built-in GPS for automatic photo geotagging and Wi-Fi functionality, which allows painless wireless image transfers to iOS or Android smartphones via a dedicated app, as well as quick transfers to computers....

The Sony Cyber-shot HX30V is a compact travel zoom camera featuring an 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor and a powerful 20x optical zoom lens that easily retracts into a pocket-sized body. Priced at an MSRP of $419.99, it stands out for its exceptional performance in color accuracy tests when using its "real" color mode, which avoids the typical over-processed, oversaturated look of competing point-and-shoots. It also delivers highly accurate automatic white balance across various environments and captures remarkably smooth, sharp 1080/60p AVCHD video in bright light that rivals entry-level DSLRs. Additionally, the camera handles comfortably due to a thoughtful, rubberised front grip and thumb rest that help steady framing at long focal ranges, and it features a fast continuous shooting speed of 10 frames per second. Despite its strong points, the HX30V suffers from notable limitations in optical performance, low-light handling, and manual operation. The camera struggles with edge-to-edge sharpness, which degrades significantly as you zoom closer to the telephoto end because the lens forces the aperture to close from f/3.2 to f/5.8. Low-light photography and videography are marred by...