Sony HX99
- 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
- 3.00" Tilting Display
- ISO 80 - 12800
- 3840 x 2160 video
- 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
- 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
- Released September 2018
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
91 Imaging
45 Features
67 Overall
53
Sony HX99 overview
Sony HX99 is Sony's Small Sensor Superzoom camera originally released on September of 2018. It comes with a 18 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3-inch sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4896 x 3672.
The HX99 is placed #6 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all around #385 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can try our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your customized factors.
The following is a chart of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.
Sony HX99 Gallery
You can check the HX99 from several angles in the gallery below.
Sony HX99 Pros and Cons
Below is a list of pros and cons of the Sony HX99 based on features which are generally seen as essential in a camera.
Sony HX99 Sensor details
The size of the sensor on the Sony HX99 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3-inch). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4896 x 3672 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization. Optical stabilization is superior than digital stabilization since the latter may lead to cropping.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 18 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 80 to 12800. RAW photos are saved therefore you have wider room to maneuver in post.
The picture underneath displays the HX99's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The HX99 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is highlighted in green.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.
Sony HX99 dimensions
Sony HX99 is 0.53 lbs (242 gr or 8.54 oz) and features external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr and the Sony HX99 is lighter in comparison with various rivals.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesDown below is a shot of the Sony HX99 alongside a soda so you can have a feel for its scale.
The top view underneath will illustrate the button layout on the HX99.
Sony HX99 Lens specs
The HX99 houses a built-in lens and it has a focal range of 24-720mm making it a 30.0 x zoom which is great and would allow you to zoom all the way in.
At the widest 24mm, it will have an aperture of f3.5 and that is fairly slow and not ideal in low light situations and you will probably find it difficult to capture good bokeh. You would also have to up the ISO setting producing noisy pictures. On the tele end, 720mm is incredible zoom and comes at f6.4 making it really sluggish and you will need to apply slow shutter speeds.
Sony HX99 Connectivity
The HX99 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- NFC Yes
- HDMI Yes
Cameras that have NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can copy pictures and oftentimes change camera settings without connecting straight to the camera.
Some applications even provide a Liveview and press the shutter when you aren't close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can be attached to an external screen. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery through the USB socket.
Sony HX99 Video specs
The highest video resolution on the Sony HX99 is 3840 x 2160 and it can shoot in AVCHD and XAVC S format. 2160p gives a fantastic resolution for video recording. You will be able to crop to Full HD to get clearer results. Be wary of the massive file sizes and make sure you have got good SD cards that have fast write speed. The camera doesn't include a mic and headphone socket which means that you have little control over your audio. It is probably best to consider another model if you require good audio in your video clips.
Sony HX99 Weather Sealing
Sony HX99 doesn't include weather proofing so rainy conditions can easily ruin the camera.
Sony HX99 Display and Viewfinder
The Sony HX99 comes with a 3.00" tilting display supporting a resolution of 921k dots.
It possesses a selfie friendly display to get self portraits as well as group photos if needed. Additionally the display is touch friendly which means you will be able to set focus points plus adjust settings using your finger.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthThe View Finder details regarding Sony HX99 are the following:
- ViewFinder Electronic
- ViewFinder Resolution 638k dots
- ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
- ViewFinder Magnification 0.5x
In those sunny outdoor situations which make the camera screens washed out and tricky to view, viewfinders are pretty valuable.
Sony HX99 Shutter specs
Sony HX99 is able to shoot continuously at 10.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.
Sony HX99 Flash and Hot shoe specs
Sony HX99 boasts only built-in flash with missing external flash ability.
Sony HX99 Autofocus specs
Sony HX99 boasts just Contrast Detect Autofocus and does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detect which can be useful for people photography.
It also includes Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Sony HX99 has got manual focus if required in low light situations or you require more accurate focus control.
Sony HX99 Battery life
The battery power (NP-BX1) on the Sony HX99 is fashioned to last for 360 photographs with respect to the CIPA specifications which is higher than the usual when compared to its class. The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the highest (600) battery life in this kind of cameras.
Following is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the highest battery life:
Sony HX99 for specific types of photography
The following bar chart displays a analysis of the Sony HX99 for specific types of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section underneath.
Sony HX99 Portrait photography info
The Sony HX99 receives a rating of 53 which is average, and means the camera is relatively suitable to use for portraits. Shooting portrait images favors greatly towards sensor specs, support for RAW files and capability to use external lighting.
Sony HX99 Street photography info
Getting a exceptional rating of 77, the Sony HX99 is a excellent fit for street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of picture quality and portability.
Sony HX99 Sports photography features
A average sports photography rating of 58 means the Sony HX99 is somewhat suitable for shooting sports. A camera must have good tracking plus continuous shooting for sports photography.
Sony HX99 Travel photography features
Size is really crucial when getting a travel camera. On the whole, the Sony HX99 gets a superb 76 as a travelling camera which is a fantastic option to purchase for your holidays.
Sony HX99 Landscape photography information
For anybody looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photography, the most essential factor will no doubt be image quality. The Sony HX99 and it's decent score of 58 as a landscape camera is reasonably appropriate among its competition.
Sony HX99 Vlogging highlights
A camera for vlogging really should offer a articulating screen, mic input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Sony HX99 is a terrific option for vlogging as it gets a awesome score of 76.
Sony HX99 Alternatives
If you are interested in alternatives to the HX99, below is a number of the top rated cameras which fall in to the category of Small Sensor Superzoom.
The graph here provides you an overview of the HX99 compared to it's highest scoring competitors mentioned previously.
These are various other cameras you might have a look at as alternate options. To look at a comprehensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.