Hi Everyone

This subject seems to have got mixed up with others posts, highlighting similar problems.

However, I would just like to echo the comments made by other contributors, regarding the the compression and noise reduction applied to Still photos. I think the fact that Jpeg file sizes are only around 3.5 to 5 meg, proves that the compression is very much overdone.

The amount of noise reduction applied, also obliterates fine detail, particularly in dark areas of the picture.

Just why Sony have chosen to go down this route, I just don't know.

Certainly with the high capacity SD cards available nowadays, high compression is just not necessary.

I would much rather do my own post processing via Photoshop et al.  RAW would be very nice, but not really necessary, if the quality of the Jpegs was up to scratch.

On the other hand, I think video quality is superb for a camera in this price bracket.

However, If I had particularly wanted a good Video camera, I would have brought a dedicated one.

As it is I am stuck with superb Video and a mediocre Stills camera, which is really not what I wanted!

SONY, Please listen to the comments made on this and other forums and come up with an appropriate firmware update ASAP.

Virtually all my current electronic equipment is Sony and I have been a loyal customer for many years, right from the days of your first 18" colour TV in a wooden case and in Hi-Fi terms, probably earlier.

It would be disappointing, if I had to move to a competitors products to get satisfaction.

Merry Xmas to all our readers.

I have just bought this camera. Literally yesterday. I am in a state of shock. The downloaded pictures are awful. Just awful. I can't believe how poor they are. Jpegs 159KB. Using PMB, the supplied software that came with the camera. They look like something I could have taken with a £10 camera from the market. I can take better photos with an Apple iPhone for goodness sake.

Kenneve, please can you tell me how you managed to download the photos with 3 to 5MB per photo rather than the , no joke, 159Kb per picture I have managed thus far?

How do I get the pictures to even download with iPhone quality (around 2 to 3 MB per picture, let alone the quality I would have expected from an apparently 16MP camera?

And no RAW capability? In a camera that costs over £300 with all the bits and bobs? A complete ripoff. Thank goodness there is a cooling off period and I can return it.

As for it being a "good video camera". If I had wanted a great video camera, I wouldn't have bought a camera for still shots.

Hi dktreesea

I download to the PC by inserting the SD card directly into the PC slot and use Windows Explorer to send the files to the directory where I want them.

I have just copied some 40 odd photos taken over the Xmas period and the file sizes range from 2,894Kb to 6,044Kb. It's interesting to note that the lowest file is an indoor portrait, with flash, whereas the higher one is an outdoor group, shot in full sun.

However, I don't think using the PMB software will make any difference to the file size, I just use my method to ensure  that the photos end up on the hard-drive where I want them.

I assume that you are using the highest resolution setting possible, as 159Kb suggests that you may be set to 640 x 480 res, which of course produces rubbish.

Prior to purchase, I did roadtest the camera at a well known multiple store, using my own memory card and when analysing the results, I did find the the camera was indeed, set to the lowest resolution, hardly a good sales ploy!

I have had some impressive results from this camera and I tried to upload and example, (but the system wouldn't let me) which shows the top of the Stratford Shakespeare Theatre tower, taken from about 200 metres at full 16x zoom and the individual bricks are dead sharp! (file size 5,890Kb)

Nevertheless I agree that the performance of this camera could be vastly improved with a relatively minor firmware upgrade, which could make a good compact camera into a really great compact camera.

Unfortunately, I am now past the cooling off period, so I am stuck with it and just hope that SONY get their finger out and respond to the concerns voiced on this and other forums ASAP.

Have just seen the following comment from 'blaireau_photo' relating to problems with a TX10 camera.

'Finally, the nature of the electronics industry usually means that a firmware update is only released to fix a fault with a device as opposed to offer improvements'.

As I assume that the writer has some connection with SONY, does this mean that all the forum members interested in this post are wasting their time, asking for a firmware update for the HX9V.?

In my opinion the shortcomings relating to this camera are faults and should be attended to ASAP.

If SONY regard them as improvements, then they should say so, so that the longstanding and loyal customers of SONY can draw their own conclusions, and move on!!!

I too have recently purchased the HX9V only to find the levels of compression on the images to be too high and loosing detail on the pictures I have taken.

I was directed to this thread from a Google search regarding the issue and have noticed that a few review sites have started to pick up on this.

I'm tempted to return this camera as I believe that this is unacceptable on a camera of this price range,
although would like to think that Sony will be addressing the issues raised in a firmware update.

Here is hoping that Sony are actually listening to us !

As I said before, I agree that there's to much JPEG compression and the file sizes are to small for a 16.2MP sensor.

dktreesea, don't use the PMB, use the Windows Photo Import that appears when you connect the camera to the computer.

Photos taken with this camera:

http://olhares.aeiou.pt/IvoLeite