Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 30x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (2012 Model)

Ultra-zoom cameras are particularly good on safaris where the camera taker does not have the option of moving closer to the subject. On safari, we two couples took two Sony hx200v cameras and one entry level Nikon DSLR, as well as the newest high-end Nikon DSLR, both with Sigma zoom lenses. The latter lenses weighed about 4 pounds and were difficult to maneuver, but the high-end Nikon pictures were superior to the Sony pictures (as should be expected when the equipment costs about 12 times as much). The Sony cameras were very easy to use and produced excellent pictures, with greater magnification than the Nikon cameras were able to achieve without cropping. We considered purchasing the Canon SX40. However, the Sony has two very valuable attributes that no non-Sony camera has regardless of price. First, it has what is known as the backlit option. In taking pictures, sometimes part of the picture is in bright sunlight and the other part is in shade. If you adjust the camera settings for the bright light portion, then the part in shade is too dark, and if you adjust the camera settings for the dark portion, then the part in light is washed out. And going halfway means that neither the shaded portion nor the sunny portion looks right. What the Sony camera does is take two pictures at once, one automatically adjusted for the light and the other adjusted for the shade. Then it combines both pictures into one, where both parts are more balanced. The light part is still lighter than the shaded part, but both parts work. And all this is done, without any complicated manual adjustments. The second attribute is that under the "superior auto selection", the Sony camera takes 3 pictures in very rapid succession. It then throws out the random noise to produce a superior picture. Like the Canon Sx40 and almost all point and shoot cameras, the Sony hx200v has a very small sensor. This means that a lot of random noise enters the digital photo. By taking three pictures, the camera can eliminate most of the random noise as random noise is unlikely to affect the same pixels. This is a very easy to use camera that produces excellent pictures and very high-quality video. It also allows those who like to adjust camera settings in various ways to do so. I highly recommend this camera.

I have been reviewing super zoom camera's for the past 2 months. I had it narrowed down to the Canon SX50, Nikon P510 and the Sony DSC-HX200V. I consider myself an Intermediate/Life events photographer and for me the DSLR's were out of the question. I eneded up going with the Sony for the meriad of fetures that none of the other camers offered. 18.2MP is great, 30x zoom with the 60x clear digital zoom is phenominal. I've always wanted a camera that could zoom in to the moon and show great detail and the Sony does just that. Although the Canon SX50 has a greater zoom (50x) it is lacking with 12mp's. My favorite feature of the Sony is the "defocused background" that will take 2 shots, creating sharp focused detail on the object shooting and blurring out the background creating a beautiful portrait that was previously only possible with a professional DSLR. The Sony is very simple to operate with several "auto modes" that are great for the quick point and shoot for your everyday use. The Video produced is a Stunning 1080/60p which is Crisp and beautiful for playback. I Love the 3D Stills options and Panorama. It takes phenominal Low light images with incredible clarity and detail without a flash. I would buy this camera again without hesitation. If there were any problems I could easily return it but Love the camera. The down side to this camera is the inability to delete photos from the Memory card with the computer. You have to do all of your photo/video management with the camera functions only. which isn't nice at all. In addition you have to charge your battery while it is in the phone, the is no external battery charger included. The instruction manual is poor to fair at best. Even with the online manual it does a poor job of specific details on how to use the many functions. they are pretty vague..for instance, if you want to use the "defocused background" all of the manuals will tell you what the function does but does not elaborate on how to actually get the function to work correctly. I select that option then aim the camera, half press the shutter button for the very fast auto focus and recognition, then full press of the button. 50% of the time it will take the picture beautifully, the other times it will say "unable to perform specified function at this time" and I have no idea why. I dont know if i am to close or to far away from the object and it does not explain it anywhere how to use this function properly. Overall though the camera is great, you wont find all these options in any other camer. it feels great. Love it

This is an excellent camera considering a point and shoot level camera. It has many smart features built in. For example, I don't have to change setting if I want to shoot a very close up object. All you need to do is keep the function selection dial at i-auto mode and bring the camera close to the object. Be careful using the zoom function because the telescoping lens may touch the object. Another nice thing this camera has is when I playback the video, I can snap shot a frame that I like to become a photo right on the camera. It comes in handy when you are bored on an airplane. The 30x feature is nice, 50x is even better. But, the size and weight become concern to me. Also, it will be harder to hold the camera still at full zoom. So it's a trade off. The thing I don't like so far is if you accidentally touch the power on button, the telescope lens will extend out to a default position, which will half way out the lens cover. It could be engineering a little better. Also, the video recording button is a little confusing. You can change the function dial to the video mode first and push a standalone red button to record, or, just just push the red button will let you record as well. Humm.. I have this camera for a few weeks now, and still learn to use it. One thing I want to point out: the seller of this camera is KNOCKOUT DEAL via amazon. Good price. But, there is no sony warranty document come with it. Also, the lens has a smear spot on it when I received the package. It looks like the seller has done something on it and repackaged. Don't know why?? Overall, I am very please with this camera so far. Oh, one more thing: Sony change the design, so I can directly connect the camera to my iPad now :)