Sony Cyber-shot HX95 Review (so far)
News
The Sony Cyber-shot HX99 and HX95 are the World’s smallest travel high zoom cameras with 4K movie capability and an upgraded image processor. Both models offer a truly versatile zoom range from 24mm at the wide end up to 720mm super-telephoto, 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, and the latest BIONZ X image processing engine.
The new Sony Cyber-shot HX99 and HX95 will ship in Europe from October 2018, priced at £450 and €520 in Ireland for HX99 and £430 and €500 in Ireland for HX95.
Update: The Sony Cyber-shot HX99 Travel Zoom camera will also be available in the USA in early November for $449.99 USD ($599.99 CAD).
Sony UK Press Release
Sony Announces World’s Smallest Travel High Zoom Cameras with 4K Movie Capability and Upgraded Image Processor
ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm[i] High Magnification Zoom and High Image Quality Lens packed into compact body
Stunning 4K[ii] video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning
BIONZ X™ image processing engine and newly implemented front-end LSI for seriously impressive stills
Versatile operability and shooting capabilities including Eye AF, EVF, Control Ring[iii], Touch Focus/Touch Shutteriii, Tiltable LCD and more for flexible shooting options
Sony today boosted its Cyber-shot® line-up of travel high zoom cameras with the launch of the DSC-HX99 and DSC-HX95.
Designed for users who want an unobtrusive camera that can be carried at all times, the new models are packaged in the world’s smallest[iv] body and offer a truly versatile zoom range from 24mmi at the wide end up to 720mmi super-telephoto. In addition to stunning 4Kii movie footage,at the heart of both models sits the powerful BIONZ X image processing engine combined with a front-end LSI that delivers high-speed continuous shooting at up to 10 fps with a buffer limit of up to 155 images[v]. Furthermore, these new models present a fast AF speed of 0.09 seconds[vi]. Some newly added features are Eye AF, RAW format image recording, touch focus/touch shutteriii function, and location data acquisition[vii] via Bluetooth®.
ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm High Magnification Zoom and High Image Quality Lens
The huge zoom range offered by the HX99 and HX95 means that they are ideally suited to the varied demands of travel photography and capturing daily life. Image stabilisation is controlled with Optical SteadyShot™ which effectively negates the camera shake blur that often occurs during handheld and telephoto shooting. The models are also equipped with a Zoom Assist function that allows the user to zoom out temporarily and displays a wider area when shooting a subject at the telephoto end.
Processing Power
The HX99 and HX95 can capture 4K video footage with full pixel readout and no pixel binning. This means that fine details are beautifully rendered and ‘moiré’ and ‘jaggies’ are significantly reduced. The new models can shoot fast-moving subjects withhigh-frame rate HD[viii] recording at up to 100fps[ix] to produce impressive slow-motion sequences during editing.
As the perfect picture often occurs unexpectedly, photographers need to be able to trust their camera to react quickly. With a Fast Intelligent AF speed of just 0.09 secondsvi and an upgraded BIONZ X processor[x] and front-end LSI, the HX99 and HX95 are a perfect fit, delivering high speed continuous shooting at up to 10fps (buffer limit of up to 155 images)v. For beautifully focused portraits, the new models inherit the much praised Eye AF technology from their α™ siblings and for photographers who prefer to enhance their photos with image editing software, the HX99 and HX95 offer the option to shoot in RAW. Fading light? A maximum ISO6400[xi] means that this isn’t a concern.
Intuitive and Comfortable Operation
Embracing feedback from users of the HX90 series, Sony has implemented Touch Focus and Touch Shutter functionality on the HX99 so that the photographer can directly select their shooting subject and fire whilst also implementing a Touch Pad function for smooth focus point shifting while using the retractable OLED Tru-Finder™. For those who wish to take command of their settings, the Control Ring of the HX99 can be customised with functions such as manual focus or step zooming and both HX99 and HX95 also offer My Menu personalisation for instant recall of up to 30 items and the ability to create custom menus.
A 180-degree tiltable LCD screen allows for easy framing of selfies and group shots whilst an upgraded gripx offers a firm hold and greater stability during shooting. Location data acquisition via Bluetooth® can collect and record location data from a mobile devicevii (Location Information Link) and small size Proxy recording allows transfers to smartphones or uploading to websites for quick sharing.
The new Sony Cyber-shot HX99 and HX95 will ship in Europe from October 2018, priced at approximately £450 and €520 in Ireland for HX99 and £430 and €500 in Ireland for HX95.
Please visit Sony.co.uk for more information: HX99 / HX95
[i]Angle of view (35mm format equivalent)
[ii]3840 x 2160 pixels. Continuous recording time is approx. 5 minutes, and may vary with recording environment
[iii]DSC-HX99 only
[iv]Among fixed lens digital cameras with a built-in viewfinder and telephoto end 700mm or above (angle of view, 35mm format equivalent) lens. As of August 2018 press release, based on Sony research
[v]With "Continuous shooting mode: Speed Priority Continuous Shooting" and "Image quality: Fine”
[vi]CIPA standard, internal measurement, at f=4.25mm (wide-end), EV8.5, Program Auto, AF area: Wide, NTSC mode
[vii]Can be connected via Bluetooth with smartphones featuring (as of August 2018 press release):
Android smartphones: Android 5.0 or later and compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or later,
iPhone/iPad: iPhone 4S or later/iPad 3rd generation or later
[viii]Class 10 or higher micro SDHC/SDXC memory card is required to record movies in the XAVC S™ format. UHS-I (U3) is also required for recording at 100Mbps
[ix]PAL. 120fps in NTSC
[x]Compared to DSC-HX90 series
[xi]When expanded ISO sensitivity is enabled
Sony USA Press Release
Sony Introduces New Cyber-shot HX99
Sony has introduced a new ultra-compact camera with a stunning ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm zoom lens. The new Cyber-shot HX99 features advanced capabilities in a small form that make it an ideal travel camera. Key features:
ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm High Magnification Zoom and High Image Quality Lens
Stunning 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning
Upgraded BIONZ X™ image processing engine and newly implemented front-end LSI ensure outstanding image quality
Versatile operability and shooting functions including Eye AF, EVF, Control Ring, Touch Focus/Touch shutter, 180°Tiltable LCD and more
Sony has introduced a new ultra-compact camera with a stunning ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm zoom lens. The new Cyber-shot HX99 features advanced capabilities in a small form that make it an ideal travel camera.
- ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm (1) High Magnification Zoom and High Image Quality Lens
- Stunning 4K (2) video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning
- Upgraded (3) BIONZ X™ image processing engine and newly implemented front-end LSI ensure outstanding image quality
- Versatile operability and shooting functions including Eye AF, EVF, Control Ring, Touch Focus/Touch shutter, 180°Tiltable LCD and more
SAN DIEGO — October 15, 2018 — Sony Electronics Inc. – a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer – has today announced the Cyber-shot® HX99 (model DSC-HX99) camera, an exciting new travel zoom that packs an extreme zoom range of 24-720mm (1) into the world’s smallest (4) camera body of its kind.
The new HX99 model is the ultimate companion to any travel enthusiast or weekend photographer with extensive functionality that includes the ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm (1) High Magnification Zoom lens, 4K (2) movie shooting, a powerful BIONZ X image processing engine with a front-end LSI, extremely fast AF, Eye AF, 10 fps (5) shooting and more.
ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm High Magnification Zoom Lens
In addition to the extensive 24-720mm (1) zoom range, the versatile new ZEISS® Vario- Sonnar T* lens features Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization, which effectively minimizes the camera shake and blur that often occurs during handheld and telephoto shooting. The new HX99 is also equipped with a Zoom Assist function that allows the user to zoom more accurately while shooting far away subjects by offering a quick, temporary zoom-out display to showcase a wider area.
Processing Power for Video and Stills
Thanks to its powerful BIONZ X processing engine, the new HX99 camera can capture stunning 4K (2) video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, with minimal “moire” and “jaggies.” The new model also is capable of shooting high-frame rate HD (6) video at up to 120 fps (7) to produce impressive slow-motion sequences during editing.
During still photography, the camera can acquire focus in as little as 0.09 seconds, and it can shoot continuously at up to 10 fps for up to 155 shots (8). The HX99 also is equipped with Eye AF technology, a feature made popular by Sony’s acclaimed lineup of αTM interchangeable lens cameras that locks focus onto a subject’s eye for compelling portrait and fast-action photography. The camera also is capable of shooting images in RAW format and has a maximum ISO of 6400 (9).
Intuitive and Comfortable Operation
The versatile HX99 travel camera includes Touch Focus and Touch Shutter functionality for added convenience, as well as a Touch Pad function for smooth focus point shifting while using the retractable OLED Tru-Finder. The camera also has a Control Ring that can be customized with functions such as manual focus or step zooming, as well as a customizable ‘My Menu’ option for instant recall of up to 30 different settings.
The new camera has a 180-degree tiltable LCD screen that allows for easy framing of self-portraits and group shots, a pop up electronic viewfinder and an upgraded grip that offers a firm hold and greater stability during shooting. It also offers location data acquisition (10) via Bluetooth®, which can collect and record location data from a connected mobile device, and proxy recording that allows instant transfers to smartphones or websites for quick sharing.
Pricing and Availability
The new Cyber-shot HX99 Travel Zoom camera will ship in early November for $449.99 USD and $599.99 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of authorized dealers throughout North America.
A variety of exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new Cyber-shot cameras and Sony entire line of α interchangeable lens cameras can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site built to educate and inspire all fans and customers of the Sony Imaging brand.
The new Cyber-shot content will also be posted directly at the Sony Photo Gallery and the Sony Camera Channel on YouTube. Detailed information pages within Sony.com for the new products can be found at:
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Hands On
Want to see exactly what the new Sony Cyber-shot HX99 travel-zoom compact camera looks like in the flesh?
Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony Cyber-shot HX99 travel-zoom compact camera, which wasn't even on show on the Sony Photokina stand (the Sony rep had to find one from behind the customer desk).
A gallery of hands-on photos of the Sony Cyber-shot HX99 travel-zoom compact camera.
Image Gallery
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