Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 16 megapixel JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 4.5Mb.
The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V produced images of very good quality during the review period. This camera handled noise very well, not becoming obvious until the relatively slow speed of ISO 800 and then becoming progressively worse at the fastest settings of ISO 1600 and 3200, good for such a small image sensor.
Chromatic aberrations were in evidence but were well-controlled, with some limited purple fringing effects appearing in high contrast situations. The 16 megapixel images were a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpen setting and require some further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you can increase the in-camera sharpening level.
Macro performance is quite good, allowing you to focus as close as 5cms away from the subject. Commendably barrel distortion is well controlled even at the 24mm wide-angle focal length of the versatile 16x zoom lens. The built-in flash worked well indoors, with no red-eye and adequate overall exposure. The maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds allows the cameras to capture enough light for most after-dark situations.
The Backlight Correction HDR feature dramatically increases the detail in the shadow and highlight areas, although we miss being able to choose just how much correction is applied. Both the Hand-held Twilight mode and Sweep Panorama modes work as advertised, making it simple to take hand-held low-light and wide-vista shots.
Noise
There are 6 ISO settings available on the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting.
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ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
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Focal Range
The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V's 16x zoom lens offers a very versatile focal range, as illustrated by these examples:
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24mm |
384mm |
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Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are just a little soft and ideally benefit from some further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. Alternatively you can change the in-camera sharpening level.
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Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
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Chromatic Aberrations
The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V handled chromatic aberrations well during the review, with some purple fringing present around the edges of objects in high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.
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Example 1 (100% Crop) |
Example 2 (100% Crop) |
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Macro
The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V allows you to focus on a subject that is 5cms away from the camera when the lens is set to wide-angle. The first image shows how close you can get to the subject (in this case a compact flash card). The second image is a 100% crop.
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Macro Shot |
100% Crop |
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Flash
The flash settings on the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V are Auto, Forced Flash, Slow Syncro, No Flash, with a Red-eye Reduction option in the Main menu. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
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Suppressed Flash - Wide Angle (24mm) |
Forced Flash - Wide Angle (24mm) |
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Suppressed Flash - Telephoto (384mm) |
Forced Flash - Telephoto (384mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, both the Forced Flash setting or the Red-Eye Correction option caused a tiny amount of red-eye.
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Forced Flash |
Forced Flash (100% Crop) |
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Red-eye Reduction |
Red-eye Reduction (100% Crop) |
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Night Shot
The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds in the Manual mode, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 5 seconds at ISO 100. I've included a 100% crop of the image to show what the quality is like.
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Night Shot |
Night Shot (100% Crop) |
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Background Defocus
Background Defocus attempts to mimic the sharp subject and out-of-focus background effect that DSLR owners typically enjoy, shooting two frames in quick succession and varying the aperture between each one.
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Off |
On |
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Backlight Correction HDR
DRO is Sony's solution for improving shadow and highlight detail in photos taken in contrasty light, significantly increasing the image's dynamic range. The examples show the rather dramatic effect of turning this feature on.
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Off |
On |
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Hand-held Twilight
In the Hand-held Twilight mode the DSC-HX9V takes six high-ISO photos in rapid succession and combines them into a single image.
| Manual Mode (ISO 100, 5 seconds) | Hand-held Twilight Mode (1/13th second) |
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| Manual Mode (100% Crop) | Hand-held Twilight Mode (100% Crop) |
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Intelligent Sweep Panorama
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V allows you to take panoramic images very easily, by 'sweeping' with the camera while keeping the shutter release depressed. The camera does all the processing and stitching and even successfully compensates for moving subjects, with the new High Resolution mode successfully creating a 40+ megapixel image.
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| Wide |
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| High Resolution |
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Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V camera, which were all taken using the 16 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
Sample Movie & Video
This is a sample video from the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V camera at the highest quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 50.4Mb in size.
As of February 2025, we are no longer providing full size sample images or videos for download.
Please contact us if you have any feedback on our new policy.
Product Images
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Front of the Camera |
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Isometric View |
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Isometric View |
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Isometric View |
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Rear of the Camera |
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Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed |
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Rear of the Camera / Turned On |
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Rear of the Camera / Main Menu |
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Top of the Camera |
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Bottom of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera |
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Memory Card Slot |
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Battery Compartment |
Conclusion
The Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V is the best travel-zoom camera that we've reviewed to date, taking on and beating the market-leading Panasonic DMC-TZ20. The HX9V offers a compelling mix of advanced features, excellent still image quality, and a class-leading video mode, all at a price that is competitive with its main rivals.
The move to a 16 megapixel sensor may elicit groans amongst more experienced photographers, but in reality Sony have been able to maintain the excellent image quality that the previous 10 megapixel HX5 offered. The 16 megapixel backlit sensor provides excellent results from ISO 100-800, with only the fastest settings of 1600 and 3200 suffering from too much noise and smearing of fine detail. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled and colours accurate, and the extended 24-384mm lens commendably doesn't suffer from too much distortion at either end of the zoom range.
The Manual mode lets you set a shutter speed of up to 30 seconds for effective night-time shooting, although I missed the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes that several rivals offer, and only having two possible apertures in Manual mode does somewhat limit what you can achieve. If you don't want to use a tripod, the Hand-held Twilight mode also delivers great results at night, albeit with an increase in noise levels. Sony's ever popular Sweep Panorama mode now offers an impressive 42.9 megapixel high resolution mode, while the Backlight Correction HDR feature dramatically increases the detail in the shadow and highlight areas. Beginners shouldn't be scared off the HX9V either, as Sony's excellent hand-holding Intelligent Auto modes are as effective as the competition's.
In addition to the excellent still images, the Sony HX9V is one of the very few digital compacts to offer full 1080p video recording, gaining the upper hand on its key rivals. You can use the 16x zoom during recording, sound is stereo rather than mono, and the AVCHD format ensures that file sizes don't get out of control. The built-in GPS also works well, unobtrusively and reliably recording your every movement, although the camera takes a few minutes to sync with one or more satellites and the battery life is reduced by around 25% if you leave it constantly switched on.
Add in the 3D Sweep Panoramas and 3D Still Images, amazing 10fps burst shooting mode, 0.1 second auto-focusing and the much improved 921K dot LCD screen, and it's easy to recommend the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX9V above all of its travel-zoom rivals. Essential!
| Ratings (out of 5) | |
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| Design | 5 |
| Features | 5 |
| Ease-of-use | 5 |
| Image quality | 4.5 |
| Value for money | 4.5 |
Review Roundup
Reviews of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V from around the web.
pcadvisor.co.uk »
You'd be hard-pressed to find a camera that offers more features than the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V.
Read the full review »
ephotozine.com »
The Sony Cybershot HX9v is the latest pocket zoom from Sony, offering a 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, a wide angle 16x optical zoom lens, 3 inch screen, Full HD video with stereo sound, and built in GPS. Along with one other camera, it offers the most optical zoom in a compact body, for a GPS camera.
Read the full review »
Specifications
| Optical Zoom | 16x
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| Precision Digital Zoom | Approx. 64x (Total)
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| Smart Zoom | up to 115x (with VGA)
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| F | 3.3-5.9
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| Focal Length (f= mm) | 4.28-68.48
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| Focal Length (f=35mm conversion) | 24-384
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| Macro (cm) | iAuto (W:Approx.5cm(0.16') to Infinity, T:Approx.120cm(3.94') to Infinity)
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| Filter Diameter (mm) | NO
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| Conversion Lens compatibility | NO
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| Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens | NO
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| Sony G | YES
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| CCD Type | Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor
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| Size (Inches) | 1/2.3 type(7.77mm)
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| Effective Pixels (Megapixels) | Approx. 16.2
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| Bionz Processor | YES
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| Face Detection | YES
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| Smile Shutter | YES
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| Soft Skin Mode | YES
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| Background Defocus | YES
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| GPS | YES
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| Waterproof | NO
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| Backlight correction | YES
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| Sweep Panorama | NO
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| Intelligent Sweep Panorama | YES
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| Underwater Sweep Panorama | NO
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| 3D Sweep Panorama | YES
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| Clear RAW NR | YES
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| Auto Focus Area (Multi Point) | 9 points (Under Face Undetected)
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| Auto Focus Area (Centre weighted) | YES
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| Auto Focus Area (Spot) | NO
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| Auto Focus Area (Flexible Spot) | YES
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| Manual Focus | YES
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| Aperture Auto Mode | YES
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| Aperture Priority Mode | NO
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| Aperture Manual Mode | YES
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| Shutter Speed Auto Mode (sec) | iAuto(2"" - 1/1600) / Program Auto(1"" - 1/1600) / Manual(30""-1/1600)
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| NR Slow Shutter | 1/3sec or slower
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| Hand Shake Alert | YES
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| Exposure Control | ± 2.0EV, 1/3EV step
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| White Balance | Auto (intelligent), Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent1, Fluorescent2, Fluorescent3, Incandescent, Flash, One Push, One Push Set, White Balance Sift
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| Automatic White Balance | YES (Intelligent)
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| Light Metering (Multi Pattern) | YES
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| Light Metering (Centre weighted) | YES
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| Light Metering (Spot) | YES
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| Sharpness Setting | YES
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| Saturation Setting | YES
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| Contrast Setting | YES
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| ISO Sensitivity (REI) | Auto / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200
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| Scene Selection | 11 (Auto / Portrait / Backlight Portrait / Twilight Portrait / Twilight / Backlight / Macro / Landscape / Infant / Spotlight / Low Light )
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| SteadyShot capability | YES
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| Optical SteadyShot capability | YES
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| AF Illuminator | Auto / Off
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| Flash Mode | Auto / Flash On / Slow Syncro / Flash Off
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| Pre-flash | YES
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| Red-Eye Correction | Auto / On / Off
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| Auto Daylight Synchronized Flash | YES
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| Distance limitations using Flash (m) | ISO Auto: Approx.0.25-Approx.5.6m (Approx.0.820'-Approx.18.4')(W) / Approx.1.2-Approx.3.0m(Approx.3.94'-Approx.9.84')(T), ISO3200: up to Approx.7.9m(Approx25.9')(W) / Approx.4.4m(Approx14.4')(T)
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| LCD Screen Size (inches) | 7.5cm (3.0 type)
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| LCD Total Dots Number | 921.600
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| LCD Monitor Type | TFT
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| Auto Bright Monitoring | YES
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| Optical Viewfinder | NO
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| Electrical Viewfinder | NO
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| Recording Media | Memory Stick™ Duo / Memory Stick PRO Duo™(Mark2 only) / Memory Stick PRO Duo™ High Speed (No Speed Advantage) / Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ (No Speed Advantage)
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| Recording Media II | SD Memory Card(Class4 or Higher for movie), SDHC/SDXC Memory Card(Class4 or Higher for movie)
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| Recording Format | JPEG
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| DCF (Design rule for Camera File System) | YES
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| DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) | YES
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| Burst Mode (shots) | Approx.10 fps(10 shots)
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| Burst Interval (approximately sec) | Approx.0.1 sec.(10 shots)
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| Still Image size (16M 4608 x 3456) | YES
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| Still Image size (14M 4320 x 3240) | NO
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| Still Image size (13M 4224 x 3168) | NO
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| Still Image size (12M 4000 x 3000) | NO
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| Still Image size (10M 3648 x 2736) | YES
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| Still Image size (9.0M, 3456 x 2592) | NO
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| Still Image size (8.0M, 3264 x 2448) | NO
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| Still Image size (7.2M 3072 x 2304) | NO
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| Still Image size (5.0M, 2592 x 1944) | YES
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| Still Image size (3.1M, 2048 x 1536) | NO
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| Still Image size (VGA, 640 x 480) | YES
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| Still Image size (16:9 mode, 1920 x 1080) | YES
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| Still Image size (16:9 mode, 4,608 x 2,592) | YES
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| Still Image size (16:9 mode, 4,320 x 2,432) | NO
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| Still Image size (16:9 mode, 4000 x 2248) | NO
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| Still Image size (3:2 mode, 4000 x 2672) | NO
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| Still Image size (3:2 mode 3648 x 2432) | NO
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| Still Image size (3:2 mode 3456 x 2304) | NO
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| 2D Panorama | 7,152 x 1,080(204deg) / 4,912 x 1,080(140deg) / 4,912 x 1,920(149deg) / 3,424 x 1,920(104deg) / HR (10,480 x 4,096, 196deg)
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| 3D Panorama | 7,152 x 1,080(204deg) / 4,912 x 1,080(140deg) / 4,912 x 1,920(149deg) / 3,424 x 1,920(104deg) / 1,920 x 1,080(55deg)
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| Moving Image Size (1280x720 30fps Fine Approx.9Mbps) | NO
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| Moving Image Size (1280x720 30fps Standard Approx.6Mbps) | NO
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| Moving Image Size (640x480 30fps Approx.3Mbps) | NO
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| Moving Image Size (320x240 30fps) | NO
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| Moving Image Size (AVCHD 1920 x 1080(50i, Interlace) Approx.17Mbps(Average bit-rate)) | YES
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| Moving Image Size (AVCHD 1440 x 1080(50i, Interlace) Approx.9Mbps(Average bit-rate)) | YES
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| Moving Image Size (MP4/AVI 1440 x 1080 Approx.25fps Progressive) Approx.12Mbps(Average bit-rate)) | YES
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| Moving Image Size (MP4/AVI 1280 x 720 Approx.25fps Progressive) Approx.6Mbps(Average bit-rate)) | YES
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| Moving Image Size (MP4/AVI 640 x 480 Approx.25fps Progressive) Approx.3Mbps(Average bit-rate)) | YES
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| Moving Image Size (AVCHD 1920 x 1080(50i, Interlace) Approx.24Mbps(Average bit-rate)) | YES
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| HD (High Definition) Playback | Under 16M(4,608 x 3,456)
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| Slideshow Playback | YES
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| Slideshow with Music | YES
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| Slideshow Movie | YES
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| Trimming | YES
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| Playback Zoom | YES (8x)
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| Cue & Review (MPEG) | YES
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| Index Playback | 16 / 25 images (Date / Folder-Still / Folder-Movie / AVCHD)
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| Image Rotation | YES
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| Auto Image Rotation | YES
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| Auto grouping and & Best Picture Recognition | YES
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| Battery Remaining Indicator | YES
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| Histogram Indicator | YES
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| Exposure Warning Indicator | YES
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| Disk / Memory Stick remaining indicator | YES
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| PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) | NO
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| Print Image Matching | YES
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| PictBridge | NO
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| Shop Front Mode | YES
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| Start up time (approximately sec) | Approx. 2.3 sec.
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| Menu Language | English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian , Turkish, Greek, Bulgarian, Croatian, Romanian
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| Multi use Terminal with HD | Type3b, AV ( SD ) / USB / DCIN
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| Multi use Terminal | YES
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| AV Out | NO
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| USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | YES
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| Battery System | Lithium N
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| Supplied Battery | NP-BG1
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| Stamina (battery life) with the supplied battery(s) in normal shooting condition | 410 shots, 205min (CIPA standard with LCD screen on)
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| Battery for Clock | Manganese-Lithium (MS614SE)
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| Weight (g) | Approx. 215g (7.6oz.)
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| Weight with Accessories (g) | Approx. 245g (8.6oz.)
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| Supplied Software | Picture Motion Browser (Windows only), PMP Portable, Music Transfer
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| Supplied Accessories | Rechargeable Battery Pack(NP-BG1), USB charger(AC-UB10/10B), USB cable, Wrist strap, CD-ROM
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| Width (mm) | 104.8
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| Height (mm) | 59.0
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| Depth (mm) | 33.9
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