The 30X-optical-zoom HX100V may not have the zoom range or fine-tuning options of some competing cameras, but it compensates with futuristic extras, good video quality, and solid images.

Getting the most from it will require learning all that it can do and its limitations; probably more so in some cases than a lower-end megazoom. Still, if you're looking for something to do double duty for movie clips and photos with a very long lens, it's worth seeking out this camera.

Abundant external control points, DSLR-style ergonomic handling and an extremely versatile 30x zoom range. Image quality is better than average for a compact-sized sensor. Unfortunately, the camera's slow startup time and sluggish operational response can lead to missed photo opportunities.

May not be the year’s best fixed-lens camera, and it may not even be the year’s best ultrazoom. But this may very well be the year’s best true bridge camera. As a model designed to span the gap between cheap point-and-shoots and pricey DSLRs, the HX100V does so rather gracefully.

In our books the HX100V is a champion superzoom, if not the very best 30x zoom that’s available on the market. 

If you want a camera that can get you at the very best, good still images and excellent videos shut your eyes and get the HX100V.

The bottom line is Sony's Cyber-shot HX100V promises to be one of the best super-zooms of 2011 and I have no hesitation in Highly recommending it.

For its small faults there's little holding the HX100V back – it's one of the finest superzooms we've laid our hands on.

Add in the 3D Sweep Panoramas and 3D Still Images, amazing 10fps burst shooting mode and 0.1 second auto-focusing, and it's very easy for us to highly recommend the Sony CyberShot DSC-HX100V as an all-in-one, do-it-all camera that won't break the bank.