- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
- 18 MP
- 20x f/3.2
- 1/2.5" EXMOR
- 3" LCD
Released February, 2012
Rated 80% by by PuckI was looking for the following, lens quality, fast lens for Bokeh, largish zoom, image quality, portability, ease of use, wifi, and HD movies.
Conclusion Check out the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
First reviewed February, 2012
Features Key features of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
18 MP
1/2.5"
Rated 100% by by YeahSoMaybe---computersandmusicperson (Mar, 2013)MOVIES: Movies are very very good considering the scope of this camera and price point.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 12 MP    | 20 MP |
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Kiyo-M.The sensor on the HX30's true EFFECTIVE resolution is more around 9MP and increased to 18MP, so the quality is lost.
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Kiyo-M.The mega pixels are simply the resolution, which can be good for printing large photos or cropping - HOWEVER, if the sensor isn't capable of even handling that large amount of pixels then it actually goes against you; it gets to the point where there is no detail and it just looks more like a smudged out mosaic painting.
sensor size
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Kiyo-M.If you are VERY picky about quality then you'll be happier going with the Canon S100 in terms of overall image quality (in terms of compact cameras, of course - if you want the best quality image you'll have to get a DSLR, or an "EVIL" camera such as the Sony NEX 5N with APS-C sensor).
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Smboe22216 mp is huge size for a compact point and shoot with a small sensor.
wide angle lens
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by T.-Ishizue--Tom (May, 2012)Unfortunately, it appears that Sony decided to extend the maximum focal length (16x to 20x) at the expense of the minimum wide angle (25 mm).
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Hyatt-Hood (Jun, 2012)I was particularly intrigued by the sweep panorama for wide angle shots of interiors.
aperture size
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Coug-Moog--s_gil (May, 2012)If you lean toward capturing distant subjects, the telescope on the front of this camera is very nice, and in good light its limited aperture is obviously a non-issue.
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by J.-GitzlaffIf you are the kind of person who likes to take pictures but doesn't like to think about f-stops, aperture settings, ISOs, the state of your subject's front- or backlighting and so forth, you probably will think this camera handles like a dream.
zoom range
| 0x | 41.7x   | 50x |
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by PuckWell, I decided what I really wanted is a all in one camera that is easy to carry, has a big zoom, easy to use, has great video, and can upload to my phone.
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Kal-Rubaye (May, 2012)20x optical is amazing, there is also the "clear image zoom" feature which provides further zoom as well as a digital zoom (I Personally have both non-optical zooms turned off).
body size
107 x 62 x 35 mm
135 x 101 x 146 mm
120 x 83 x 102 mm
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by B.-Morris (Feb, 2013)The camera is very light weight and small; it easily fits in my small purse or a jacket pocket which I had already expected.
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by terpfan1980--BarryUnfortunately, that big advantage is a little blown because of that thickness.
Performance Real world tests of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
battery life
320 photos
600 photos
200 photos
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Cathy-Burton (Jan, 2013)Between its compact size and long battery life, it's perfect for spending a day shooting at the botanical gardens where I love taking close ups of the flowers and foliage.
max continuous shooting
Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V by Scott-Peterson--I.T.-Sme (Dec, 2012)It has a 10 frame per second burst mode-but only for one second before it has to write the images to the card.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
HD video -
921 k dots -
12,800 ISO -
18 MP -
10 fps -
Records the location of your photos automatically -
HD video -
Create 3D photos to view on a 3D TV -
10 mm -
Yes -
Combines multiple photos together to capture both bright and dark areas -
86.55% -
Stitches together multiple photos into a single ultra-wide view -
35 mm -
30 s -
107 x 62 x 35 mm -
254 g
cons
-
20x -
f/3.2 -
9 -
The screen is fixed in place -
Lacks the ability to create slow motion video -
Feb, 2012 -
1/1600 s
Reviews Word on the street
 |   Rated by 96 users at amazon.com Rated 80% by by Puck Rated 60% by by echo-delta (May, 2012) Rated 60% by by T.-Ishizue--Tom (May, 2012) |
|---|---|
Lens
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Cathy-Burton (Jan, 2013)They are always true representations of the original scene, the colors are extremely accurate, and it takes great macro shots.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Kal-Rubaye (May, 2012)Macro (Haven't played with enough, but this camera has better macro specs then the 9v).
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by ckneptune1229 (Aug, 2012)This is the smartest AND fastest camera I've ever used for this size and I tried falling in the love with the Nikon and Panasonic with the lower price tag but I couldn't justify keeping them with such poor quality shots and such laggy zoom features.
Zoom
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Jack-B.-Klarfeld (Oct, 2012)I love the extra long zoom as it permits capturing tiny architectural details high up on buildings.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 80% by by J.-GitzlaffThis camera is absolutely chocked FULL of gadgets, starting with the super-wide 20x telephoto zoom, to image special effects, panorama modes, 3D modes, a GPS module that stamps images with location data, and a built-in WiFi access point so you can attach an iPhone or iPad (among other things) to the camera to offload photos.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by m.-hudson--mudson (May, 2012)Even when using the 20X zoom I can hold the camera and get a very clear shot.
Video
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 80% by by austin_LarryVideo: Overall this is a pro but right now at least for me I can't get video to share to a smartphone or tablet with playmemories mobile.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Scott-Peterson--I.T.-Sme (Dec, 2012)The other features are there that we almost take for granted-HD movies, scene effects, and so on.
Wifi
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Bullminator--1080P (May, 2012)WiFi: UPDATE (May 26 2012) "Send to Computer" via WiFi feature is awesome.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 60% by by echo-delta (May, 2012)In other words, the camera is exposing its own 80211 access point and you have to connect to that wifi via your phone's wifi settings.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Robert-A.-Morgan--TacoPizzaBob (Aug, 2012)I LOVE the wifi feature that lets you transfer image to your phone for immediate upload to facebook.
Image quality
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by ckneptune1229 (Aug, 2012)I love the night/low light shots and I am not kidding they are just incredible.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by KellyThe Sony performs very very well in low light and produces very accurate colors.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V | Rated 100% by by Florida-Native (Jul, 2012)I have also been quite pleased with the inside photo shots I get (my house is dark and it seems to adjust the auto setting accurately to get a good shot).
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | Canon Powershot S100 OK delay taking photos Canon Powershot S100 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
 | 2 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Rated the best by consumers DSC-HX20V vs DSC-HX30V |
 | 3 | Nikon Coolpix P7700 Largest sensor Nikon Coolpix P7700 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
 | 4 | Nikon Coolpix P510 2-way tie: Most zoom Nikon Coolpix P510 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
 | 5 | Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 2-way tie: Shoots video in 24p Canon PowerShot SX260 HS vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
 | 6 | Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR Most shots per battery charge Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
 | 7 | Nikon Coolpix S9300 4-way tie: Fast max shutter speed Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.
Unanswered Questions
- 9 discussions
- View more
January 4, 2013
Travel, sports photos, zoom capacity, portability
I'm going to watch an NBA game for the first time and I want a camera that can take crisp and clear photos from far away.
Visitor
0
Answers December 3, 2012
Family photos, landscapes, and general photography
I have a canon eos 600d but am wanting a good smaller camera, am torn between these two, what would be better for taking family pictures and scenic pictures?
Visitor
0
Answers December 1, 2012
Date matter
Is this model hx30v is the latest compared to hx10v?if i have my photos copy, is it posible to appear the date it was taken on the bottom part of the photo?i want the hx10v because of its varity...
Visitor
0
Answers 