Sony has really leaned into the camera market in recent years with some very interesting offerings. They’re obviously more than willing to use their research and development depth, manufacturing networks and expertise, a healthy dose of innovative thinking, and have a willingness to put new ideas into the marketplace. The Alpha range is the benchmark for mirrorless cameras. Their RX0 and RX1 cameras are quite unique and unlike anything else on the market. Their RX100 series packs an amazing amount of high-end features into a high-end compact camera. And Sony’s sensors turn up in some of the best cameras produced by other brands. All in all, it’s put Sony amongst the most exciting of the camera brands right now.
Overall, the HX99 does everything you’d expect and more from a compact camera. It doesn’t blaze a lot of new territory in terms of innovation except in one key respect. It packs a massive 24-720mm zoom into a tiny camera. Not all of that zoom range is equally useful–the software-enhanced digital zoom features aren’t as good quality-wise as the optical zoom, for instance–but the optical zoom alone is a pretty amazing feature for something that fits so easily in your pocket. I’ve posted some practical examples of the HX99’s zoom range separately, so you can see how those numbers translate visually.Even aside from the impressive zoom, the HX99 is a very capable point and shoot compact, especially at a very reasonable price point (at a much higher price point, Sony has the even better RX100 line). It has a 18.2MP sensor, wireless connectivity, and the usual in-camera photo enhancing tricks you’d expect. It also has a few higher-end features that you don’t come across on most run-of-the-mill compact point and shoots, especially one priced so reasonably. Like being able to shoot RAW, a popup electronic viewfinder, and high-bitrate 4K video recording. All together, the result is a camera that generally exceeds what I’d expect for a camera in this class and price point. Without resorting to fancy bells and whistles–except with the zoom–it performs at least as well or better than I’d expect in most practical respects.
I’ve posted a detailed hands-on review of the Sony HX99 separately as well as a selection focusing specifically on the HX99’s high-ISO performance, but here’s a selection of photos I’ve shot with the camera to go alongside the review. I thought it worth posting them to give some practical examples of how the camera performs in real-world everyday shooting.
Sony HX99 High-Resolution Sample Images
These were shot in a mixture of RAW and JPGs and minimally (for the most part) processed in Lightroom. The aspect ratio of the HX99’s sensor is 4:3, and the shots here are a mix of 4:3 and 3:2.
You can click on each image to open a full-resolution version if you’d like a closer look.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 2000 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 640 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₃₂₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 168mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₂₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.6.
Zoomed out at 24 mm @ ISO 100 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ / 3.5. I’ve included this shot for two specific reasons. Firstly, to look at sharpness across the frame. While it’s definitely softer in the corners, it’s still pretty good. This was shot as a JPG original, and the camera is clearly applying some in-camera sharpening which is helping. Secondly, to look for chromatic aberration, particularly in the sharp, contrasty lines at far left of frame and bottom right. There is some, but it’s not much at all and certainly not distracting. It’s also easily fixed in something like Lightroom or DxO.
Exposure details: 83mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 24 mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ / 8.0.
Exposure details: 75mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 200 and ¹⁄₈₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 2000 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 1000 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 80mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 36mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 3200 and ⅕ sec at ƒ/4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ/7.1.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 200 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/7.1.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 160 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 640 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 203mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₄₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at ƒ/7.1.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: Zoomed at 25mm (35mm equivalent) @ ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 44mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 200 and ¹⁄₅₀ sec at ƒ/4.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 3200 and ¹⁄₁₅ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 3200 and ¹⁄₂₅ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₄₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 30mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₂₀₀ sec at ƒ/7.1.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 640 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/5. Another shot with the pretty wacky lens flare going on, although in this case it seems somewhat appropriate.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 1250 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 100 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 800 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 1250 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.6.
Exposure details: 62mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 1000 and ¹⁄₈₀ sec at ƒ/4.5.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 2000 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₃₂₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₂₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 270mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 6400 and ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₄₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 453mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₈₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₄₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 720mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 125 and ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/6.4.
Exposure details: 44mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/5.
Exposure details: 28mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 800 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 200 and ¹⁄₃₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/3.5.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₃₂₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/8. This shot shows one of the camera’s quirks.–or, more precisely, the lens’s. When you point it at a very bright light source, like the sun in this shot, you can get some very interesting lens flare. There are one or two others on this page that also show it (eg. the one of the sun through the fall leaves).
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₆₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 138mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 2500 and ¹⁄₁₆₀ sec at ƒ/8.
Exposure details: 60mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₃₂₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 511mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at ƒ/6.3.
Exposure details: 24mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 1600 and ¹⁄₁₀₀ sec at ƒ/8. It’s synthetic grass, and there’s a light layer of snow on it. So the white “noise” on the green is actually a small amount of snow.
Exposure details: 31mm (35mm equivalent) focal length @ ISO 80 and ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at ƒ/4.
Where to Find the Sony HX99
You can find the HX99 at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Google Express.
- ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-720mm High Magnification Zoom and High Image Quality Lens
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