Sony has revealed the latest cameras to be added to it Cyber-shot line-up including its new flagship mega-zoom HX400V, which adds Wi-Fi with NFC and GPS to its 50x optical zoom capability. Other notable new cameras revealed include the compact WX350, and the 63x optical zoom H400.
Cyber-shot HX400V
The latest update to the Sony mega-zoom HX-series is the HX400V which, while looking a lot like its HX300 predecessor, adds Wi-Fi with NFC and GPS. There's also the addition of Sony's Bionz X processor which has previously impressed in higher end models like the RX10 and the Aplha A7, and should keep things moving along quickly.The HX400V features a 20.4 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) along with a 50x F2.8-F6.3 optical zoom which offers the 35-mm-format focal length equivalent to 24-1,200-mm. With that sort of zoom onboard, it's also good to know that the camera features optical image stabilization to control the inevitable wobbles.
Measuring 129.6 x 93.2 x 103.2 mm (5.1 x 3.7 x 4 inches) the HX400V is DSLR-like in both appearance and size. On the rear is a three-inch tilting LCD with 921,600 dots and an electronic viewfinder for composing photos or video – which can be recorded at full HD 1080p 60/50/24 fps. Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity allow for easy sharing and remote shooting, and the camera is compatible with the Sony PlayMemories camera apps platform.
The Cyber-shot HX400V will be available in March for US$500.
Cyber-shot WX350
The Sony Cyber-shot WX350 is a new pocketable compact camera which squeezes in a 20x optical zoom lens (24-480-mm equivalent). There's an 18.2 effective megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) along with the Bionz X image processor for producing quality images with low noise.
While the WX350 only has 460k dot three-inch LCD, it does boast built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy image sharing and remote control functions. It can also record full HD video at 1080p 60//50 fps.
Available in back or white from March, the Cyber-shot WX350 will retail for around $320.
Cyber-shot H400
While the H400 has a considerably larger optical zoom than the HX400V (it stretches to an almost ridiculous 63x, giving a 35-mm-format equivalent of 24.5-1550-mm F3.4-F6.5) it sits below it in the Sony line-up and is aimed at more budget market.
The camera uses a 20.1 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) and has a relatively small ISO range of 100 to 3,200. It's rear three-inch LCD also only has 460k dots, video recording is only possible up to 720p and continuous shooting has a maximum speed of just 0.71 fps. On the plus side, it does have an EVF and is considerably cheaper.
The Cyber-shot H400 will be available in March for US$320.
Product pages: Cyber-shot HX400V, WX350, H400