Digital Home Thoughts: Sony Shows Off Their CMOS With The DSC-HX1

"While the HX1 may not feature RAW file recording, there are many manual settings such as three noise reduction settings, many white balance settings, a full range of manual modes, and many others for the photographer who wants ultimate control. Does this combine to make a compelling package that should command your money?"

CMOS based cameras are becoming increasingly common but it seems as if the technical limitations that have kept them restricted to the more expensive cameras are still plaguing them. The Sony DSC-HX1 definitely has a lot going for it, and offers wonderful tweaks and controls for someone bitten by the bug. Still, I'm not wholly convinced that now is the right time to jump on the CMOS bandwagon. The quality of images, while greatly improved and mostly comparable when compared to their CCD based cousins doesn't justify the cost. Maybe another year will see CMOS cameras bloom in all their glory.