The HX9V gives you far less control than the S95. Not that the Sony is a bad camera...all reviews point to be it being excellent. But creating photos with it is primarily about choosing which mode to use, not about learning how to use a "real" camera. The S95 has a bigger imaging sensor with fewer pixels packed onto it; a brighter wide aperture lens; aperture priority, shutter speed priority, and manual modes; two control wheels; and RAW capture...the same controls as a DSLR, packed into a compact body. So if you just want to take good quality images, you can go with either camera. But if you want to learn about photography before stepping up to a DSLR, the S95 is the better choice.
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