It was good timing that I received this press release in my inbox
while watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Sony announced updates to their
Cyber-shot® line with the new DSC-TX5 – a camera that is waterproof, freeze proof,
shockproof and dust proof. Because being a mom is like living a non-stop Olympics, rugged features will help this gadget hold up to my family of little athletes.
Kelly Davis, Director of the Digital Imaging business at Sony Electronics, was quoted in the press release on the TX5: “It is so versatile because it’s a great camera for both indoor and outdoor usage. You can easily take it from a day at the beach with the kids to a cocktail party with friends. This camera is also great for activities such as snorkeling, snowboarding or boating.”
Here are the key points of the Sony press release about the TX5:
- Waterproof “in up to 10 feet of water for an hour, the TX5 lets you take high-quality photos, including panoramic pictures, and 720p high definition videos of your friends, family or pets underwater.”
- Freezeproof: “Camera is also freeze proof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can take pictures of the kids sledding or snowboarding. Not only is it ready for cold weather, but the TX5 is durable enough to withstand an accidental drop from up to approximately 5 feet.”
- Dustproof: “Additionally, it is dust proof, so you can take it with you on a camping trip or a mountain bike ride.”
- Continuous burst shooting for capturing action: “The camera features an “Exmor R” sensor and offers 10fps continuous
burst shooting for capturing action shots, so you can get great photos
of the perfect moment such as when your kids are in mid air while
jumping into the pool.” - Video: HD movie recording (1280 x 720 at 30p).
- Panoramic Photos: “In one easy press-and-sweep motion, take panoramic photos of the underwater landscape or breathtaking views from the top of the mountain
using the Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature. Another benefit of the
“Exmor R” sensor, this innovative feature combines separate captures,
detects faces and subject motion and intelligently adjusts the width
while stitching the images together, resulting in natural looking
panoramic photos.” - Lowlight: “In addition to making it easy to capture entire landscapes or tall
buildings, the TX5 camera also helps to manage difficult lighting
situations. The “Exmor R” CMOS sensor lets you take high-quality photos
in low light without a flash.” - Backlight: “With in-camera multi-shot Backlight Correction High Dynamic Range (HDR), the camera combines highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image—even without a tripod. HDR offers a solution for strong backlight situations which typically result in either dark shadows in
the foreground or a washed out background. Sony’s “Exmor R” sensor and
BIONZ® processor help to correct these issues.” - Memory card compatibility: “A memory card slot compatible with both Memory Stick® (PRO Duo™) and class-four and above SD/SDHC formats.”
- Other Features: “An inch thin. Equipped with a foldable, 25 mm equivalent wide-angle 4x optical zoom Carl Zeiss® Vario Tessor® lens…. The
camera also has a three-inch (measured diagonally) Clear Photo LCD
Plus™ (230,400 pixel) wide touch screen display that functions—even
underwater. You can focus on your subject, operate the menu and share
photos and videos with a touch of the screen—wet or dry…Self portrait timer that automatically takes the shot two seconds after one or two faces are detected.”
- Pricing and Availability: “The TX5 camera will be available in
silver, black, pink, green, and red this April for about $350. Pre-sales begin in February. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available online at Sonystyle.com.”
