Sony Cyber-shot HX20V at a glance:

  • 18.2-million-pixel, 1/2.3in Exmor R CMOS sensor
  • 20x zoom (25-500mm equivalent)
  • Full HD (50p) video capture
  • GPS tracking
  • Street price: around £330

Cameras at the top end of the compact market have to work hard to maintain their positions, due to competition from less expensive compact system cameras and advanced point-and-shoot models. Loosely termed ‘travel compacts’, these models feature a range of creative options and typically long zooms.

Sony’s Cyber-shot HX range encapsulates these features with three models, comprising the HX20V on test here, a slightly lower-spec HX10V and a more bridge-styled HX200V. Both the HX10 and HX20 follow on from last year’s HX9V model, but feature a new higher-resolution sensor and, in the case of the HX20V, a longer 20x zoom.

Features

The Cyber-shot HX20V’s sensor is an 18.2-million-pixel, 1/2.3in Exmor R CMOS unit. As with previous Exmor R models, this backlit device works alongside a Bionz processor to deliver images with low noise.

Its relatively small size allows a long zoom from the small optic. The 4.5-89mm lens provides a 35mm equivalent of 25-500mm (20x zoom) with a maximum aperture of f/3.2-5.8.

Image: The defocus mode is effective at blurring the background when the subject is at close range.

The maximum ISO sensitivity has been increased from ISO 1600 to ISO 3200 in iAuto mode and ISO 12,800 in Superior Auto mode. In program and manual shooting the maximum ISO is 1600.

The lens is stabilised with Optical SteadyShot technology, while the Clear Image zoom is claimed to extend the zoom to 40x while maintaining the same resolution using its Pixel Super Resolution technology.

The camera features fully manual operation via the M mode on the shooting dial, although only two aperture choices are available at any one time and these vary depending on the zoom position of the lens.

A choice of f/3.2 or f/8 is available at the widest zoom. However, this still allows a choice between a large depth of field and a relatively small one, depending on the subject. The program mode, also on the dial, is therefore more useful and ±2EV exposure compensation can be accessed easily using the custom button on the rear.

For creative use there is a choice of centre and spot metering, as well as multi mode. The white balance includes seven presets and a manual white balance from a custom reading as well as auto white balance.

Image: The Superior Auto mode allows a greater dynamic range to be captured through a quick burst of shots and image processing. 

There is also exposure and white balance bracketing. What is notable on the HX20V is the lack of a raw-capture option to save the unprocessed file. However, this is not unusual for a camera at this level.

This camera’s strength is its processing, and for this it needs to use JPEG files. There are two auto modes on the dial, comprising an Intelligent Auto (iAuto) and a Superior Auto or iAuto+. Intelligent Auto recognises the scene and then picks the most appropriate scene mode to use.

In Superior Auto mode the camera picks the appropriate scene mode, then takes a very quick burst of images (10fps) and processes them, according to the conditions, to make one image. The modes include handheld twilight, anti-motion blur and backlight correction HDR processing.

On top of these, the HX20V also features a background defocus mode, 15 scene modes, 3D capture, iSweep panorama and full HD (50p) video capture.

There is even GPS tracking to log picture locations and allow you to retrace your steps using the PC software provided.

Build and handling

The Cyber-shot HX20V is sturdy and perfectly sized for a large pocket, yet it feels substantial in the hands. The body is made of plastic, but is nicely finished, and features a small yet effective textured grip on the front and also on the rear for the right thumb to provide a secure hold. The front of the camera is simple, but gives the impression of a more advanced model thanks to the lens surround and shaping of a small lens-release button in the corner.

The buttons have been kept to a minimum on the back and top panels, with most operations accessed via the main menu. The one concession is the custom button, which can be assigned to exposure compensation, ISO or white balance control. This is logical, as only those straying beyond the iAuto modes will really need to access most of the settings. The screen is unchanged from the previous model, being a 3in, 921,000-dot LCD, and lacks any touchscreen or tilting functionality.

Performance

For such a significant zoom length, the Cyber-shot HX20V doesn’t show any signs of barrel distortion at its extremities. The images are free from vignetting and show no significant fringing or aberration. With only the JPEG files to work from it is difficult to know whether these have been corrected as part of the processing or were not present in the first place, although for such a small camera the former is likely.

The metering is accurate, and despite the ±2EV seeming less than generous it is more than sufficient for any corrections, thanks to the metering being linked in part to the AF points. The main limitation, as with any compact-sized-sensor camera, is the dynamic range, and with a bright sky it was necessary to pull the exposure back to avoid loss of detail in the highlights.

The HX20V has a clever way around its limitations, however, making use of the backlight correction HDR processing.

In the Superior Auto mode the multiple frame shooting combines different exposures to balance the tones and leaves a pleasingly subtle HDR effect rather than a brash comic-book style.

The background defocus mode is also an effective solution to the limitations in depth of field that the small sensor dictates and provides a convincing large-aperture effect. However, the 30cm recommended subject distance is a little close for portraits.

Image: An 18-million-pixel resolution is rather generous for a compact camera and, as such, even at A3 print size a 300ppi resolution can be maintained. This leaves images looking clean and sharp. On closer inspection, when viewed at 100% there are signs of heavy noise reduction, even at low ISO sensitivities, and fine detail is lacking
due to the smoothing applied in processing. 

The HX20V has a range of autofocus options, including selective point, face detection and auto tracking, and in all cases the focusing remains rapid and accurate.

In addition, there are two manual-focus options, a standard setting and a form of AF/M override, which focuses approximately and then allows manual adjustment. Both manual modes show a magnified view when focusing and use the rear dial to adjust.

Our verdict

Advances in technology have allowed travel compact cameras to remain competitive, and Sony has pushed the standard even higher with the Cyber-shot HX20V. Although it is not the most creative camera in terms of manual control, the HX20V allows great pictures to be captured almost effortlessly thanks to the Superior Auto mode and other automatic settings.

While premium in its pricing, the HX20V justifies the extra spend and makes an ideal pocket camera for the discerning photographer.