Log in

View Full Version : Sony's DSC-TX5: Slim, Rugged, and Packed With Features


Reid Kistler
05-21-2010, 08:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_cybershot_dsc_tx5_review/' target='_blank'>http://www.photographyblog.com/revi...dsc_tx5_review/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 is Sony's first waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof and shockproof digital compact camera. The 10 megapixel TX5 features an "Exmor R" back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which promises to greatly improve low-light performance, resulting in cleaner images with less noise."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1274384426.usr19541.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Ultra-slim digital cameras, with nearly all of their functions buried within a touchscreen menu system, have never been high on my personal list of "must have" devices. But based upon the comprehensive review that Photographyblog.com has done on the new <a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&amp;catalogId=10551&amp;langId=-1&amp;productId=8198552921666122654#overview" target="_blank">Sony DSC-TX5</a>, I may have to revise that opinion.&nbsp; In less than an inch of depth, this model manages to combine rugged construction with an impressive feature list that includes (among the 36 mentioned by Sony!): 4x optical zoom, 720p movie mode, a special "Panorama Mode," and several designed to improved low-light and/or motion capture photography, including the "Exmor R" image sensor, optical image stabilization, and several functions that combine multiple shots to create a single photograph with superior detail, and reduced noise and blurring. Given that this is not inexpensive - with a list price of $329 (US) - do you think that the feature set is attractive enough to warrant a purchase? Or are there competing models that might offer greater value?</p>