DSC-TX200V/R
4
5
2
2
COOLEST SOCCER MOM CAMERA EVER!
I have been a Sony digital camera owner since they made those Digital Mavica floppy-disk cameras. I update to a new model just about every other year.
This is BY FAR my favorite model Sony has made so far--with a couple caveats, and I'll explain.
The flat front, wipable with a soft cloth included with the camera, is AWESOME. No more digging around the lens (gently of course) with a q-tip to clean it. This is HUGE in the soccer mom world--makes the camera much, much easier to take care of.
There's no more slide up/down cover on the front. I'm very happy about this. With one hand, it was often a hassle to open; and even though I never had one break, the moving parts element of it always made me afraid that front cover would break. No longer a problem with this new camera. Thank you, Sony!
And here's a silly one but something I noticed--when I bought last year's model camera, I tried to rip off the tag and BROKE OFF THE CAMERA STRAP HOLDER loop. Unbelieveable! They were great about replacing it; but really? Fix your design! So they did! This year the label came *looped* through that hole, and the tag was very easy to get off. Also, getting the wrist-strap through that hole was very very easy--which is almost always a hassle--thank you Sony for fixing that too.
Another reviewer was complaining about file formats, and I understand your sentiment. However, I don't think this camera line is designed for that. It's designed for people who want point-and-shoot and to do minor basic editing. The next case-in-point--the awesome new in-camera pre-photo editing options. With the "magic camera" icon, you can now brighten a photo before you take it, "warm" or "cool" it, and a host of other things. This makes me very, very happy.
1080p is, as always, stunning; and I love Sony's anti-shake for videos. It takes away what I call the "Blair Witch Effect" and makes your videos really smooth--even while walking. Also has AVCHD video version, which is good for hooking up to your HDTV and watching--but for me, mp4 is better, because I make cute little mommy set-to-music videos with iMovie.
Speaking of iMovie, that's one beef I have here: where's the Mac desktop software? Sony is really toting the cool new desktop software... but I can't use it, because I'm on a Mac. Boo!
Make sure you realize before you buy this camera that it's now MicroSD (or also takes Sony's version of MicroSD card). Which means... EyeFi no longer works. I bet this was a strategic move by Sony... heh and I give them kudos for that. But really, I only used the EyeFi for GPS tagging my photos, and this camera now does that itself! And let me tell you--the GPS tagging works down to one foot by one foot, I swear--I took the camera for a walk around a park, snapping a photo every ten steps, and on the computer, the camera knew exactly... where... I... was.
The only things I would complain about have to do with the inside of the camera. There's a hookup for sync/charging, and (another one that I think is for hooking up to the TV?) but they look EXTREMELY similar, and I can just see an old person with poor eyesight trying to jam the cable into the wrong one and breaking the camera. Either (a. make a universal port that will work both ways, or (b. move one of them somewhere else. Also, while it's super cool that I have a 32GB microSD card the size of my thumbnail that will hold over five thousand photos, I can see where it would be really hard to pop in and out if you didn't have fingernails like I do. Also, the microSD and Sony's version of the card go in the same slot, just upside down--so I was one of the people who put the card in upside down the first time (and yes, it will fit that way without jamming) and thought the microSD card wasn't working... until I flipped it over, and tada.
Bravo, Sony. I really love this camera. My favorite one you've made in the past twelve years.
March 30, 2012
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX7V JPEG only ?
Want to purchase a high quality compact camera for my wife. Have waited a long time for a really good camera. This is IT !
Good optics. All features needed . 18 meg suitable size for good prints and post processing if needed. Good for TV viewing as well.
NO File Format Options glaring omission at this level. 18 meg separates Sony from the field of 16 meg but not a significant difference and for how long. Can purchase high quality compact camera with good features and quality make /16 meg for about $ 250.00.
You might have worked out of the box by offering additional file formats . At a minimum Tiff but Raw would be much better. By doing this you would have differentiated yourself from the rest of the field and claimed the top spot for a high quality compact camera . Your market research may indicate this is not an important feature. I beg to differ. Many people have learned how to manage their digital photograph and post processing has become COMMON .
I really think you missed the boat on this.
My conclusion : Great camera . Too much money without additional file format options .
Maybe next year ?
Paul D. Vesely
February 4, 2012
