This year is already shaping up to be another bumper year for the superzoom 'bridge' camera. Since the publication of our super zoom test at the start of this year there have been a number of new models released with new features such as bigger zooms, better video and fast burst modes. Sony's entry in this category, the HX1, features a 20x lens (that extends from 28mm at the wide end all the way to 560mm at the telephoto end), HD video recording, a large 3' tilting LCD screen, up to 10 frames per second continuous shooting speeds, and special shooting modes that help you get better pictures.

Until recently, almost all compact (small sensored) cameras were built around CCD sensors. This is because CMOS sensors have more circuitry built into the chip than CCD sensors and, with less room for actually capturing light, noise and noise reduction issues will have a detrimental effect on image quality.

Manufacturers have been working on these problems with CMOS sensors for a number of years in DSLR cameras, where all but the cheapest models feature CMOS sensors. Canon, which has been at the forefront of this CMOS sensor development, released the CMOS-sensored SX1 IS.

While the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS utilizes its CMOS sensor to record 1080p (30fps) HD video, a fast 4fps continuous shooting speed, and offers RAW file recording, the HX1 uses its CMOS technology in some less conventional ways. The first of these is a super fast (as fast as the top end professional sports cameras) 10 fps continuous shooting. This relies not only on the sensor's speedy processing but also on a fast physical shutter, which in turn enables three unique shooting modes: Sweeping panorama, Anti Motion Blur (which takes 6 images, and combines them to try and minimise the amount of blur in an image) and Twilight mode (which uses 6 stacked images to reduce the noise produced in images shot in low light situations).

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.

Sony DSC-HX1 vs DSC-H50- key changes

• A revised menu system (Home menu is gone)
• HDMI port
• New 28 - 560 mm equiv 'G' lens
• Intelligent Auto mode
• Unique sweeping panorama, twilight, and anti-shake modes
• Ultra fast 10 fps continuous shooting speed
• HD movie recording at up to 1440x1080 at 30 fps

The Sony HX1 is very SLR-like in appearance with its deep handgrip, protruding lens barrel, popup flash, and nicely offset EVF eye piece. Cosmetically there are very few changes from the H50, and from a distance it is quite easy to mistake one for the other. The controls are logically laid out, with dedicated buttons for most of the shooting settings, and anybody who has used a superzoom, especially a Sony one, will be right at home on the HX1.

In a move that was welcomed by some in the dpreview office, the rear scroll wheel which was set around the multi controller on the H50 (a layout I personally preferred) has been moved to the top back of the camera where the zoom rocker used to be. The wheel has a 'push click' to cycle between the various settings it controls (such as aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation and ISO, depending on what shooting mode you are in) and it's easy to use - though we'd still prefer dual dials for the ultimate 'SLR like' operation.

The tilting rear LCD moves 90 degrees up or down, meaning you can shoot over your head or down low with ease. The design of the rear LCD is not quite as flexible a fully articulated unit such as that on the Canon SX1 IS, but it's still better than having a fixed one. Unfortunately though, its benefits disappear almost completely the moment you turn the camera to portrait orientation.

On the HX1 there is no button to manually raise the built in flash. Instead you must set the flash to Auto or On; when you press the shutter release the flash will then pop up automatically. Not quite as intuitive as having a dedicated button and automatically activating the flash whenever it is flipped up.

The mini-SLR design of the HX1 means that you will not be fitting it in the average coat or jacket pocket, and when shooting it is more comfortable hanging around your neck than dangling from a wrist. Fortunately the decision by Sony to use a Li-ion battery instead of AAs means that the camera feels pretty light, and should not give you a sore neck after a long outing. The only real design flaw we found with the HX1 is that the lens cap is quite loose and prone to falling off as you take it out of your bag, and we can envision a brisk trade in lens caps as owners lose the original.