Sony DSC HX30V - help me love it?

[Nana2Callie]

I really don't like the camera and regret buying it; however, I've paid too much for it to replace this early. It just seems bulky (should have thought that park carrying option through a little better) and the pics just seem to be average. Can someone help me? We leave for WDW in 5 weeks and I want to take some great photos without fighting with the camera the whole trip. Thanks,

 

[havoc315]

That simply is not a bulky camera unless you are comparing it to a cell phone.

You're not going to get anything much smaller capable of similar function and results.

The teeny tiny cameras are really no better than cell phones.

 

[hakepb]

Personally, I love the "bulk" of my HX30 as it feels more natural in my hands than a slim phone (I can never hold my iPhone well for pictures.) and I like that it feels like a machined block of metal vs a bunch of plastic.., but I'm sure my hands are different than yours, so feel is a personal preference and I understand why its nit for everyone.

I would agree that critical IQ is average. Especially if you pixel-peep (view at 100%). But actual photo prints (even 8x10) from it are good, and don't show evidence of the "excessive noise reduction"
But for IQ, what I concentrate on is what IQ I get for how I use the camera.

This was a completely spurt of the moment picture, I was walking by the castle while a show was going on, I noticed Mickey on stage, so I turned the camera on, Camera in Auto, zoom snap:

I think Sony's Auto mode performance is well above average, might not be as good as what you could do playing with settings on other cameras, but I think its better than other makes Auto mode.

Plus Sony's Panorama is really enjoyable:

And you get great zoom for the Safari

Admittedly, I started to sour a bit on my HX30 while I was taking indoor basketball pictures...but then I started looking at the blurs I got on my old camera, and decided the HX30 ain't to bad.

Plus its cool that the HX30 can let you shoot 1080 60i video and snap a few stills at the same time.

I know its not a perfect camera, but I think or can be an enjoyable tool to play with...but I understand it may not be everyone's tool.

 

[hakepb]

That simply is not a bulky camera unless you are comparing it to a cell phone.

You're not going to get anything much smaller capable of similar function and results.

The teeny tiny cameras are really no better than cell phones.

I do believe the Canon SX260 and Panasonic ZS20 are more slim, but they also lack the bit of a grip from the HX. (And I'd rather have a mire steady grip on the camera) Sony has now "out slimmed" The others with the 20x WX300, but the WX is missing some features of the HX like P and M modes and the WX only does 60i video.

 

[havoc315]

I do believe the Canon SX260 and Panasonic ZS20 are more slim, but they also lack the bit of a grip from the HX. (And I'd rather have a mire steady grip on the camera) Sony has now "out slimmed" The others with the 20x WX300, but the WX is missing some features of the HX like P and M modes and the WX only does 60i video.

According to the specs, the sx260 is 0.1 inch thinner and about 20 grams lighter.

I wasn't suggesting that the HX was the absolute smallest. But that it wasn't significantly bulkier than other cameras with the same capabilities.
I don't see the minimal size differences to be the make or break when it comes to whether it's too large to carry around.

You can't get significantly smaller without giving up significant functionality and image quality.

 

[hakepb]

That's true, its not a significant difference.

It's just in the realm of a difference to a small group.
I've read of a few people that decided an RX-100 was too bulky for their pockets, so they kept an s100...that would never be my deciding factor, but people can go with whatever keeps them happy.