Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX60V

City breakers’ pal offers manual options and ease of use

$499, Sony.com.au

This travel compact is very similar in many ways to the Canon Powershot opposite: 30x optical zoom, a 921K-dot, three-inch screen and Full-HD video capture, albeit at a slightly reduced 24 frames per second. It’s the sensor that sets this camera apart, though, a quality, Sony-made Exmor R CMOS number with 20.4 megapixels. It delivers sharply detailed and colour-rich results even at maximum telephoto settings, with plenty of contrast that requires no additional tweaking.

Further enticements come in the form of a Bionz X processor, as utilised by the more pro models in Sony’s range, including the A7. The maximum lens aperture is a so-so f/3.5, which is underqualified compared with the f/1.4 or f/1.8 of some other premium compacts. Yet with an extended reach of 24-720mm in 25mm terms, it still puts in a good performance despite the slight fish-eye effect when shooting in portrait at maximum wide angle.

Photo enthusiasts seeking a snapshot for which there is limited degree of handson control will delight in the HX60V’s two rangefinder-like top plate dials: one for the usual mix of auto and manual shooting modes, including the self-adjusting Superior Auto and Panoramic options. For those wishing to get more involved, there’s also the option to tweak the exposure between +/- 2EV . As with the Canon, you also get a pop-up flash hidden neatly in the top plate, plus the extra usefulness of a vacant hotshoe to add a viewfinder or boom mic. The options are plentiful.

As with its rivals, the full reach of the 30x zoom lens can be used when shooting video, too. Add in stereo sound, a rapid frame rate, smooth automatic focus adjustment, built-in geotagging via GPS and connectivity via Wi-Fi, or to your phone and tablet via NFC, and you have a very capable compact. However, it is one, unlike others on test, that never attempts DS LR-like detail. Love Extensive zoom options. Richly detailed images. Rock solid but still pocket-sized build Hate Limited aperture T3 Says Clear, detailed pictures from a small but perfectly formed compact cam