Official Video: Sony DSC-HX1

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Sony Cyber Shot DSC-HX1

There are various prosumer cameras available in the market at present. Of the brands available, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX1 caught my intention immediately. This model was officially introduced in the recent 2009 Photo Marketing Association (PMA) International Convention and Trade Show.

This is Sony's first digital still camera to feature sweep panorama technology and also the first Cyber-Shot camera to use the exclusive high-speed 9 Mp ExmorTM CMOS sensor technology. It also features the "Optical Steady Shot" image stabilization, a 3" LCD, ISO range up to 3,200, a wide array of scene modes and face detection options. And, the entire package weighs approximately 1.2 kg.

Two of my personal favourite features are the handheld twilight and anti-motion blurr, which reduce noise significantly. One of the websites that I visited stated that as HX1 uses the high speed shutter ExmorTM CMOS sensor technology and hence it's able to take 6 shots within a fraction of a second. Combined with the power of the BIONZ imaging processor, it immediately superimposes them into one picture. It then calculates the position of objects in each frame and composes the sharpest picture possible, resulting in clearer and sharper images.

HX1 is now officially available in the market and currently priced at RM1,699 (suggested retail price). Please check out the following websites for more detailed information on HX1. Well, needless to say, I'm getting myself a HX1 in months to come and hopefully be able to achieve the effect that I've been looking for. Can hardly wait for my first trial! Stay tuned...

http://www.sony.com.my/product/dsc-hx1
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09030307sonydschx1.asp

Point-And-Shoot Camera vs. Prosumer Camera

I'm neither a professional photographer nor one with in-depth knowledge about photography. Instead, I'm just an average amateur who has great interest in photography...well, at least for the past 1-2 years.

As compared to friends around me, I'm still using the point-and-shoot camera instead of a DSLR. I've tried different brands of point-of-shoot e.g. Ben Q, Olympus, Kodak and so on. Though I'm quite happy with my Sony Cyber-Shot point-and-shoot, yet I felt that something is missing and it sometimes can't seem to fulfill my needs and deliver the effects that I'm looking for.

Initially I'm thinking of getting myself a DSLR but then a friend of mine in Hong Kong posted several queries to me recently and I soon realized that I'm definitely not ready for a DSLR. It takes greater effort in managing a DSLR, including knowledge, time and patience. And not forgetting to factor in the body weight and size of a DSLR too. For a traveler cum shoppaholic like me, I doubt that I can take care of a DSLR while shopping or bargaining for goodies that I like. It's too distractive and "space" consuming as there's definitely no way for me to keep a DSLR at the back of my jeans!

A prosumer camera, on the other hand, is the type of camera that I should be looking at. The prosumer camera market is intended to serve a specific targeted group of people, which is on the fence of being a common user and professional photographer. This type of camera is easy to operate due to various features with high quality effects and usually priced for common user or interested hobbyist like me.

Guess that I should start scouting around for a prosumer camera. Let the quest begins!