Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 16x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (2012 Model)

NOTE: Right before my 30 days was up, the on/off button quit working, but I love this model so much I'm getting a replacement. Hopefully, just a fluke with the camera I had. Update: Received my replacement today, I decided to order a different color instead of the white like I had before. Apparently, it depends on which color you choose where the camera is made. The white camera I returned was made in China, the black and red cameras are made in Japan, not sure where the silver cameras are made.*****************************This is my second Sony camera, the first Sony I tried 2 years ago got LOUSY pet shots on the Pet scene setting, but was a good camera otherwise. I returned it since shooting pictures of my cats is the reason I purchased it Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black).Let me tell you - this HX10V runs rings around the WX9 (all these model numbers get confusing after awhile!). The camera feels solidly built. Several camera blog/review sites say it's metal, but it feels like plastic to me, although sometimes aluminum feels plastic-like so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The tripod mount is metal, and the battery/SD card door feels a little flimsy like most do, just be careful with it and you should be OK.This is a KEEPER! On the Pet setting, it takes excellent photos and the default setting keeps the flash and also the focus assist button turned off - these usually will bother your pet's eyes if left on so this is an excellent decision on Sony's part...for instance: I'm a Panasonic camera lover usually and Panasonic's Pet setting leaves the default flash on auto and the red-lamp (focus assist) is also turned on and it's hard to get a photo where my cats' eyes aren't shut. Sony put some thought into the set-up here.And me being a Panasonic lover (in the not too distant past) I was never satisifed with the softness of a Panasonic camera photo. I always had to tweek them in Picasa to sharpen them up a bit, as well as make the colors a little brighter. Not with this Sony. I have done no post-processing other than cropping.PROS:> Photos almost always turn out PERFECT! Just the right amount of color and sharpness!> BEST VIDEO of any point & shoot camera, even expensive $600.00+ cameras I have tried! In fact, if you set the HD to the highest setting on this camera, it gives you a warning that if you are burning to a DVD, you need to make it Blu-Ray it's so good.> Solid build, although mine was made in China. I think some are made in Japan, some China.> LCD screen is amazing, 921,000 dots, the reviews of the pictures looking at it on the camera almost look better than on your PC monitor.> Sony G Lens...an excellent lens used on their more expensive cameras.> Easy user-interface on the menus. I have only had to look at the manual once (looking for the macro setting).> Background Defocus...No need for a full manual camera to achieve the blurred backgrounds; this does a great job but you have to be around 30cm (approx. 12 inches) from subject for it to turn out well.> Battery life is excellent.> For those of you who don't want to fuss with a bunch of different settings, you can set this camera to EASY SHOOTING mode, it gives you all the "basics" to get great photos, but the wording on the LCD screen is in larger print, making it easier to read, and since you don't have many shooting options, very easy to take a photo and still have it turn out exceptional. The EASY SHOOTING mode is PERFECT for anyone new to digital cameras (there may still be a few!)CONS:> I don't like having to charge the battery inside the camera, but that is remedied by buying a separate battery charger.> LCD screen glare is a little iffy outdoors, I may pick up a matte screen protector to help.> 18 MegaPixels! Really, this is a con - with a sensor this size, you don't need over 12 MP in a camera, more is not better in this case; but I will have to say, it doesn't seem to affect quality much on this camera.THE ZOOM: This camera has 16X optical, it will show on the screen when it starts becoming digital (digital is known for being horrible quality)...with either optical or digital, to look good you will need a tripod. The digital goes to 32X but photo quality will be poor with digital. (You can disable the digital zoom in the Tools Menu).GPS: Once you take your camera outdoors or near a door/window, that will trigger the GPS to initialize. Personally I don't care if I have GPS, whenever I upload a photo online, I don't want people to gather even MORE information about me, like my latitude/longitude coordinates. So I disabled this feature in the Tools Menu.RE: SUPERIOR AUTO VS. INTELLIGENT AUTO (on the Mode Dial). You have more settings to choose from on Superior, but I have noticed the camera processes more slowly between shots. On Intelligent Auto I get better results and the camera processes between shots seconds faster, almost instantly.SOFTWARE: There is no CD in the box; the software is stored inside the camera. Once you plug the camera into your PC for the first time, it will download and also get the latest updates off the web. PlayMemories is the name of the software and I like it almost as much as Photoshop Elements.For good quality video and fast camera processing I recommend a Class 10 SDHC card:Sony SF16NX/TQM 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory CardIf you're looking for a well-made case and don't want to pay the high price for a Sony OEM case:Case Logic TBC-312 Pocket Video Camcorder Case with Storage (Black)Keep checking back, I'm in the process of uploading photos, but it takes awhile for Amazon to approve them.

recieved the camera in an opened box- the view screen had had the protective cover removed and the screen had greasy fingerprints all over it. Would have returned it right away if I hadn't been leaving for a trip the next day and needed a camera. Warranty card/info was missing and as it turned out, after taking around 100 pictures with a new memory card that the internal memory wasn't functioning. I got sold a shop model or previously (mis) used camera. When I spoke with the company they were amazingly rude & said it was an Amazon issue. Amazon kindly refunded me the money.. Camera has nice zoom feature & precise resolution, but 7ave or whatever they call themselves are not worth dealing with-will never order from them again

I purchased this camera (DSC-HX10V) and the Sony DSC-WX150. I ran various home grown tests on both cameras under various conditions: action, with flash, without flash, zoom, natural light, etc. Both cameras were set to the "automatic smart green setting". The DSC-HX10V (this camera) photos were much more true to color in all photo testing. Consistently the WX150 had a blueish hint to the photos - as in a vivid purple iris looked blue not purple like real life. We have oak bookcases. Comparing photos side by side with both cameras, the bookcases with the WX150 didn't have the golden undertones. We called Sony about the blue issue and they said it must be a defective unit. That may be the case. I can only report on my experience.On the zoom test, I put both cameras to 10X optical and turned digital zoom off (note the HX10V has optical zoom to 16X). I took pictures of the spines of my kids books from across the room. The edges of the letters with the WX150 were "noisy" whereas the HX10V (this camera) at 10x optical were very clear (no, I did not pixel peep). If you don't plan to do a lot of detailed zooming because you can be closer to your subject, this should be no big deal. I take pictures of my kids swimming from the stands - I need a decent zoom without lugging a DSLR or hybrid.Both cameras performed about the same on action shots. I had my kids jump on the bed for several minutes while my husband and I took photos with both cameras at the same time. The HX10V does have a true sports mode which helped to reduce the blur some. I still had to take a bunch to get the lucky action shots on both cameras.Note: all pictures were taken from the same distance, compared side by side, at the same size on the same monitor. In other words this was as scientific as an average camera owner (not photographer) would do. Ultimately we opted for the HX10V for the extra $60-$70.The only thing I liked better about the WX150 is the flash is built in whereas the HX10V's flash is a pop up and it is right where I want to hold the camera with the left hand (very annoying). Though the HX10V flash is brighter and goes a farther distance.To compensate for the pop up flash, we get a nice "rubberized" and 3D hand/finger grip with a thumb grip on the back. This definitely helps balance the camera better. Though I recommend using the wrist strap to be safe - just as we do with the Wii remotes.The HX10V also has the 16X Optical zoom I mentioned, some fun features like toy, pop, etc, ability to adjust hue easily, a few extra smart modes and a little more control over settings like a M and P mode (not that I would use them but they are there). Both have a full HD movie mode and can take 3D photos (though I couldn't test this as I don't have a 3D monitor). I am sure there are other wonderful features but these are the ones I noticed.I hope this helps the average camera buyer. You will see a similar review on the Sony Cybershot DSC-WX150.