On January 6 2010, Sony announced the Sony Cyber-shot HX5V (aka HX5) digital compact camera featuring a 25-250mm equivalent lens and a 10.1-megapixel, back-illuminated EXMOR R CMOS sensor, plus integrated GPS and compass. The wide 25-250mm equivalent superzoom lens bears the prestigious G designation, while the EXMOR R CMOS sensor can capture 1080i full-HD video clips as well as ten-megapixel stills. Videos are stored in AVCHD format. Optical SteadyShot with new Active Mode cuts camera-shake while you're shooting handheld HD video, allegedly providing up to 10x more shake correction than conventional cameras.

Intelligent Sweep Panorama enhances the unique feature first introduced on last year's Cyber-shot HX1, TX1 and WX1 models: the camera detects if people or other objects are moving in your field of view as you sweep the camera, using new algorithms to compensate for any mis-matching as images are automatically stitched together. The Sony HX5V integrates GPS and Compass functions to enhance your enjoyment of travel photography. Your location is displayed in real time on the 3-inch LCD screen as you're shooting. When you're back home, see where geotagged images and video clips were shot as on-line maps with supplied Picture Motion Browser PC software. As an extra refinement, a new Compass function shows which direction you were pointing when the picture was taken.