6/24/11

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX10 16.2 MP Waterproof Digital

 The Sony Cyber-shot TX10, announced in January 2011, is a 16.2 megapixel compact with a 4x stabilized zoom and a 3-inch LCD wide touch. Like other models in the TX of TX-10 is, as Sony's "smart and stylish, with a lens does not extend behind a slide-down panel when not in use. A and elegance The other defining feature of the TX10 is resistance: resistant to water and dust to a depth of 5 meters, shockproof against a fall of up to 1.5 meters and freeze proof down to-10C.
The TX10 Cyber-shot has all the features you expect in a compact mid-range modes including fully automatic exposure with scene detection and face AF, and Sony features, like the panoramic sweep and multi-angle 3D modes. The stacking of composite low-light modes for which is well backlit Sony Exmor sensor R-known in this model are complemented by a new mode of HDR. As everything is a video camera capable of full 1080i high definition video recording and 25fps 1080p.

We compared with two similarly priced compact touch screen, the Canon IXUS 310 SA / 500 SA ELPH and the Panasonic Lumix FX77/78. TX10 Can deliver everything you expect from a "conventional" compact, or strength at the expense of concessions in other places? Read our full review to find out. 
Design and Controls 
Only 18 mm wide, the TX10 is a compact Cyber-shot where you look. If you are serious about water-based activities that will slip into your wetsuit and you will hardly know it's there, but I suspect for most people their ability to work in the rain will be a consideration secondary, in which case "ll equally comfortable on your shirt or jeans pocket.

The lowering of the front panel acts as a switch on / off, exposing the lens and turn on the camera at the same time. Similarly, simply slide the lid up to turn everything off. There is also a button on / off switch on the top panel gives the login screen menus, and other playback settings, but obviously still need to slide the cover down to shoot.

The only other physical controls on the camera are the shutter-shaped diamond, mounted a wide zoom rocker, and the beveled edge top rear panel, playback and video record button engaged.

The back of the camera is the LCD completely. It's clear plastic top to bottom and from left to right, but the actual area of ​​the screen, even in 16:9 movie mode, it goes all the way to the edges and there is ample space to the right of your thumb to hold without triggering any of the icons on the screen. When shooting in 4:3 aspect ratio, touch the icons are arranged in vertical black strips on both sides of the image. 
From touch-screen control TX-10 is lightweight and responsive, but I found general use in bright outdoor conditions, even when it was sunny, the display of TX-10 was very difficult to see. For a typical compact that would be a minor annoyance, but for a camera with touch screen that can do simple things like changing the exposure mode, or by touch, approach, more demanding than they should.

To protect from moisture and dust, TX10 Cyber-shot is more resistant doors and covered the usual ports. Instead of the flimsy plastic cover usual, a rubber stamp hinged door on the right side is opened via a trap to reveal a port A / V / USB and mini-HDMI port. Based on similar camera built a door covering the battery compartment and the combined card. Like all Sony's recent agreements TX10 takes SD / HC / XC, and Sony Memory Stick Duo and Pro Duo cards.

Movie Modes
The Cyber-shot TX10 offers a lot of movie modes: from the top is the way FX, 1080i HD encoding formats like other high-definition AVCHD around 24Mbps. If the value of the ability to extract more material in a way FH card reduces the bit rate of 17Mbps and is third in HQ 1440 x 1080 and 9 Mbps HD All these modes are encoded as AVCHD files and all are interlaced at 50 or 60 fps depending on the region. MP4 If you select the encoding you have three options for resolution of 1440 x 1080p, 720p and VGA at 30 fps or 25 depending on region. The maximum recording time in any format is 29 minutes at best quality setting in AVCHD will take around 6 GB.

Not only can you use the Cyber-shot optical zoom TX10 virtually silent during recording, you can also take still images in 16:9 aspect ratio with a size of 2304 x 1296. The stereo microphones to produce a good quality sound and there is no wind noise filter buried in the shooting settings menu. Sony recommends using the Class 4 speed or faster SD cards for video recording. A dedicated button for video recording is a plus, but there is a very long delay - almost 4 seconds - between pressing the start button and recording, which is simply unacceptable. You do not have to wait that long for the shutter to fire when shooting and should not be different for video.


Handling
Because of their lack of extending the lens, the Cyber-shot TX10 is quick to implement, but only slightly faster than the covenants of lenses that extend like the IXUS 310 SA / 500 SA ELPH Lumix FX77 / FX78. The corner-mounted zoom and slim profile shot in the T-series Cyber-shots are things I've never felt comfortable, but you may feel differently and, as always, I recommend getting your hands on one to try before purchase.  
The face detection works well TX10, sensitivity adjustable Smile Shutter and options for adult and child priority face detection greatly improve the chances of making it work the way you want. The Cyber-shot TX10 has an impressive burst shooting capabilities with 10 fps mode that shoots 10 frames in just a second longer 2fps a more pedestrian mode, though again, beware, because it takes time to an explosion occurred in the card and release the camera for subsequent rolling.

The menu system works well with touch screen and is easily navigable, the first screen provides options often used with the shooting settings, formatting, etc in a second-level menu. Like SA SA IXUS 310 / ELPH 500, the Cyber-shot TX10 menus are configurable, so you can add personal bookmarks to the vertical stripes on the main screen.

In water TX10 produces great results, but the current touch screen technology is no longer suitable for use in the wet. The TX10 Cyber-shot touch screen does not work in water. Even when you leave the water they need to give the screen a cloth and dry your hands before using. This is a bit of a disappointment, because it means you can not change modes, to use the panorama scene mode under water for example, or to change under the water to a non-water mode while in the water but not under it. You have to select the dry mode, then get to work, more or less confirms our initial view of a camera TX10 primarily as the land is good for occasional use in the water.

16.2-megapixel Exmor R TX-10 Cyber-shot is backlit CMOS sensor delivers images with a maximum size of 4608 x 3456 pixels JPEG compressed to about 4 MB. 
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