Sony has announced a pair of new superzoom additions to its HX series – the HX100V and HX9V. The new models both offer full HD video, 3D sweep panorama and still imaging, ‘Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode’, as well as GPS/Compass functionality.

The main difference between the pair of new cameras is their zoom, and as such their size – the HX100V features a Vario-Sonnar Carl Zeiss 30x optical zoom, while the HX9V features a 16x optical zoom G lens and, owing to the smaller zoom, is smaller in size.

Both the models’ lenses are supported by optical SteadyShot image stabilisation, complete with Active mode, while both also feature a 16.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor. Both models feature ‘one-touch’ full HD (1920 x 1080 50p) video capture, while an impressive 3in, 921k-dot Extra Fine LCD.

A new feature on the models is Intelligent Sweep Panorama High Resolution mode – where this differs from the standard Sweep Panorama is that it now captures panoramic images in 10480 x 4096 resolution, and in over 40 million pixels.

The pair also benefit from 3D functionality in the form of 3D Sweep Panorama, as well as 3D still image capture. A final noteworthy feature of the new models is the addition of GPS/Compass functionality – this captures your location and shooting directions, and allows you to review your results on online maps with any PC.

The pair will be available from April 2011, though prices are yet to be released. Check out the Sony website for more information.