Build and Handling
The HX90V has significantly slimmed down from its predecessors
Compared to its HX60 predecessor, the HX90V has changed significantly in its build. The new camera looks more like the Sony RX100 III than the HX60. The HX90V has shrunk quite significantly in size to just 102 x 58.1 x 35.4mm. With the HX60, you would need a large pocket in which to carry the camera, but with the HX90V I found I could place it in the pocket of a pair of jeans without noticing it was there. Also, the HX90V weighs just 245g with battery and card, so it’s not very heavy. A large raised grip on the front offers an easy way to hold the camera even with one hand. The grip isn’t cumbersome, either, so it doesn’t impede the camera’s pocketability.
The control layout of the new model is similar to that of the RX100 series, with a near identical button layout to the RX100 III. On the rear of the camera is a multi-function scroll wheel. This can be used to scroll through settings, but it also doubles as a directional control for navigating through the menus as well as having button functions in shooting mode. Tapping the Fn button brings up the function menu, which has 12 core settings such as ISO, drive mode, AF area and picture style.
All these settings can be customised from within the main menu to suit the user. Settings such as aperture and shutter speed are controlled with either the scroll wheel at the rear of the camera or the round-lens control ring. It’s worth noting, though, that the control ring is electronic and there’s no nice mechanical click when changing any settings – something that some users like and others don’t.
Unfortunately, in making these changes, Sony has done away with the exposure-compensation dial and multi-interface hotshoe found on the HX60V. This means Sony’s multi-interface hotshoe flashes and microphones cannot be used on the HX90V as they can on the HX60.
