Sony Cyber-shot DSC HX99

The Cyber-shot DSC HX99 is a Sony pocket compact released in 2018. At 102 x 58 x 36 mm and 242 g, it fits a jacket pocket, so it travels with you rather than staying home.

The lens is fixed to the body. There is no lens system to buy into, which keeps ownership simple and suits travel, family days out and casual everyday photography.

Its small 1/2.3-inch sensor favours daylight shooting, and Wi-Fi is built in for wireless connection. It is a camera built around convenience rather than expandability.

The 18-megapixel CMOS sensor uses the small 1/2.3-inch type. Its ISO range runs from 80 to 3200, so dim rooms and evening scenes push toward that ceiling. Treat it as a daylight-first camera.

For action, the maximum burst is 10 frames per second; that figure is a peak rather than a sustained-speed promise, but it is still quick. Autofocus relies on nine points.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps when you shoot handheld at slower shutter speeds. It does nothing for a moving subject, so it is a tool for steadiness rather than action. The 1/2000s maximum shutter speed sets the ceiling for freezing motion and handling bright light.

A 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder gives you an eye-level view on a camera this small, letting you frame shots without relying on the rear screen.

The HX99 records video at up to 4K resolution, and its fastest frame rate reaches 60fps. These are separate limits, so check the listed modes to confirm which resolution and frame rate combinations are available.

Clips record in XAVC S or AVCHD, giving you two file format options to pick between depending on how you plan to store and edit your footage.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps keep handheld footage from jittering. It cannot steady a moving subject, only the camera itself, so panning still needs a steady hand.

There is no built-in timelapse mode, so if you want that effect you will need to shoot frames individually and assemble them yourself with editing software.

The 3-inch TFT screen is a touchscreen with a 638,400-dot panel, and it flips out. That combination lets you shoot from low or overhead angles, frame self-portraits, and operate settings by touch.

A built-in flash gives you light in dim rooms. There is no support for an external flash, so the built-in unit is your only flash source.

Wi-Fi handles the wireless side, giving the camera a way to connect without cables. There is no Bluetooth and no GPS, so the camera does not record location data on its own.

The body has no weather sealing. Keep it out of rain, spray and dust, especially on beach and boat trips.

The camera writes to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards and also accepts Memory Stick Duo. There is only one card slot, so carry a spare card for long days rather than counting on a second slot.

The NP-BX1 battery is rated at 370 shots per charge. The figure comes without stated test conditions, so treat it as a guide rather than a promise of real-world endurance. A second battery is a sensible purchase for travel.

There is no USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up from a cable while you are out and about. Plan your charging around a full battery before a day of shooting.