Very compact camera.. Lots of functions that I have yet to use.. Super zoom facility.. Option of viewing from either the screen or eye piece.. Plus recording a movie.. Anti shake (which I have used and can verify it works). This camera has got it all for my needs.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
A bridge camera or superzoom is a good idea if, like me, you want tp photograph wildlife, especially birds, but cannot afford a dslr anda long lens.. however, you can't expect dslr quality photos. The camera is a compromise and like all compromises there are some drawbacks. The camera is light and compact, the image quality is ok but not brilliant and it is quite easy to use.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought this because I wanted a bridge camera and couldn't make my mind up between this, the Canon 50HS (50x optical zoom), the Panasonic FZ200 (best in low light conditions) and the Nikon P510. This happened to be the first auction that I won on Ebay. Subsequently I've had the opportunity to compare it with the Nikon P510 and my conclusions are as follows. The Sony defaults to a higher ISO while the Nikon defaults to a longer exposure in most situations. The Sony tends to produce bluer images than the Nikon, which produces very bright images (though this may be related to the Nikon's tendency towards longer exposures). The Sony, although seemingly at a disadvantage in terms of optical zoom (30x v 42x) has a better digital zoom and also a pixel-doubling facility that maintains resolution at high zoom levels. The 'BIONZ' processing engine in this camera is a clever thing indeed. However, the Nikon feels nicer in the hand and easier to use - the button for reviewing images is better-placed in particular. The Sony has a manual adjustment ring on the lens barrel for focus or zoom (choose which), but it seems very slow to adjust. In wide-angle mode, the Sony's field of view is noticeably narrower (35mm lens equivalencies are 27mm for the Sony and 24mm for the Nikon), but unless you compare one with the other you wouldn't feel deprived by the Sony. The Sony will take panorama shots to 180 degrees, but the Nikon has the option of 360-degree panoramas. This is really only a gimmick - I don't feel that the Sony is let down by it. In mixed-light conditions, the Sony's HDR mode (which compensates for shadows by taking three differently-exposed images and combining them) is both higher-performing and easier to use than the Nikon's (which only combines two images), although the Nikon apparently offers three degrees of HDR application (which I couldn't really differentiate). Battery life is also somewhat better in the Sony than the Nikon. Other reviewers have mentioned that the Sony's excellent noise-reduction processor tends to blunt the fine detail on high-magnification images, but this is a situation where you can't have your cake and eat it - the opposite extreme is the Panasonic FZ200 (with only 2/3 of the Sony's pixels, but obviously bigger pixels) where images may be pin-sharp but are also prone to noise even at ISO100. Myself, I would prefer slightly sharper images, but Sony lean towards the megapixel count. Would I recommend this camera? When I bought it, I thought that it might be all things to all men if it offered a 50x optical zoom to challenge Canon's best... and then I saw that Sony have produced an updated model for 2013 - the HX300V - which offers upto 50x zoom (and upto 20 megapixels and an even more sophisticated 'BIONZ 2' processor). However, for now it's very expensive (£400) while this can be acquired for not much more than half the price. If you can wait a while, the HX300V will come down in price by the end of 2013. By then we will also know about Panasonic and Canon's latest weapons in the bridge camera market - can Canon improve their light-gathering at high magnification (the 50HS can only manage F:6.5 at 50x zoom) and can Panasonic stretch their full-range F:2.8 lens aperture capability to higher than 24x optical zoom? All I can say is that the Sony HX300V also only manages F:6.5 at best at 50x zoom, so perhaps that is the feasible limit for a bridge camera? For under £250, this is a very good camera.Read full review
This is a superb little general purpose camera, capable of producing photographs which compare very well with those from my full-sized Canon DSLR, but without the complexity and bulk. I find that it is ideal for taking on walks Etc where the Canon would be a bit inconvenient. The excellent lens performs well with a superb 30x power Zeiss zoom lens which covers most needs. The viewfinder gives a very clear image and the articulated hd screen is great for close-up photography. There is a wide range of programmes and the ability to make manual adjustments. In my opinion one of the best ‘bridge’ cameras available at the price.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Excellent camera easy to use for novice pictures or advanced photograpy. The best dunctions i use all the time are the sweep panorama and burst shooting at 10 fps both of which are amazing. Bit pricy in the uk but buying from hong kong made it 300 pounds which is about 160 pounds cheaper.
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