Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

The ($479) is a high-end superzoom camera that does just about everything imaginable. Whether you're talking about its built-in GPS, 360 degree panorama maker, 10 fps burst shooting, instant HDR photos, or 1080/60p videos, the HX200V has nearly every bell and whistle ever created. To top it off, it features the highest resolution sensor in a compact camera (18 Megapixel, which may or may not be a good thing) as well as one one of the most powerful zoom lenses (30X).

The HX200V has some tough competition, though, from the likes of Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Panasonic. Is the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V the best super zoom camera on the market? You're about to find out.

In some countries, a model without a GPS is also available. This camera is known as the DSC-HX200 (without the "V").

What's in the Box?

The Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V has a rather unremarkable bundle. Here's what you'll find when you crack open the box:

The 18.2 effective Megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V camera body NP-FH50 lithium-ion battery AC adapter Lens cap w/retaining strap Shoulder strap Micro USB cable 36 page basic manual

The Cyber-shot HX200V has a healthy amount of built-in memory -- 105MB to be exact. That holds seventeen photos at the highest quality setting, which isn't bad for emergencies. That said, you'll probably want to buy an actual memory card right away. The HX200V supports both SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo cards, and I'd suggest a 4GB card at the very minimum, and a larger card if you plan on taking a lot of Full HD video. Buying a high speed card (Class 6 or higher for SD cards) is a good idea. If you have a Sony laptop that supports their TransferJet wireless protocol, the camera supports that feature when a compatible MS Duo card is installed.

The camera uses the same NP-FH50 lithium-ion battery as many other Sony cameras. This battery holds 6.1 Wh of energy, which is pretty good for a compact camera. Here's what that looks like in terms of battery life:

Camera Battery life
(CIPA standard) Battery used Canon PowerShot SX40 HS 380 shots NB-10L Fuji FinePix HS25EXR 400 shots AA (4) Kodak EasyShare Max Z990 500 shots AA (4) Nikon Coolpix P510

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