This top digital camera the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V features a whopping 16.2 effective megapixel backside illuminated Sony Exmor R CMOS image sensor with RGB color filter array, together with a Sony G-branded 10x optical zoom lens. For 4:3 aspect, still image shooting, the Sony HX7V's lens offers a 35mm-equivalent range from a useful 25mm wide angle to an equally useful 250mm telephoto. The sensor crop for 16:9 aspect stills and movies raises this slightly to 28-280mm equivalents, while 4:3 movies get a stronger crop with a 34-340mm equivalent range. The lens has a two-step aperture with ND filter, which offers either F3.5 or F8.0 at wide angle; at telephoto the maximum aperture is F5.5, and the minimum aperture isn't stated. Autofocusing is possible to just five centimeters at wide angle, or 100 centimeters at telephoto.
The HX7V can capture 4:3 aspect ratio images at up to 4,608 x 3,456 pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio images at up to 4,608 x 2,592 pixels, or 60 fields-per-second video at 1080i (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) resolution or below with Dolby Digital stereo audio, using AVC HD compression. As well, the HX7V includes Sony's Intelligent Sweep Panorama function. This function allows automatic creation of 245, 180, 168, 125, or 66-degree panoramas in-camera depending on the image resolution, by simply sweeping the lens across the subject.
On the rear panel of the Sony Cyber-shot HX7V features a 3.0-inch XtraFine TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 921,600 dots. The Sony DSC-HX7V has a 9-point autofocus system, and does include a face detection system, capable of detecting up to eight faces in a scene and recognises the difference between children and adults. Face detection is also used to provide a Smile Shutter function that automatically triggers the shutter when your subject is smiling, and a blink-detection function to alert you if your subject's eyes were closed.
The HX7V offers three altrernatives for determining exposures - multi-pattern, center-weighted or spot metering. Shutter speeds from 30 to 1/1,600 second are possible under manual control (2 to 1/1,600 under auto control), and sensitivities ranging from ISO 125 to 3,200 equivalents are on offer. 2.0EV of exposure compensation is available, in 1/3 EV steps. The DSC-HX7V also features Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, to stop blur caused by camera shake.
Nine white balance settings are available, including auto and seven presets, together with manual white balance setting. The HX7V offers a selection of thirteen scene modes - High Sensitivity, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Gourmet, Pet, Handheld Twilight, and Anti Motion Blur - which offer an alternative method of control over the look of images. The HX7V Intelligent Auto, Program, and Manual modes (but no Aperture or Shutter priority modes), together with four-mode flash strobe with red-eye reduction capability. Flash range is stated as 0.05 to 4.8 meters at wide angle, or 1.0 to 3.1 meters at telephoto, when using automatic ISO sensitivity. A two- or ten-second self timer allows you to get in the picture yourself, or to avoid camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button when shooting on a tripod.
Images and movies can be recorded on Secure Digital, SDHC or the latest SDXC types. The HX7V is also compatible with Sony's own proprietary Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The Sony HX7V includes HDMI high definition and USB data connectivity. Power comes courtesy of a proprietary NP-BG1 Infolithium battery pack.
