Review: Sony Cyber-shot HX5V digital camera

by Scott Carmichael on

Ask a geek to design the ultimate point and shoot camera, and the list of specifications would probably come close to the camera in this review. The Sony Cyber-shot HX5B really does appear to have it all.

Inside the camera is a 10.2 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, sweep panorama mode, anti-blur motion mode, twilight mode (for photos at night), 10x optical zoom. 720p MP4 / 1080i AVCHD HD video, GPS, compass, optical image stabilization, 10fps shooting mode (at full resolution), Memory Stick and SDHC compatibility, HDR mode, scene recognotion, anti-blink option and HDMI output.

As I said – this is a list of stuff I’d describe for the ultimate camera – so, does the HX5V actually manage to deliver what it takes to combine all these cool features into usable camera? Read on and find out!

Lets start with the controls (sorry for the poor shots, I was outside in 12 degree weather). On the top of the camera are buttons for the mode selector dial, zoom/shutter release and power. Right above the lens is the stereo microphone.

On the back is a D-Pad for menu and feature selection, a quick movie mode button, large 3″ LCD screen with an anti-reflective coating. As you can see from the icons, the screen is a bit cluttered, and it isn’t always logical why/where icons are placed.

Using the camera is a treat – albeit one with that may actually require a bit of reading in the manual. Photos turns out perfect – most of the time. If you are like me, you’ll constantly keep the camera in intelligent auto mode – and the intelligence is thankfully enough to never have to worry about what it does to your shots. Advanced photographers can switch it to a variety of other modes. The various modes in the camera are:

  • Easy (intelligent setting with simplified display)
  • Intelligent Auto
  • Program Auto
  • Manual exposure
  • iSweep Panorama
  • AVCHD movie mode
  • Scene selection (high sensitivity, soft snap, sports shooting, landscape, twilight portrait, twilight, gourmet, pet, beach, snow, fireworks)
  • Backlight correction HDR
  • Handheld twilight
  • Anti-motion blur

The iSweep panorama mentioned in the mode list is quite a lot of fun – select the mode, press the shutter, and move the camera from left to right. The end result is a 4080×1080 panorama shot, without the need to manually stich anything together. Just sweep and let the camera do all the hard work.

The 10x optical zoom is fast, and has a great wide angle – as you can see in the photo below.

Things I don’t like on the camera? It needs a special dongle to connect it to anything – USB, HDMI and composite video all come out of a large plug on the bottom. In this day and age, I’d prefer a camera that has regular (Mini) USB plugs and MicroUSB. Canon is a good example of a company that understands this. That said – with the amount of features built into the HX5V, I can see how the designers managed to run out of room for separate plugs. To charge the battery, you need to remove it, and plug it into the (included) wall charger.

As I mentioned earlier – photos turn out perfect – most of the time. When it works, it works very, very well. But every now and then, a photo just randomly turns out quite poorly. For no apparent reason, the camera seems to just give up. Now, this isn’t a huge deal – if you make lots of photos of the same thing, but if you are shooting that once in a lifetime action shot, you may end up disappointed.

And finally, I find the menu system a tad confusing. Normally, I can browse my way around any camera after a couple of minutes of hands-on time, but the HX5V manages to confuse you – which is why you really will need to read the manual before heading out on a trip with it.

Still, at $279.99 you really won’t find a better equipped camera – especially one that performs this well. The HX5V is lightweight, has everything a traveler could need (great lens, GPS, good battery life) and is exceptionally well priced. For more on the Sony Cyber-shot HX5V, head on over to Sonystyle.com.

Photo of the day (12.9.10)

by Meg Nesterov on

Finding contrasts is one of the best things about travel. We love seeing places, people, and cultures different from our own and when we see a familiar item in an unfamiliar context, it’s especially interesting. Pick up any travel article about Turkey, Morocco, or Japan and you’re guaranteed to read a few examples of “old world meets new” contrast. Today’s Photo of the Day by Mike GL captures a moment between a monk and his mobile in front of New York’s City Hall. Recently in Kiev, Ukraine, I saw young Orthodox monks wearing track suit jackets over their robes and chatting on iPhones, and couldn’t help but find the image jarring and funny, but even monks have to stay connected these days. You think there’s a FourSquare check in at the monastary?

Take any good contrast photos? Share them in our Flickr Group – we may just include it as our next Photo of the Day.

Federal judge will decide on your right to relax, not airlines

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Nobody likes it when the passenger in front of him reclines. I can’t fathom any circumstance in which having the person’s seatback on your lap is enjoyable. I have numerous tactics I use to prevent the person in front of me from reclining, and I suspect I’m not alone (in fairness to the person behind me, I rarely recline, and if I do, it’s never more than half way).

So, when you drive your knees into the seatback in front of you, are you being an unreasonable and impolite … or are you depriving the passenger in front of you of his right to recline?

It looks like the answer will come from the U.S. District Court of Colorado.

On an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Denver, two passengers got into a rather heated argument over this right (or privilege) to recline. CNN reports:

As Brian Dougal leaned back on the Denver-bound flight late last month, he felt someone bump his seat, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Colorado.

“Are you serious? My knees are up against the seat,” said the man behind him, identified as Tomislav Zelenovic, according to the complaint.

Dougal suggested that Zelenovic also recline, slide into an empty seat next to him or move his legs to the side. Dougal told the man in 10C that he paid for his seat and was going to recline it.

Zelenovic then shook the back of Dougal’s seat and grabbed his right ear, pulling it back and down with enough force to knock Dougal’s glasses off his face, according to the complaint.

Okay, that is hard core. The cops were waiting for Zelenovic on the ground, and he was charged with assault (he’s pleading not guilty).

Yeah, this behavior is nothing short of absurd, but it does speak to the fundamental issue of whether we should (or should) be able to recline. Frankly, this debacle makes Michael O’Leary look like a genius. After all, you can’t recline if you can’t even sit down, right?

Hey, how do you feel about reclining? Drop a comment below to share your thoughts.

[photo by Andrew Mason via Flickr]

Feds threaten: cruise line pollution must stop

by Chris Owen on

New emission rules for cruise ships and other large vessels are set to go into effect in late 2013.

A United Nations plan to control emissions from ships sailing within 200 nautical miles of the U.S. and Canadian coasts initially excluded the U.S, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico which pretty much left the Caribbean wide open for uncontrolled cruise line pollution.

Ships often use lower costing fuels with high sulphur levels outside of U.S. government jurisdiction, changing to cleaner fuels as they approach U.S. ports.

Under the plan, which would now include the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, ships would be required to use cleaner fuel or install special pollution reducing equipment to reduce air pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that asthma and cancer-causing pollutants could be cut by about 90% in a decade.

Under the plan, which needs approval from the United Nations’ London-based International Maritime Organization, EPA officials could randomly show up at ports to inspect ships and enforcement will be tough. The penalties have not yet been established, but impounding ships has been suggested as one option, said Elias Rodriguez, an EPA spokesperson.

Flickr photo by lecates

Donate to Passports With Purpose & win travel prizes

by Mike Barish on

Last month, we told you about Gadling’s participation in Passports With Purpose and their efforts to build a village in India. Every donation that you make allows you to bid on some fantastic travel prizes. From roundtrip airline vouchers to amazing vacations to some impressive gear, you could win some incredible prizes all for a simple $10 donation to Friends of LAFTI.

It’s a truly wonderful cause and Passports With Purpose makes everything incredibly easy. Simply head to their donation page, choose the items on which you would like to bid and then process your donation. Quick, secure and simple as could be.

The campaign ends this coming Monday (December 13), so don’t delay. Donate now for a chance to win those prizes. Our suggestion? Bid on the $250 SkyMall gift card that Gadling is giving away. Imagine what you could buy with that!