Performance
The CX5 has an impressive 28-300mm zoom range, boosted to 600mm using super-resolution technology. Image quality drops a little at 600mm, and a steady hand is needed
Like the two models before it, the CX5 impresses in many situations. Auto white balance and autoexposure give well-exposed images with punch and contrast at lower sensitivities. Image quality is good at ISO 100 and 200, but beyond this the 10-million-pixel sensor is lacking when compared to its competition.
Noise is apparent at ISO 400 and 800, and I would use ISO 1600 and 3200 only as a last resort. However, the CX5 still produces pleasant A4 prints from lower sensitivities before smudging of detail is apparent.
While including more scene modes is intended to make life simpler, the sheer volume may, in fact, leave many users bewildered. Night landscape multi-shot is useful, but landscape and vivid give results that are far too saturated. I find most of the scene modes are best avoided, sticking to the auto mode and bracketing for exposure and colour when the camera struggles.
