Sounds great to to the layman, but any camera with a very small sensor and a very large pixel count is not going to have the best image quality, especially in more challenging lighting conditions. If it were possible, there would be no reason for Sony to make better and more expensive cameras.
Sony's foray into the world of digital cameras has expanded further with the DSC-HX100V Cyber-shot, where this model is the first compact digital camera of its kind that will come with a 27mm Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonar T lens as well as a 30x optical zoom - this is definitely one of the rarer compact digital cameras that boast such a high zoom level - optical to boot.
Of course, as with any other digital camera worth their salt, this puppy will also pack in full HD (1920 x 1080/60p) video recording capability. Accompanying that would be a 16.2-megapixel "Exmor R" back-illuminated CMOS sensor that is located inside both cameras, supporting a brand-new Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR (High Resolution) mode. Let's see how that works in the extended post.
All you need to do to activate the Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode would be to press the shutter button and sweep the camera, it is as easy as that. Doing so will allow you to capture up to 42.9 megapixel panoramic images with crisp 10480 x 4096 resolution - mind boggling, isn't it? All images can be viewed on the cameras' 3-inch 921,000-dot Xtra Fine LCD display that has a wide viewing angle, so you won't miss out on any details during the preview.
Apart from its amazing lens as mentioned earlier, the flagship DSC-HX100V is also a snap to carry and hold, boasting a design that echoes the style and control layout of larger DSLR models, although it is pretty light on its own. As for its Dual Record mode, that translates to the ability to shoot video, and doing so while you capture 3-megapixel digital still pictures simultaneously (2-megapixel in 4:3 ratio when recording in the MP4 format).
In keeping up with the Joneses, the DSC-HX100V also does 3D content - this means viewing it over a HDTV with 3D home theater system capability once you're done. All 3D images are captured thanks to its 3D Sweep Panorama mode, with the choice to use the 3D Still Image mode as well. The camera is able to produce a 3D effect simply by shooting two consecutive shots in different focus positions, using its "brain" to calculate the depths while churning out respective left-eye and right-eye images.
Out this April, the DSC-HX100V is surprisingly affordable at around $450, leaving you with three months thereabouts to save up for one.
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