I have had many digital cameras over the years both point and shoot and DSLR. Mostly from the names you would expect: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, and Olympus. I hadn't frankly ever thought of Sony for a camera although I have had Sony camcorders that were very good. I have quite enjoyed using the DSC-HX30V as it has provided vibrant photos in a variety of settings. The 30V really shines in the automatic settings. Although you can set shutter speed and aperture, the 30V was intended to be a high-quality point and shoot that uses the built in powerful software to produce good, well-balanced and saturated shots both indoors and out.There are two automated modes: superior auto and intelligent auto. Superior auto gives you the fewest options. There was a learning curve to what is available with each type of shooting. The best thing to do is press the menu button. Depending upon the shooting mode more or fewer options show up both in the menu and for options chosen by the 4 way wheel button. For instance I was interested in trying out the burst continuous photo option. That is not available in the superior auto. But it is available under intelligent auto. The smile detect which does actually work (pretty cool you can focus on a subject and the camera will just wait till it detects a smile then fire a shot) was available in intelligent auto not superior auto. Another example: you can't select an ISO until you are either in program auto or manual exposure shooting modes.There is a built in product manual where you can search by keywords and subjects. This is handy but it was only by trial and error that I found what features were available in which modes. The written manual (fairly sparse overall) and the on-camera version don't list which modes which features work in.
Wifi: Obviously Wifi use with this camera is going to be something many people are interested in. I know I was. So far it has been a mixed bag. Wifi to the computer has worked very well. It located my computer and then I had to one time connect to the access point (my Wifi router) and put in the network password. Decent speed in downloads and it will download pictures and video. Downloading to a smartphone. I was very interested to use this feature as you could be out and about say at a child's ballgame and take a great action photo zoomed in way more than a smartphone could and want to share it. I have an iPhone. You need to download the app Playmemories mobile. There is another app Playmemories online but you want the mobile one for sharing with your smartphone. The camera sets up its own network with password. Connect to that network in settings (with an iPhone) and then fairly quickly start the app. Although I get an error message every time that says cannot connect to device it has reliably been connecting and then allowing me to copy photos to my iPhone photo folder. What I have not got to work is video. There are 4 video resolutions and I tried them all. On both the iPhone and iPad. It simply will not download video onto the phone. I am sure Sony is working on this and I expect it to get fixed. It is a nice feature to get to download the photos at least onto a smartphone when out and about.
There is so much else going on with the 30V I am going to summarize the pros and cons below.
Pros:
Extremely fast shooting. I have the Nikon P7000 which I really like but the 30V rivals a DSLR with how fast it shoots when you press the shutter button, especially in Superior auto. You are much less likely to miss a shot.
Very nice, well balanced and nicely color saturated shots in the auto modes. I like my DSLR but with a soon to be 2 year old I have daddy duty when out and about. It is often just too much work to be part of the families day AND have a DSLR and have to change lenses.
Zoom. I love having a 20X optical zoom. It also has a very good digital zoom. I went all the way to 4OX and shot a small wren or warbler across our backyard. There was still a good amount of light in the photo and you could pick out the individual feathers and veins in the leaves. So I would say yes Sony did make a very good digital zoom once you go past 20X.
Size. I held it against an iPhone 4. It is about a quarter of an inch less in length and around the same in width. Much thicker though. Still very impressive.
Video. The great thing about digital cameras nowadays is their ability to act as video cameras as well. I have gotten good video indoor and out with extremely smooth zooming (very impressed with zooming while shooting video) and good audio. Just be aware AVCHD is not the best format for social media sharing or even burning onto DVDs. The two 1080p modes warn you that you need a Blu-ray burner to create a disc. So I have been shooting in 1080i mode. It is still very good. I also have software that allows me to change the AVCHD to a variety of other media formats.
Good interface. A lot of information is presented to you and changing settings is very simple once you play around with the camera for a bit. You get a variety of options for deleting photos for instance. Delete one, delete a range, delete by day. The interface was well thought out and the playback and screen quality is very good and I haven't even used the highest screen resolution.
Decent software. Not the most powerful software but I LOVE that playmemories home allows you to view all of your photos in a calendar format. It is fantastic to be able to go by year or month and see the photos displayed on the day they were taken. And the software quickly found all my photos going back years and added them to the calendar listing. Small amount of editing features but all the basics are included.
Cons:
Battery is so-so. Just a decent battery. You might want to invest in a spare.
Video: Overall this is a pro but right now at least for me I can't get video to share to a smartphone or tablet with playmemories mobile. Also I am not a huge fan of AVCHD for sharing or burning discs. But there are work arounds for this.
No shoulder strap option. For cameras that are also going to be used for video, there should be a shoulder strap option. There is just a wrist option.
The 30V does not shoot in RAW but there are an impressive variety of options for DSLR enthusiasts and people who like to expriment with their photography. The 30v is intended to be an advanced point and shoot not DSLR like. That being said it shoots fast which is the one best DSLR feature (aside from a big sensor) I would want in a point and shoot. And the sensor is pretty impressive. I have not noticed a lot of noise indoors and I get around 7.5 MEG photos in the highest quality setting. One thing to note is that you change EV setting easily in ALL modes including Superior auto. And for the DSLR users thinking of a point and shoot Program auto mode gives you a lot to play with including changing metering, changing focus points, changing white balance, ISO control, color saturation level, and contrast control.
Overall the 30V is an impressive technological package. It continues to surprise me. For instance I was shooting video and focusing on my daughter and up on the screen it started flashing infant. It knew I was shooting an infant. In the auto modes it identifies the best scene very well. I have taken many great shots in the auto modes and I suspect most people will use these modes the most: the 30V does not disappoint here. I love my DSLR but I frankly use point and shoots more. I know many people don't but I like having a 500mm lens in my pocket and a good video camera to boot. What has really impressed me is how fast you get a shot. This was the missing link for me to really enjoy a point and shoot. Sony did a great job here and I am not missing shots anymore. Even though this is a long review there are many features I left out. Sony/Amazon did a good job though explaining them. From a user perspective this is an enjoyable camera producing well-balanced, well-lit, crisp photos and good video. Add the speed of shooting and I highly recommend the 30V.
Update August 23, 2012. The camera continues to operate great. But I wanted to update that I have taken video in many more lighting situations than before. The video is VERY impressive. Crystal clear and fantastic colors outdoors and also very well balanced colors and impressive quality indoors. In fact it is better than any stand alone video camera I have used previously. I shoot video in what Sony calls FH mode. It is 1920 by 1080 at 60i. It is the 3rd out of 4 video quality options and still quite good. Outdoor video played on my TV looks like an HD TV broadcast. And, the HX30V produces the best indoor video quality of any video camera I have used.
Likes:
Movie button is easier to start (compared to HX9V) and not lag
When reviewing pictures, very responsive and populates the pictures quickly
Wifi built in with WiFi sharing (camera to phone, camera to tv, camera to computer)
Tog wheel is easier to turn (compared to HX9V)
Display screen is beautiful and crisp.
Improved focus speed and 20x optical magnification
GPS (works great with Google Earth/maps)
Video, for a point and shoot camera, is awesome! Looks great on HDTV.
Stereo microphones seem improved over HX9V
Not a fan of:
misleading advertising concerning "Wireless battery charging is available with the included multi-station dock"
added picture effects could be better. You can alter them on the computer for the same effect. Would like to see miniature mode for making movies.
Great camera! Lots of features! Amazing picture quality in image and movie mode. If you need a new camera, buy this camera. If you want to save a few bucks, get the Sony HX20V. Same camera without the Wifi.
Peace and much love,
Rob BlackthornI loved my DSC-HX9v so much that its still in the family, just couldn't bring it to my heart to sell such a great camera; and believe it or not the DSC-HX30v is better!
First thing I liked about the 30v vs the 9v is the buttons on the 30v are bigger and easier to use (dummy proofing of the camera).
I haven't tested the video out enough (review shall be updated accordingly) but it does look nice! and I believe the steady shot is a bit smoother. There is no lag when pressing the record button like the 9v. You can now also take 13 megapixel pictures while recording video without interrupting the recording (This doesn't seem to work with 60P but only 60i).
Macro (Haven't played with enough, but this camera has better macro specs then the 9v).
Pictures are great (I'm no pro) but I have always loved how these cameras have the ability to take quick smooth shots (especially in superior+ mode).
20x optical is amazing, there is also the "clear image zoom" feature which provides further zoom as well as a digital zoom (I Personally have both non-optical zooms turned off).
Panoramas: everyone loves my panorama shots, they are further amazed when they realize its my little point and shoot that made it all happen.
Wifi: I have used the Wifi feature to share photos on my Android Photon 4g as well as my PC (Keep in mind you have to install the Sony Play Memory software on the device you are connecting to).
I was disappointed that there was no charging dock like advertised (I saw a review here that mentioned that but received a bunch of negative comments, I think its a legit gripe because I was disappointed when I opened my brand new camera box and found no dock).
Micro USB connection!!!! This camera was switched to a micro-usb wire for charging and sharing pictures which means I can now use the same micro-usb wire to charge my phone, mouse, headset and camera.
I also like the look of the 30v, it does not have that metal ring around the lens portion like the 9v so it looks much stealthier.
Battery feels like it lasts just about the same as my 9v.
GPS actually functions, my 9v's GPS just couldn't get it going on my trip to Hawaii. This GPS connects quicker.
Flash: what I like about the flash with the 30v is that it comes up flashes and goes back down instantly unlike the 9v which had the flash pop up and stay lingering for a while. (Low light performance is so good that using the flash usually makes the pics worse I noticed)
The Camera itself just feels like its more responsive and quicker to the punch then the the 9v.I wanted to write this review for all those angst ridden camera buyers out there. I was one of you until very recently when I finally pulled the trigger on this camera. This is more about the use of the camera than the camera itself.
Here's my situation which from what I've read, many are in similar circumstances so I hope this helps you.
1. I normally shoot a Nikon DSLR, carry a dedicated sling style bag loaded with a flash unit and a second zoom. This backpack would also include a few accessories such as cleaning supplies, chargers, wires, a point and shoot camera, a camcorder plus extra disks, plus other "stuff". This bag weighs in at a good 15-20 lbs. I got the sling style back so i can access and shoot faster than a normal backpack.
2. Enter 2 little kids a 6 year daughter and a 2 year old son. My daughter was very good at sitting still or waiting around while I messed with the camera, the bag, and the gear. My son is a completely different story, he needs constant management and supervision to keep him safe.
3. Managing the camera, bag my kids and a now mad wife at the same time became almost impossible. I simply could not be fiddling with the bag and watch my son who would tear off in any direction without either waling away from the bag, running after him with the bag open, or leaving it to my wife all the time. The situation got to be unworkable. The bag was also too heavy and cumbersome when I had to pick up my son which I often do since he's 2.
So I needed something small but good enough to give decent results.
1. I looked at Nikon, Canons G series, Panasonic Lumix, Fuji (which I loved).
2. I was looking for the following, lens quality, fast lens for Bokeh, largish zoom, image quality, portability, ease of use, wifi, and HD movies.
3. You guessed it folks no one camera does all of the above, so I narrowed the field to what I truly needed.
a. Minimal size but not so small I can't grip the thing. This ruled out the interchangeable lens micro 4/3 cameras. Really if I want to carry little lenses and have a protruding lens I'd just suck it up and carry the DSLR the difference to me was not great enough, if I was going small I wanted to go built in lens.
b. Very good picture quality but also HD video so I would not have to carry a separate camcorder.
c. A big enough zoom so I am not missing a ton of shots, especially since I am with kids and can't run over to everything to get my perfect shot.
d. Last, I wanted wifi so I can upload the photos on the run to a phone or laptop and not have to deal with wires and connections.
So I looked at quite a few very good cameras from the listed manufacturers above. I was really tempted by the Fuji X10. The controls, size, form factor was fantastic. Also most of the cameras had better sensors than the Sony. But the problem was they all had subpar video, non HD, and smallish zooms of 3-4ish times. Plus no wifi.
So the angst began, it came down to this one decision, do I want the better sensor and controls or do I want the better video, zoom, and wifi. Oh how I agonized!! I almost went for the FUJI X10, it is an AMAZING camera. But I had to think about how I will really use this camera. Am I making larger prints than 8x10? Do I have time to use all the manual controls with the kids near by? Am I happy with a small zoom? Do I have to wait until I get home to connect and upload the computer?
Well, I decided what I really wanted is a all in one camera that is easy to carry, has a big zoom, easy to use, has great video, and can upload to my phone. I sacrificed higher quality sensor, better controls, and a faster lens in order to get "everything" I wanted.
So here's the scoop on the Sony, I have had it for 3 weeks and went on one vacation with it.
1. You can not beat the portability. I bought the retro case that cradles the camera and the top half snaps off to shoot, so the camera is always somewhat protected even when shooting. This is great as it allows me to wear the camera and shoot with the case on. If I need to do something such as grab my son from the edge of a boat, I can do it and let the camera drop to my waist. I have no bag, no lens cap, no heavy SLR that becomes a flying weapon if i have to run.
2. This Sony has a few tricks up its sleeve. I don't have to sacrifice the nice Bokeh effect with a slower lens, it will take 2 pics and merge them into one, this allows a soft focus background.
3. This puppy has a 20x zoom and 40x digital. It's is simply amazing how far you can reach and it really does cover beyond what my multiple lens do for my DSLR. The lens is decent with little distortion for casual nor architectural shooting.
4. The video is fantastic, full HD with sterio sound. Camcorder eliminated. It does zoom and refocus while recording. Since i am not a heavy camcorder user this is enough to let me leave the camcorder at home.
5. Wifi, this version has wifi. It took a little fiddling to make it work with my Droid phone and I am still learning about how it works. But on my second day of using it on vacation i figured out how to quickly upload all the pics I want to the phone and then on the phone I can Facebook, Instagram, etc. There is some learning curve but the wait to connect at home issue is now eliminated. I don't need to carry a laptop with me and there's not even a wire needed to connect to the phone. The uploads however do not look as great as the originals on the camera, I'll have to play around a bit more with that.
6. Another trick is low light capture, the camera will fire a bunch of shots in succession in low light and merge it into a reasonable shot with out a tripod. Is it super sharp, no, it is it good enough for a 4x6 or even 8x10, probably. Best of all you eliminate the tripod and the flash for nice natural low light scenes.
7. Drawbacks? Still learning the camera, it has a lot to offer and no paper manual included. The quality is ok for the web and up to 8x10 but if you blow it up on the monitor it simply is not anywhere close to DSLR quality, but I knew that going in. Looks somewhat like water color effect when blown up. It might be the auto ISO kicking when, I have to figure out how to control that.
Conclusion, this IS the Swiss Army knife of cameras. High quality, has many many functions, great video, great little specialty settings. It is not a full size comparable, it does not have as many manual controls as the X10 or G12, however for my situation, purpose, and use it is nearly a perfect solution.
Have fun deciding! Here's a short version of my review:
What I love most about this camera: the zoom, stabilizer, WIFI, grip, panorama, fast shutter
What I wasn't so excited about: The 18MP quality has a lot of detail loss.
Sony HX30v vs Canon S100
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Picture quality: S100 Winner (also shoots RAW)
Video: HX30v (Before, I wrote the S100 had a slight edge in detail, but HX30v is clearly the winner in video. Canon has this clicking focusing noise issue and exposure flicking problem when it's confused between adjusting to bright or dark scenes. Sony knows video. Most people will find it hard to believe a video shot with this camera came from a digital camera and not an actual video camera. HX30v wins in smoother frame rate as well: 60 vs 24 FPS)
Lens: S100 (Max F2.0 vs 3.2 Focal Length is roughly the same: S100 is 24mm / HX30V is 25mm)
Zoom: HX30v (20x vs 5x)
Macro: HX30v (1 cm vs 3 cm)
Body: S100 is slimmer and more compact; HX30v is better for bigger hands/better grip
HX30v motor mechanics are more silent than S100
If you want a serious compact camera, go with the Canon S100 (if you also don't mind 5x zoom, 24FPS video, and no WIFI)
If you want an all-around versatile packed camera, go with this HX30V, especially if you don't need to shoot in RAW or extremely picky about pixels, don't mind being a little bulky (S100 is slimmer), need lots of zoom, easy automatic modes it makes it an handy camera to carry.
Sony will be releasing a new camera called the DSC-RX100 (although pricey!), which will have a much bigger sensor for compact cameras, to compete against the S100 and micro-third cameras.
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I used to work in camera sales and have played with all the latest compact cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Fuji, Olympus, and Pentax. The Sony HX series cameras (HX7V, HX9V, HX10V were the old models and now comes the HX20V and 30V) were one of the easiest cameras to sell because of the many features it includes that stand out compared to others. I've been a Canon guy, but Sony has really impressed me (especially with their NEX/Alpha series) and they definitely rank near the top.
First things first, A LOT of customers who aren't too familiar with cameras assume more mega pixels means better image quality. This is NOT true. Do not purchase a camera going by that rule. It's a great marketing tool, but get that out of your head! The mega pixels are simply the resolution, which can be good for printing large photos or cropping -HOWEVER, if the sensor isn't capable of even handling that large amount of pixels then it actually goes against you; it gets to the point where there is no detail and it just looks more like a smudged out mosaic painting. It's similar to a quality difference of an actual optical zoom to a digital zoom; digital zoom is worthless and you want the actual optics to be moving, to zoom, rather than the sensor digitally blowing up the picture. The sensor on the HX30's true EFFECTIVE resolution is more around 9MP and increased to 18MP, so the quality is lost. Cropping at 18MP will pretty much be useless in this case because you will see that the detail isn't there at all and it will look like a washed out painting.
The Canon's S100 has an effective 12MP sensor. If you are VERY picky about quality then you'll be happier going with the Canon S100 in terms of overall image quality (in terms of compact cameras, of course if you want the best quality image you'll have to get a DSLR, or an "EVIL" camera such as the Sony NEX 5N with APS-C sensor). The Canon S100 also has a wider aperture at F2.0 (the lower the number generally means it can take in more light) and the Sony HX30V's widest aperture is F3.2. At it's widest angle 25mm, you can only switch between 3.2 and jump to F8.0
The image quality comes down to the actual sensor and lens. With that in mind, a DSLR, which has a bigger sensor, that is a lower mega pixel will still have a much better image quality than a small compact point-and-shoot camera with a really high mega pixel.
Generally, Canon and Nikon are mainly known for cameras, but Sony has shown that they can compete with them as well, having years of experience in technology. (Sony actually supplies the sensor for Nikon for their DSLR!)
This camera is also very user-friendly with its built-in manual guide, the display showing what each mode does, as well as having two auto-modes; the intelligent auto mode is standard, but in Superior Auto mode, it will take several shots and combine them to create the best picture possible.
Pros:
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Fast shutter (if you've ever experienced slow shutter delay on lower-end cameras, well, you'll be happy how quickly this thing takes pictures and in continuous shooting mode, it can capture 10 pictures in one second -at full resolution) Sony has the fastest automatic-focusing as well.
20x optical zoom (it's more silent and faster than Canon S100's 5x zoom)
Excellent Stabilizer (zoomed in at 20x and it creates a nice gliding steadiness)
Full 1080p at 60FPS (Canon S100 only has 24FPS). However, you need a modern computer or PS3 to play this back. You can shoot in MP4 (youtube format) at 1080/30 frames and 720/VGA too. 1080p60 frames will be in AVCHD .MTS format. However, see Cons)
Panorama Again, Sony has the best built-in panorama feature where you easily sweep it across the direction that you want and it stitches it together for you to create a wide picture. Canon still doesn't have this feature and other brands like Fuji and Nikon's panorama assist is no comparison.
Very nice grip feels great in the hands (not like the puny "grip" on the Canon S100)
Dual recording (you can take still pictures while shooting video; however, not in the 1080-60p mode) But they will be in 2MP you actually don't need to take a picture while recording; you can always take a snapshot at any frame during playback of the video.
Manual focus area without having to re-compose the shot (however, the Canon S100 has much nicer manual options with its custom ring)
Wifi! you have to download Sony's PlayMemories app, but once that's done, it makes transferring photos to your phone easy! I thought the WIFI would be a gimmick but if you have a smartphone, it's really nice to be able to send it right away. With the 20x zoom, I can take far away pictures or nice panoramas and immediately send the picture to friends and they'll think it was all done with my camera phone!) However, the WIFI upload will compress the pictures to 2MP resolution!
Face Detect works really well and there is a also a self-timer to shoot 2 seconds after a one/two faces are detected; it can detect up to 8 faces to correctly focus/set correct exposure on them.
Digital leveler (so that you know your composition is perfectly horizontal and not tilted)
Good Macro
In playback video mode, I do like that you can use the wheel dial to fast forward/rewind frame by frame and fast forward up to 4x
With the Sony HX30V, in playback mode, you can zoom out 3 times; if you zoom out once, it'll display 4x4 rows of thumbnail pictures (16 pictures); zooming out again will display 5x5 (25 thumbnails); zooming out a third time will show a nice calendar display where you can easily select the date/album of the pictures.
With the Canon S100, playback will display 2x2 (4 thumbnails), 3x3 (9 thumbnails), 6x6 (36 thumbnails), 10x10 (100 thumbnails) and using the custom front ring allows one to jump between dates(but no calendar display like on the Sony)
The Canon is able to display the thumbnails much faster than the Sony.
Cons:
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18MP hurts the quality (the S100 has better detail)
Although 1080 resolution and smoother frame rates, the colors and detail seem rather faded compared to S100
Does not seem to have a trim/combine video editing feature in playback mode (you can with the S100)
No manual whatsoever for video recording (S100, you can lock the focus before recording)
No aperture/shutter priority manual control
No custom self-timer setting; max is 10 seconds or 2 seconds. it can take 1 picture after 10 or 2 seconds; or takes 10 continuous shots after 10 seconds (not for 2 seconds) and shoots 2 seconds after one or two faces are detected. (With the Canon S100, you can customize up to 30 seconds and up to 10 shots; so you can set it to, let's say, take 6 shots and set the timer to 5 seconds)
the "Custom Button" next to the dials can only be set for Exposure Value, ISO, White Balance, Metering Mode, Smile Shutter -but I would like to assign it for other options too like quickly changing the Focus Mode without going into the Menu.
105MB internal memory, but you cannot record video with it
You must remove the memory card to view what's on the internal memory.
the body and buttons feels a bit more plasticky and a bit cheaper than the previous model HX10/9V; this is also the similar with Canon's S100/S95. I guess they are trying to save costs/weigh less? The dial does feel cheaper than Canon S100's dial.
It comes with a USB-charger, so you still need to charge it through the camera as opposed to removing the battery it's a separate accessory you have to buy.
Some may find it to be a bit bulkier than most compact-cameras
the WIFI feature does not work for uploading videos
In burst shot mode, you're restricted to a maximum ISO800
When viewing photos, it does NOT allow to zoom in WHILE MAINTAINING PORTRAIT ORIENTATION! It ends up going back to landscape mode even if you're still holding the camera vertically (with the Canon, it will still be locked to the orientation you're viewing it as when you zoom)
Pressing the play button just to view photos will turn on the screen, but if you press the play button again hoping to turn off the screen, it would actually end up retracting the lens instead to start shooting; with the Canon, I can press the play button to view photos and then press the play button again to turn off the screen without the lens retracting out -minor annoyance. (you can also press the on/off button to turn off the
screen without the lens retracting in playback mode)
The side menu system could be designed/organized better for quicker navigation
Some might not be willing to spend this much money for a digital camera, but you really get what you pay for. If you need to shoot in RAW, then this camera might be deal breaker for you. If you don't need the high-zoom/panorama/1080 at 60frames and something a bit more compact, then I would definitely consider the Canon S100.
If you don't mind the size, I would also consider the Sony NEX-5N 16.1 MP Compact Interchangeable Lens Touchscreen Camera with 18-55mm Lens (Black).
The difference between the HX20V is simply the WIFI, so if you don't have a smartphone or don't need it then you can just get the HX20V.
Overall, the Sony HX30V is packed with many features: WIFI, high zoom, fast shutter/focusing, good grip, panorama, dual recording picture it makes it an all-around solid camera; however, it will not replace my Canon S100. Mainly the minus one-star for me is the image quality and manual controls compared to the S100. The Canon S100 and the Sony HX30V are both fantastic cameras in their own way. In the end, what is best will depend on YOUR needs.
I'll try to use this camera more and see if I would love it more than my Canon S100. I will be sure to update my review.
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