So here is a late friday leak for you. If you’ve been considering getting a compact camera but have always been turned off by their low optical zoom factor which usually sits around 5x with some higher end models giving you 10x, Sony’s upcoming Cybershot DSC-HX9V will have the cure for your blues. This tiny pocket sized camera is capable of offering 16 megapixel with 16X optical zoom which is quite different then digital zoom which takes away from your picture quality. This high level zoom, mixed with a Sony G Lens and Exmor R CMOS means that your pocket camera can not only deliver beautiful photos, but handle them in low light situations as well, making it great for vacations when you don’t care to take a DSRL with you. The camera is rumored to record in 1080p at 10fps but we have yet to verify that. Now hit the jump for additional details!

Other features of this camera include GPS which should be big for Mac owners as iPhoto makes fantastic use of that data, as well as 3D picture taking. Speaking of 3D, the camera will be able to display your 3D pictures right on screen as well though it will not be able to film in 3D. Other usual suspects include Intelligent Sweep Panorama and a dedicated still image button and a dedicated movie capture button to make it easy to use for consumers which I appreciate because sometimes pushing the same button twice and waiting for the camera to jump back and forth between modes just sucks.

Also, a better explanation of the 16x zoom. If you’ve ever gone shopping for a digital camera or have done some research on them, you will note that there is 2 zoom features on these camera; optical and digital zoom where those coming from the film or DSRL world will only have a singular zoom option. In short, the optical zoom is where the physical lens actually extends out (and it might not actually extend out on some cameras but it is internally) and zoom in on your given object. This is ideal because the lens is actually getting closer to the object. Digital Zoom on the other hand looks at the image and enlarges it for you. Think when you see a picture on the internet and you save and download it and begin to enlarge it. So although you are getting closer to the object in theory, in reality you are enlarging the picture and by doing so, losing quality. My recommendation to many is to either do what I do and that is turn off digital zoom the very first day you get your pocket camera, or to use it at a minimum. So although your camera might offer 5x optical zoom and up to 24x digital zoom, push it to maybe 10x total so the picture quality degradation is kept at a minimal amount where you probably wont notice.

[Via LetsGoDigital]