Sony Cyber-shot HX200V Digital Camera Review

Color

Color rendition is accurate and lively. The Real color mode earned the best score for the HX200V. We measured a minimum color error of about 2.5, which is very strong. Shots are slightly oversaturated at about 106%, but we tend to prefer a bit of extra saturation from point-and-shoot images. More on how we test color.

The other color modes offer good-looking results too. The standard color mode scored nearly as well as Real, with punchier colors and a bit more contrast. Vivid mode totally oversaturates, but it looks great for landscape shots.

NOTE: Because of the way computer monitors reproduce colors, the images above do not exactly match the originals found on the chart or in the captured images. The chart should be used to judge the relative color shift, not the absolute captured colors.

The HX200V handles color very well. But so do most other superzooms. Last year's Sony HX100V was actually much more accurate than the new model—it may have something to do with noise levels affecting color consistency, or Sony might've tweaked the profile. From a practical standpoint, the HX200V doesn't look like it has color issues. But according to our lab tests, it's a step back from its spot-on predecessor.

White Balance

White balance is a non-issue with the HX200V. Auto white balance is extremely accurate in most conditions. Warm incandescent lighting still comes out looking a bit yellow, but that's one of the hardest situations for an auto white balance setting to correct for. Custom white balance is very strong, about as good as we've seen among superzooms. No complaints from us.