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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1/H 10MP “Exmor R” CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touch-Screen LCD Grey-Retail $349.99! Sale Only $299.00!
List Price: $349.99 Amazon Price: $299.00 |
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1/H 10MP “Exmor R” CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touch-Screen LCD Grey Description:
The TX1 features a 10.2 megapixel 1/2.4-Inch Exmor R CMOS image sensor that delivers fast speed, high resolution, and twice the low-light sensitivity of traditional CMOS sensors, resulting in outstanding image clarity and drastically reduced noise. Get up close to your subject with the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens featuring a 4x telescopic zoom for distant subjects and Close Focus mode for close-ups up to just under ½-Inch from the subject.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #969 in Camera & Photo
- Color: Grey
- Brand: Sony
- Model: DSCTX1/H
- Dimensions: 2.29″ h x 3.69″ w x .65″ l, .31 pounds
- Display size: 3
Features
- 10.2-megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS sensor for stunning low-light performance
- 3-inch touch-screen LCD display for easy operation
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 4x optical zoom; Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
- Wide zoom display allows resizing images to 16:9 aspect ratio
- Capture your videos in HD Movie mode (720p); PhotoTV HD Mode with compatible BRAVIA HDTVs
Customer Reviews:
Best camera I’ve had so far
I was looking at this last month when it was announced, and had decided I was going to go with the forthcoming 980 from Canon. My last four digital cameras were all Canon, and i was happy with them. But the more I dug and waited, the more I saw that there were things on this one I was hoping would make a difference, since many of my shots are indoors with my 5 year old, and the lower light benefits of this camera may make a difference.
I was getting tired of the grainy blacks indoors even with good light on automatic settings… They looked better if I manually set the ISO, but if I’m just pulling it out for a quick shot, i don’t want to have to remember to go to manual settings all the time. This is replacing a Canon Powershot SD40 Elph that I liked very much other than the grainy blacks…
So I thought I’d take a chance. The smile shutter may be useful with a 5 year old, the panorama mode looked pretty slick, battery life was more than acceptable compared to my SD40. I liked the thin form factor even if it is a little larger the other two dimensions. And the 3 inch touch screen would be a very nice upgrade from my tiny 1.2 or so inch on the canon.
Since the big thing I was looking for was better indoor pictures with lower light and less grainy blacks, that was the first set of shots I took. I had both cameras in my hands, one on top, one below. Took shots at the same time from the same distances with the same lighting, both left on automatic. I know I can always get into manual modes to compensate for things, but I wanted something I didn’t always have to do that with. And this low light boasting on the TX1 had me curious.
Got the pictures onto my computer, loaded them side by side, and dang if every single picture I took was not GREATLY improved with the Sony compared to my older Canon. The blacks were black, not grainy grey. The details were better (makes sense since it’s 3 MP more than mine) but the clarity of even far away things that weren’t in focus was astounding.
I have played with a family member’s 900 version of the TX, and while it took good pictures, I didn’t see that much difference between those and my older SD40. So this one is definitely a notable improvement even over newer Sony cameras.
The 10 shots per second is amazing – and they are great shots, not like they dropped in quality to get them so fast. panorama is cool, but I need to work on the speed to get the best speed it needs, since mine so far have a spot in most of them where it gets a little fuzzy, probably where my speed changed. Not very noticeable, but there nonetheless until I can figure out my panning method.
Video i’ll want to wait till tomorrow to test out more, as it’s moving into evening here, indoor light is very very low. Video still looked much brighter in the viewscreen and on replay than it really was when recorded, so you can see the power of the light gathering in everything you do with the camera. But it was blurry when panning a bit (but i’ve yet to find a camera that doesn’t break the bank that doesn’t do this) so it’s certainly not going to replace my hard drive based non HD camcorder for everything.
I’ll have to play with the more advanced features later after the battery recharges again, so I can test out the way it will take 6 shots and average them out for a crisp picture. And some outdoor night shots. But based just on what I’ve seen so far compared to the pictures I’ve been used to taking, I’m not too worried about them. Even if they aren’t as stellar as the photos, just having this kind of noiseless indoor low lighting shots more than satisfied my needs, and made this camera worth every penny.
I would definitely buy this camera again. And if you’re like me, on the fence trying to figure out a good thing for indoor use, I can say that this is the best I’ve ever used so far.
Edit a few days later – Movies I take in good light turn out fantastic. Pictures, movies, everything I’ve done with this has been outstanding. VERY happy with this camera.
Not a real upgrade from DSC-T900
I have said a million times say that I love my DSC-T500
It films amazing HD video, takes great photos, and overall is just a perfect pocket cam. I then got a Kodak Zi8, which also takes great videos (better quality then the T500), decent photos, but the low light video quality suffers from being darker then the T500.
So my journey continues to find a better low light pocket cam, since I mostly work from dark comedy clubs and situations. Well Sony later released the T900 a sequel to the T500, and its lower light quality was no better and it got a downgrade from a 5X optical zoom to a 4X. But.. the T900 was slimmer and had a few tiny software upgrades that still made it a great camera.
Now just months after the release of the T900, Sony surprisingly pulled the T900 from the shelves and released a new camera called the DSC-TX1. While this camera is stated as the new version of the T500/T900 series on many websites (including Amazon), I dont believe it.
It has a smaller LCD (3″ down from 3.5″) a mono mic (instead of the stereo mic of the t500/t900) and familiar 4X optical zoom. So why am I reviewing a camera that seems like a downgrade?
Well Sony is using a new lens system called the “Exmor R”. It’s been said that these new optics have TWICE the low light quality as the previous cameras. The touchscreen also got an upgrade even if it’s smaller and has more of a iphone’isk menu system. With finger swipes you can view new photos, even draw on photos using your finger or the included stylus. The hardware is slimmer, tiny in fact.. and the photo quality (especially during low light) is way better then the t500/t900.
This camera is packed with new features and shooting modes, like my favorite, “Hand-Held Twilight” which take 7 photos in a second of a subject with no flash, combines the photos using software and makes the perfect single photo. Its cool how it works, it detects things like walls, and removes the static. It does an amazing job.
So why am I returning this camera?
Well for most people I would say buy this camera now.. its a great photo camera for it’s size, and has some really neat features. But as a owner of the previous model i’m spoiled. The TX1 doesn’t have a “movie mode” button like the t500/t900, you have to use the menu system to turn it on. The MONO mic sounds fine, but its no where close to being as good as the STEREO mic of the past. The LCD screen is bright, and high quality.. but its smaller.. and the menu system seems cluttered and annoyingly thought out. The zoom is now buttons on top of the camera, so its clumsy to use, compared to the t500′s rocker which you slide your finger on to zoom.
But here is the main reason… The video, while has amazingly richer colors, and blacker blacks.. is no brighter in low light situations. How is that possible? When comparing the videos of the T500 to the TX1 the T500 actually had better low light! While the video had more static, it was alot better. So it might be a little more washed out on the T500, and have more of a grainy look to it, at least I could see things that the TX1 couldn’t even pick up. It’s not a HUGE difference, but it was noticeable when shooting.
So for whatever reason the video does NOT benefit from the new low light lens system. So now I have a camera with better colors, but mono sound and poorer low light.
So for my purposes, I will return and wait. I have a feeling sony is prepping a true sequel to the T500/T900. My guess is they are adding 1080P. So I will wait, and see what happens in the next few months. I just don’t see them replacing a camera with one that is missing some key features of the previous. I honestly think this camera is a T700 or T90 replacement. As for the rest of you, I DO recommend this camera.. it great for what it is, just not for me.
Hopefully since they pulled the recently released T900 off their website, something better will replace it soon.
PROS:
-New Exmor R lens system does reduce grain and increase low light photo quality
-Great low light features and options for photos (only)
-The Auto modes work well (photos)
-720p video is great for it’s size, and the colors are rich, and blacks are black
-Video can record up to 32 min or 2GB at a time, then it stops and you have to hit record again, compared to the T500′s 10 min limit. (T900 also had the 32 min limit)
-Great Slim Design, better battery door lock then DSC-t500
-Panoramic mode is quick and painless with stunning results
-10 FPS mode for action shots is great
-Touchscreen works well, and looks great
-It’s fast to take photos
-You can zoom during video!
CONS:
-Mono Microphone
-3″ screen instead of the previous 3.5″
-Amazing Low light quality doesn’t seem to work in Video mode.
-No actual video mode button (touchscreen based)
-Zoom buttons seems awkward to use during filming
-Battery/memory card is squeezed in camera’s tiny body
-4X optical zoom instead of 5X of DSC-T500
If you search the internet for “redban and dsc-tx1″ I have numerous videos and photo samples available from my full review.
Pocket Rocket
I normally buy my products through Amazon, but I am here in Taiwan when the TX1 was released and I decided to take a stab and buy one from the local 3C.
I was wary of getting the touch screen version, having tried my sister’s T9 from last year and not liking the interface. But I have to say that the screen on the TX1 is very much improved and now I wonder if I could go back to a conventional interface. Taking pictures with this camera is so much fun.
Because it is so thin and light, pressing the shutter release button without adding shake to the shot takes a very steady hand. I rather prefer to use the 2-second timer, which gives me just enough time after pressing the button to steady up the focus frame on my subject. My only caveat so far is that I could keep it on 2-second timer as default, rather having to set it for each shot.
This, combined with the various technologies give great low-light shots, really incredible for hand-held. The TX1 is my so-called “American Express” camera, replacing my much larger and less-forgiving Fujifilm F31fd. It is really hard to take bad shots with this camera, and if you take the time to learn the benefits of the various modes, I am certain you will get great results too.
I was also skeptical of getting the rather narrow range of the 35mm lens, thinking I would prefer the wider lens on the WX1 when it comes out next month, but the panorama mode is awesome so I don’t miss having the wider lens. All of the technologies work well, and are not just Sony’s hype. This camera really deserves way better than two stars.
Give this little gem a spin. You can always return it if you don’t agree that it’s the best little camera out there.
From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer
The sleek DSC-TX1 incorporates the “Exmor R” CMOS sensor and boasts stunning low-light performance, reducing grain by more than 50%, even without a flash. High speed burst captures 10fps without distortion and expansive Sweep Panorama shots are easy to achieve with press and sweep motion. Control it all with its 3-inch touch screen LCD.
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Sony DSC-TX1 Highlights
10.2-megapixel Back-Illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS Sensor Producing Stunning Images in Low Light
The TX1 features a 10.2-megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor that brings out the full resolving power of the camera’s Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to deliver extremely fast speed, high resolution, and stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. . In addition, the combined “Exmor R” CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor delivers extremely fast 10fps, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight and 720p movie modes.
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| CMOS vs. non-CMOS image sensor |
Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 4x Optical Zoom
The high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for video recording as well as for outdoor, sports, and travel photos, and Close Focus shoots close-ups up to just under 1/2-inch from the subject.
3-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus Touch Screen
A large 3-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus touch screen display (230K pixels) allows you to scroll through images by simply touching the display. Thanks to a layer of hardened glass on the touch screen, the display of the TX1 is twice as durable as the DSC-T90 .
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Stylish Ultra-slim Design
Measuring at just 3 3/4 x 2 3/8 x 2 1/32 inches, the DSC-TX1 is slim enough to slip into a pocket or purse, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
BIONZ Image Processor
The BIONZ image processor delivers the high resolution and fast performance you expect from a Sony digital camera. Fast processing enables Sweep Panorama Mode to create the image in seconds, clear images in low light settings, and layering one image over another to create a photo that looks just like what you see with your eyes.
Handheld Twilight
Capture cleaner and sharper night shots without using a tripod. When set to Handheld Twilight Mode, the TX1 captures six images in a fraction of a second with one press of the shutter, and combines the data from all six to create a single image of extraordinary detail and low noise. With these modes, you can capture images in low light, without flash, beyond the capability of traditional cameras.
Anti-Motion Blur Mode
Capture cleaner and sharper images, even when your subject is moving. When set in Anti-motion Blur Mode, the TX1 captures six images in a fraction of a second with higher shouter speed and combines the data from all six to create a single image of extraordinary detail and eliminate subject blur, beyond the capability of traditional cameras.
Sweep Panorama mode
Reach beyond the traditional wide-angle lens, and capture more breathtaking shots with Sweep Panorama Mode. Simply press the shutter button and sweep the camera in the desired direction and the camera continuously shoots at a high speed, then seamlessly stitches the images together with automatic position adjustment to create one stunning panoramic image. Available in wide and ultra-wide options, the camera can take panoramic shots of up to 185 degrees. Now capturing wide landscapes is as easy as press and sweep.
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| Capture breathtaking Panoramic shots |
High speed shooting
The DSC-TX1 can capture full 10.2-megapixel resolution images at up to 10 fps, helping to ensure that you capture the decisive moment such as the soccer ball flying into the goal. In addition, the DSC-TX1 employs a mechanical shutter that helps reduce distortion when continuously shooting moving subjects.
HD Movie (720p)
Capture more of your memories in high definition (720p) video. Record HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format for stunning large-screen home movie playback. Record up to 29 minutes (or up to 2 GB) per movie in 720p format.
Easy Touch Screen Interaction
The DSC-TX1 now offers intuitive additions to the multi-purpose touch screen, such as the ability to select the focus point with a simple touch, scroll through images by sliding your finger across the screen and one-touch access to the MENU. The display also features improved readability with list view, index view as well as new colored icons.
Creative painting tools
Decorate your photos with words and drawings using the included paint pen. There are also more than 30 stamps and 15 types of picture frames.
Optical SteadyShot image stabilization
Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality.
High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200)
High ISO allows for faster shutter speed, so you can take photos indoors or in low light without the need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can select up to seven ISO settings (Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to your shooting conditions.
Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode
Unlike traditional auto mode, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode thinks for you, recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, and faces, and adjusts settings resulting in clearer images, faces with more natural skin tone, and less blur. By incorporating advanced features such as Intelligent Scene Recognition, Face Detection technology, and Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, iAuto mode lets you take advantage of the latest Sony Cyber-shot technology without leaving auto mode. Whether you’re shooting expansive landscapes, capturing playground action, or taking pictures at a birthday party or wedding shower, iAuto mode will optimize your camera’s settings to help ensure you come away with a great shot.
Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode
Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode automatically detects nine different types of scenes and, within just 1/30th of a second, selects the appropriate camera settings: Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Twilight using a tripod, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, and Close Focus. iSCN has two modes: Auto and Advanced. In Auto Mode, the camera takes a single shot using the optimal settings. In Advanced Mode, the camera takes a photo with the optimal settings and, if in difficult lighting (low light or back light) immediately takes a second photo with another optimized setting so you can choose which to keep.
Intelligent AF
Thanks to Intelligent AF technology, capture fleeting moments like a child’s adorable expression with the ultra-quick AF which locks focus in as little as 0.3 seconds.
Smile Shutter technology
Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. You can also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can now be used together with Smile Shutter mode when the Intelligent Auto mode is on. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting.
Face Detection technology
Sony’s improved Face Detection technology can automatically distinguish between children and adults. Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends.
Motion Detection
Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces
Pet Mode
Pet-mode minimizes blur when shooting moving pets utilizing Motion Detection technology and automatically turns off the flash to reduce glowing pet eyes. AF illumination is also disabled so you can take more natural expressions avoiding startling your pets.
Dynamic Range Optimizer Standard and Plus
Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) Standard and Plus uses a sophisticated algorithm to help recover shadows and highlights. The result is more natural images with clearer details that more closely match what your naked eye sees. DRO is particularly effective when shooting backlit portraits or any scene with a dramatic contrast between background and foreground lighting. DRO Plus allows for even greater optimization by analyzing each region of an image and performing additional image processing.
Easy Shooting Mode
With Easy Shooting Mode, even beginners can take great photos. In Easy Shooting Mode, easy-to-understand basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen and the camera switches to all automatic settings, removing several function choices and allowing you to focus on just your subject. Since this mode works together with Intelligent Scene Recognition, the camera selects the optimum setting for each scene. In addition the easy mode simplifies preview mode.
Viewing modes
Find your photos using the simple folder or calendar viewing modes.
In-Camera Retouching Tools
Retouch and enhance your photos on the go with in-camera Trimming, Red-Eye Correction, and Unsharp Masking functions.
Wide zoom display
To use the entire image area of your compatible HDTV screen (sold separately), Wide Zoom display automatically expands standard 4:3 and 3:2 images to 16:9.
PHOTOMUSIC
PHOTOMUSIC combines images with music (4 tracks, 5 minutes per track) to produce fun and entertaining slide shows with standard visual effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Active, and Stylish). Select from pre-loaded tracks on the camera or transfer your own from your compatible computer (sold separately).
PhotoTV HD
Bring your photos to life and enjoy highly detailed, high definition images with PhotoTV HD-capable Sony BRAVIA HDTVs. PhotoTV HD fine tunes settings on your PhotoTV HD enabled BRAVIA HDTV, such as sharpness, gradation, and color to display images that look more like printed photos
Function Guide
This beginner-friendly optional function helps navigate through the various functions and settings displaying the description of chosen functions or settings on the LCD screen.
Lithium-ion battery
Included lithium-ion battery provides added convenience with longer lasting power than alkaline batteries.
Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 4.3
Sony’s Picture Motion Browser software4 offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC. Finding your images with PMB is easy with Face Search and Calendar view. Face Search allows you to filter by faces (one or many) and also by a specific person’s face. A new function, eDeco, allows you to easily add unique mood-enhancing elements to still images and movies such as matching photo frames, text, background music, and sound effects. New viewing features include highlight index function for movies,which displays thumbnails of scenes to enable easy search and playback, and panorama playback for full-screen viewing of your expansive Sweep Panorama photos.
Tags: B002IPHIDW, Electronics, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1/H 10MP "Exmor R" CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touch-Screen LCD Grey, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1/H 10MP "Exmor R" CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touch-Screen LCD Grey-Retail $349.99! Sale Only $299.00!