Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX60V review – Build and handling
At 272g with battery and memory card loaded, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX60V is a touch heavier than Panasonic’s TZ60 and the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS. However, it remains pocket sized, measuring 108.1×63.5×38.3mm.
A tough polycarbonate plastic body gives the HX60V a solid feel, and the ergonomically designed rubberised grip makes it a comfortable camera to hold in both portrait and landscape orientation.
On the rear, the thumb rest and button layout are identical to those featured on the HX50, although some of the markings are slightly altered and a symbol denoting NFC wireless connection capability has been added to the newer model.
The multi-function selection wheel can be pressed in four directions to adjust settings and navigate the menu. All the buttons are quite responsive, except for the selection button in the centre of the selection wheel, which is too small and too recessed to be pressed accurately. I found this to be a problem on the company’s previous compact travel-zoom camera and it’s a shame that Sony has not changed the design in this latest version. Another niggle that was referred to in our review of the HX50 was that the movie-record button was positioned too close to the textured thumb rest, which is also on the rear of the camera, and this also remains unchanged.
Featuring a multi-interface hotshoe and a dedicated exposure-compensation dial makes the HX60V a slightly more advanced offering compared to those models from competitors in the travel-zoom line-up. In practical terms, these additional features add flexibility and functionality, enabling me to respond to various shooting scenarios whether that be by adding a more powerful external flash or having greater control over the camera’s metering decisions.