If you think the HX1 may be for you, I can suggest a couple of GREAT places to buy it, and these are the ONLY shops I buy from online. I have tried MANY online shops but B&H PHOTO and AMAZON are really the only two I have never had an issue with. My main preference is with B&H as they have a GREAT return policy and the fastest shipping/service I have ever encountered.

To see the Sony HX1 page at B&H where you can see more of the specs on it, or order it just click here!

I run this site and offer all of my reviews and info for FREE. I currently do not make enough money with it to even cover the costs of running it so if you do buy the camera, and use the links I have here I will get a tiny credit and this will help me continue the site and add more write ups.

ANY purchase you make will help! Even buying film, batteries, etc. I hope you have enjoyed this review and if it helped you to decide on the HX1, send me an email and let me know how you like it! I provided a link to the camera at Amazon below as well!

I THANK YOU!!

I thank you for reading my review and hope you enjoyed it. Running this site costs me money, but my passion for for photography and gear has led me to create and share all of this info with fellow camera nuts. I work 7-10 hours a day on this site as it consists of a lot more than writing these pages. When I am not writing I am shooting with the lenses and cameras I write about, then going through the images and preparing them for the site. If you enjoy the site and find it useful then you can help me to continue bringing these reviews and write ups! How? Just click here to find out. Thanks!

Now that I made it to page 5 of this write up I have realized how much I have enjoyed using this camera. The Zoom, The ease of use, the silent shutter, sweep panoramic mode, and twilight mode are ALL features that make it worth buying.

What about the 1080P video?

One feature I have not even touched upon yet is the video. Sony claims the HX1 records FULL 1080P HD resolution, and from my experience the video captured with DSLR’s are better than the video recorded with small form HD camcorders. The only problem I have had with DSLR HD video is there is no autofocus when you start shooting. With the HX1 it appears there is autofocus. I had no problem shooting birds and keeping focus.

I have created a short sample that will show the quality of the HX1 when shooting video. It has been encoded in Imovie and uploaded to YOUTUBE so the quality is not the same as it would be if you were to watch it on your big HDTV, but you can get an idea anyway.

While we are on the topic of the video, here is a cool video made by B&H Photo that can actually show you what I have been talking about.

The Sony HX1 packs a punch, that is for sure. At under $500 you get everything but the kitchen sink, and from my testing, it all works as advertised. I was a bit upset that there was no RAW mode but in real world use I realized I did not need it. I mean, the people buying this camera will be enthusiastic hobbyists and even beginners. I do not see pro’s buying this camera. I personally would not shoot a wedding or event with the HX1 but for family shots, vacations, bird watching or video I would use it in a heartbeat.

The HX1 would be a great camera to have around as I do not own a camera with any type of Zoom or telephoto capability. I can not afford a Nikon D700 with a big zoom, and even if I could I am sure it would get tiring lugging it around! That gets old REAL fast for me.

As it stands now, I cant even afford to buy my own HX1, but if I could I would add it to my M8 and D-lux 4 for those times I need video or telephoto. Its Image Quality is not the best, its build is not that solid, but its versatility is hard to beat and ANYONE can get great results with it.

I will return this to my Neighbor and let him know he made a good choice in picking the HX1. For him, it is perfect, but he is not a camera nut like me. He wanted something he could point and shoot and get good results with. The HX1 fits the bill and offers all of the features one could ask for.