The initial satellite linkup can take up to 5 minutes, and you'll need a clear view of the sky; some delays I experienced may have been due to the fact that I tested the camera's GPS functionality on a very overcast day. Your satellite connection time may vary. You can turn the GPS functionality off to preserve battery life, which is a good idea if you're not using the feature.

Like the camera's 3D shooting modes, the HX9V's GPS features are nice to have, but we wouldn't suggest buying the camera for its GPS functionality alone.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V holds a lot of appeal for photographers who won't mind a camera that does things differently from the norm. If you're willing to trade away RAW shooting, aperture-priority mode, and shutter-priority mode for a range of innovative in-camera modes that cover everything from low-light shooting to 3D panoramic images, the HX9V is a top-notch option. It's a superb still camera for shooting video, and it's one of the best pocket megazooms of 2011.

Among the three excellent cameras at the top of our pocket-megazoom chart, we'd recommend the for manual-minded photographers, the for casual users who want the best image quality in the class, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V for anyone who wants groundbreaking in-camera extras and top-shelf video performance.