Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V

CONDITION: 6.8/10

THE CAMCORDER IS IN GOOD COSMETIC CONDITION WITH VISIBLE SIGNS OF USE. THE BROWN BODY SHOWS SCRATCHING ON THE EDGES AND SOME SCUFFING FROM REGULAR HANDLING. THE RUBBER GRIP HAS LOST ITS PATTERN ON THE EDGE FROM WEAR. THE 3-INCH LCD SCREEN HAS SLIGHT SCRATCHING AND THE ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING IS PEELING, WHICH IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. THE 16× ZOOM LENS IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH A FEW GRAINS OF DUST UNDER THE FIRST LENS ELEMENT THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE IN PHOTOS AND DON'T AFFECT IMAGE QUALITY. ALL FUNCTIONS WORK PERFECTLY INCLUDING SHOOTING, ZOOM, GPS, AND ALL BUTTONS. INCLUDES BATTERY AND CHARGER. PRICED TO REFLECT COSMETIC WEAR AND LCD COATING CONDITION.

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V landed in early 2011 as a pocket superzoom that didn't ask you to choose between portability and reach. With a 16.2-megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor and a genuinely impressive 16× optical zoom (24-384mm equivalent), it packed travel camera versatility into a body you could actually slip into a jacket pocket. Built-in GPS tagged your photos with location data, full manual controls gave enthusiasts room to experiment, and 1080p60 video recording meant you weren't compromising on motion capture either.

THE PICS

Coming soon

THE LOOKS

In brown, the HX9V has a distinctive, warm aesthetic that stood out from the sea of black compacts dominating the market. The body features a substantial textured grip on the front and a thumb pad on the rear, making it easy to handle despite its mostly smooth metal surfaces. At 245 grams, it's got enough weight to feel solid without becoming a burden, and the pop-up flash replaced the narrow window design of its predecessor for more reliable illumination.

THE SPECS

The HX9V uses a 16.2-megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor paired with Sony's BIONZ image processor. The Sony G 16× optical zoom lens covers 24-384mm equivalent with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization in Active Mode and a respectable f/3.3-5.9 aperture range. The 3-inch XtraFine LCD with TruBlack technology packs 921,000 dots for genuinely sharp preview and playback, while full HD video records at 1080p60 with stereo sound.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• 16× optical zoom in a pocket body: Sony managed to fit a 24-384mm equivalent lens into a camera you could genuinely carry everywhere, making it one of the most versatile travel zooms available at the time.
• Built-in GPS with location tagging: The integrated GPS automatically appended latitude, longitude, and altitude data to image EXIF files, perfect for travel documentation without external accessories.
• Full manual control with Program mode: Unlike most superzooms, the HX9V offered genuine manual exposure control alongside intelligent auto modes, giving enthusiasts room to experiment when they wanted it.

THE VERDICT

The DSC-HX9V is a capable pocket superzoom from Sony's high-performance compact lineup. Its combination of serious reach, back-illuminated sensor for low-light shooting, and full manual controls made it a solid choice for photographers who wanted travel camera flexibility without the bulk.