Sony Unveils New Super Zoom Cyber-Shot Cameras With 1080p Video

Today Sony announced two new super zoom cameras in its Cyber-shot line-up, the HX100V and the HX9V. Both cameras sport a wide variety of features such as full HD recording, 3D images, geo-tagging, HDR photos, and one-touch sweep panorama photos for taking gorgeous landscape photos.

Super zoom cameras such as these two tend to feature the best of both worlds. You’ve got the rough equivalent of a DSLR with multiple zoom lenses in your hand, but it’s a lot more portable and can easily fit in a medium-size purse or messenger bag. Both cameras feature a 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS sensor and support full 1920 x 1080p video at 60 frames per second. The HX100V has a 27 mm lens and 30x optical zoom and the HX9V has as 24 mm lens with 16x optical zoom so you’ll still be able to capture wide angle scenes as well as extreme close-ups.

In terms of usability, both cameras feature dedicated still image and video recording buttons. Plus they’ve borrowed a trick from their Handycam brethren and are able to take 3 MP still shots while recording video. Both models feature 3-inch LCD displays on the back which are capable of displaying simulated 3D images. Speaking of 3D, both cameras take 3D Sweep Panorama images, which are created by calculating the difference between what a person’s left eye would see and what their right eye would see. These images can be viewed in 2D or in 3D on compatible TVs.

The HX100V will retail for $450 and the HX9V will be $350. Pre-sales for both start in February.