I was just doing a few more tests with my new Sony HX99 that I bought recently. I noticed that in P mode (which I almost exclusively use to have all features available) the camera defaults to ISO values of around 3200 already for moderate telephoto settings in anything but bright sunlight conditions. I took some shots this morning with a heavily overcast sky. At 200mm focal length equivalent my old HX9v gave me 1/80 sec at ISO 800 in Auto ISO mode (and the picture is perfectly sharp) but the HX99 exposed at 1/200 sec at ISO 3200, and the quality is consequently pretty poor. I find this unacceptable. I don't need image stabilization in order to get a sharp picture at 1/200 sec at 200mm focal length.
