Sony HX9V vs. TX66: Compact Cameras Go Head-to-Head in Real-World Use

When Sony rolled out the Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V in mid-2011 and followed up with the DSC-TX66 in early 2012, both packed enticing features for compact camera fans - but they approached their mission quite differently. With over a decade of personal testing under my belt, including hundreds of compact cameras from various brands, these two have long exemplified a key crossroad in small sensor compacts: superzoom versatility versus sleek ultracompact design. Today, I’m diving deep into how the HX9V and TX66 measure up - not just specs on paper, but practical photography performance and value for enthusiasts and pros looking at compact cameras in this price bracket.

Let’s embark on this comparison journey armed with direct side-by-side testing, touching on everything from sensor performance to user experience, all informed by real-world shooting scenarios across multiple photography genres.

Putting Size and Handling Under the Microscope

First impressions matter - especially with cameras you carry everywhere.

The Sony HX9V arrives heftier and chunkier, measuring 105 x 59 x 34 mm and tipping the scales at 245 grams. That’s a substantial footprint for a compact camera, lending it a more traditionally grippy feel. I genuinely appreciate this in fast-paced shooting conditions - no fumbling or accidental button presses. The textured grip area is modest but practical, helping steady shots when zoomed in.

In contrast, the TX66 slims down everything to a delicate 93 x 54 x 13 mm, weighing just 109 grams - barely more than a smartphone of its era. Its glossy, ultra-smooth metal body and razor-thin profile scream pocketable elegance. However, this elegance comes with trade-offs: the flat design gives a less secure hold, and the smaller physical controls require a more careful touch. I remember many occasions where the TX66 felt more like a sophisticated point-and-shoot to whip out on urban strolls rather than a dependable in-hand camera for more deliberate compositions.

The ergonomics debate here boils down to use case: HX9V for steady shooting comfort, TX66 for unobtrusive carry-everywhere convenience.

Control Layout and User Interface: The Tale of Two Top Panels

My decade-long camera tests consistently reveal that intuitive button layout profoundly impacts shooting speed and enjoyment, particularly in versatile daily shooters.

Both cameras omit an electronic viewfinder, opting instead for LCD reliance. The HX9V’s top plate boasts a dedicated zoom rocker encircling the shutter button and a mode dial - surprisingly absent on the TX66, which opts for a simpler layout.

Sony wisely gave the HX9V traditional dials and buttons, including exposure compensation controls and a manual exposure mode, uncommon at this compact end of the market. For techies like me who enjoy some exposure creativity, this elevates the HX9V above many competitors mimicking pure point-and-shoot simplicity.

The TX66, meanwhile, leans into touchscreen usage for many functions - with a 3.3-inch OLED capacitive panel (touch-enabled) - and minimal physical buttons cluttering the top. While this keeps it sleek, I found the heavier reliance on on-screen menus slightly slowed instinctive shooting. But it’s perfect for those embracing tap-to-shoot convenience over tactile dials.

Peeking at the Sensor: Does More Megapixels Mean More Quality?

Let’s geek out for a moment on the sensor specs - all cameras live or die here.

At the heart of both lies a 1/2.3” back-illuminated CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, an industry standard for compacts at their time. The HX9V offers 16 megapixels; the TX66 ups that to 18 megapixels. But what does that bump mean?

Higher resolution on the TX66 allows for slightly crisper detail in good light, especially visible when printing larger photos or cropping. However, sensor pixel pitch shrinks accordingly, which may degrade per-pixel low-light noise performance. In practical shooting, I noticed the HX9V's images exhibited marginally better noise control at mid-ISO ranges (up to ISO 800), partly because the processor can lean on less aggressive sharpening at 16MP.

That said, the TX66 impresses with a native ISO starting at 80 and allowing a max ISO of 12,800 (though shoot at your own risk above 1600 to avoid grainy mess). The HX9V caps at ISO 3200 - less versatile for night scenes but arguably producing cleaner images within its range.

Neither records RAW files, so post-processing latitude is limited for both - important for pros who crave maximum editing flexibility.

Displays and Viewing Experience: OLED vs. LCD

The obvious ergonomic plus for the TX66 is the upgraded, touch-enabled OLED screen. At 3.3 inches and 1230k dots resolution, it dazzles with vibrant colors and deep blacks - a treat for framing and reviewing shots on the go.

Conversely, the HX9V offers a smaller 3.0-inch LCD with 921k dots, featuring Sony’s XtraFine TruBlack technology for better contrast. While not OLED, it delivers an impressively crisp and bright viewing experience, particularly under daylight, surpassing many LCD panels of its time.

However, the lack of touchscreen on the HX9V nudges it toward more button-based navigation. During actual shooting, I preferred the directness of the HX9V controls over the TX66’s touch-dependency, especially in bright conditions where smeared fingerprints can slightly obscure the OLED.

Shooting Across Genres: Which Camera Shines Where?

Now for the juicy part - performance across photography styles you actually care about.

Portrait Photography

Neither camera has a large sensor or full manual control over aperture to produce beautifully creamy bokeh - but let’s judge what they do offer.

• Skin Tones & Color Rendition: Both cameras perform admirably in natural skin tone reproduction, with Sony’s color science delivering warm yet neutral hues. The TX66’s OLED screen preview even helps judge exposure better for skin.

• Bokeh & Depth of Field: The HX9V’s longer zoom range (24–384 mm equivalent) can create more compressed backgrounds when zoomed, leading to slightly better subject separation than the TX66’s 26–130 mm lens. But neither really dazzles in background blur.

• Eye and Face Detection: The TX66 edges ahead here with built-in face detection autofocus - absent on the HX9V - which aids sharper focus on people in casual portraits or street photography.

Landscape Photography

Here’s where sensor size and dynamic range are scrutinized.

• Both share the same sensor dimensions, so dynamic range limitations are similar. Neither packs advanced HDR features or built-in filters for landscapes.

• The HX9V’s wider 24 mm lens start point captures more expansive vistas compared to the 26 mm in the TX66.

• Resolution slightly favors the TX66 for cropping without detail loss.

• Sadly, both lack any dust or weather sealing, a limitation for outdoor enthusiasts shooting rugged terrain or difficult climates.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The HX9V’s impressive 16x zoom is a compelling asset here. From experience testing superzoom compacts, this range lets you frame distant subjects without hauling heavy lenses - ideal for casual birdwatching or sports spectating.

• Autofocus: The HX9V employs a 9-point contrast detection AF system, which is decent in daylight but lagging for fast-action tracking. The TX66 has fewer focus points, but with touch AF and face detection, it’s better for static subjects indoors or quick snaps.

• Burst Mode: Both claim a 10 fps continuous shooting rate, but the HX9V’s buffer and focus lock make it more suited to capturing fleeting moments in bursts.

Street Photography

The TX66’s super-slim profile and whisper-quiet operation make it a natural street photography companion. Its stealthy look and touch-based controls let you blend in effortlessly, capturing candid shots without turning heads.

The HX9V, despite its bulk, compensates with longer zoom and a faster shutter speed up to 1/1600 sec, handy for freezing urban action.

Macro Close-ups: How Close Can They Get?

If you’re into tiny details, the TX66 deserves mention for featuring a macro focus range down to an impressive 1 cm. This lets you get startling close to flowers, textures, or insects.

The HX9V’s macro range isn’t specified, and in practice, it doesn’t focus quite as close. However, its longer zoom can compensate for perspective compression, enabling creative tight framing.

Accuracy of focus at these distances is crucial, and the TX66’s touch AF makes manual tweaks a breeze - a nod to its design for casual, lay-flat macro shooters.

Low Light and Night Photography

Both compact sensors shoot their limits under dim conditions, but some differences steer preferences.

• The TX66’s max ISO of 12,800 sounds tempting but suffers from excessive noise from ISO 1600 onwards.

• The HX9V’s max ISO 3200 feels safer, providing usable ISO 800 to 1600 shots with less noise.

• Neither offers built-in night modes or long exposure bracketing, limiting astrophotography scope.

• The HX9V has a max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec; the TX66 can push to 1/4000 sec - great for freezing daylight action but less relevant for night shooting where longer exposures matter.

Overall, I’d recommend the HX9V for low-light shooting stability and ISO performance, but neither replaces a dedicated low-light camera.

Video Capabilities: Solid HD but Not Cinema-Level

Both cameras shoot full HD video at 1920 x 1080 resolution and 60 fps frame rates - a nice feature for compact cameras circa 2011-2012.

• They support MPEG-4 and AVCHD video formats, common and compatible with most editing software.

• Optical image stabilization (OIS) is present in both, essential for reducing handheld shake, but the HX9V’s optical system felt a touch more effective during my walking tests.

• Unfortunately, neither features external microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control for serious vloggers or filmmakers.

• The TX66’s touchscreen simplifies start/stop functions, whereas the HX9V depends on physical buttons.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long and Where to Save?

Battery life is often the Achilles’ heel of compacts. The TX66 officially nets around 250 shots per charge, while HX9V’s stats are unspecified but generally hover around 300 shots with its NP-BG1 battery, more generous for a compact zoom shooter.

Storage options differ slightly:

• HX9V is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony Memory Stick Duo variants, offering flexibility.

• TX66 supports Memory Stick Duo and microSD cards, reflecting its ultracompact design needing physically smaller media.

Connectivity and Extra Features: GPS vs. Touchscreen

While the TX66 lacks wireless connectivity, it compensates with an intuitive touchscreen interface and an OLED display.

The HX9V boasts a built-in GPS module to geotag your images, a boon for travel photographers tracking photo locations without fuss. It also supports Eye-Fi card wireless transfer, a novelty back then but less relevant today.

Neither supports Bluetooth or NFC, unsurprising given their release period.

Let’s Summarize with Visuals and Scores

Sony HX9V front Sony HX9V screen back Sony TX66 front Sony TX66 screen back

Looking at a gallery of test images confirms these observations:

• The HX9V’s photos show richer colors at telephoto zoom, less noise at higher ISO.

• The TX66 impresses with sharpness and color vibrancy in daylight, superb for street and travel snaps.

General scores place the HX9V slightly ahead in zoom capability and battery life, while the TX66 scores for design and interface innovation.

Breaking down by genre:

Wrap-Up: Which Should You Choose?

If forced to choose, my recommendation hinges strongly on your shooting style and priorities:

Pick the Sony HX9V if:

• You want a versatile superzoom camera capable of handling travel, wildlife, and casual sports photography with decent manual controls.
• You’re willing to trade compactness for better ergonomics and physical controls.
• GPS tagging and longer battery life matter for your shoots.
• Low-light usability with less noisy images is a priority.
• You plan to shoot a mix of stills and HD video with optical stabilization.

Go for the Sony TX66 if:

• Ultra-portability, sleek design, and discreetness define your photography priority - think street, travel, or casual everyday snaps.
• You want a sharper, higher-resolution sensor and an excellent OLED touch display.
• Face detection and close macro focusing are essential.
• You dislike fiddling with physical buttons and prefer touchscreen-driven interaction.
• Battery life isn’t a showstopper, and external connectivity isn’t critical.

Final Thoughts from My Experience

Both Fuji and Panasonic released competitive ultracompact cameras around the same era, sometimes outpacing Sony in certain niches, but the HX9V and TX66 each carve out distinct appeal within Sony’s stable. The HX9V feels like the last hurrah of pocket superzooms with legit manual control, while the TX66 sets the tone for future touchscreen compacts focused on everyday ease and style.

Whichever side you pick, rest assured you’re getting solid performers for their age and class - but temper expectations regarding sensor size limits, especially if you crave image quality rivaling modern mirrorless or DSLRs.

Thanks for joining me on this detailed comparison adventure. If you have any follow-up questions or want deeper dives into specific features, drop me a line - photography gear geekery is my playground!

Happy shooting!