- Certified waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and freeze-proof
- 3.0-inch wide touch screen for easy operation and viewing of images and movies
- 10.2-megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS sensor for enhanced low-light performance
- iSweep Panorama Mode captures stunning panoramic images; fast capture with 10fps at full 10.2MP resolution
- Card slot for optional Memory Stick Duo media and SD media
Product Description
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 combines a sleek, waterproof design with high technology. The camera offers stunning low light performance with the ability to capture amazing panoramic images in Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode. Never miss the best shot with 10 frames per second, and show off all your images on a large 3″ touchscreen LCD.
Brian Douthit @ 3:18 pm
It is a very enjoyable camera with some limitations — but, what else would you expect as no camera of this type is perfect. I am generally a very picky shooter, I have had to lower my expectations with this camera but I feel it is a certainly capable camera if you aren’t expecting it to be perfect. Sounds like a back-handed compliment but it really isn’t, this really is the only camera of its kind when you consider the size, features, and capabilities.
PROS
- good photo quality, in most situations
- very quick and responsive from the shutterlag to the touchscreen
- great features from the very good video mode(with zoom and good audio) to the panorama and hand-held twilight mode
- stylish, I wouldn’t buy the camera because of this but when you compare it to any other waterproof camera it makes them look toyish
- memory stick pro duo AND SDHC support!
- and of course its waterproof and durable, the biggest selling point.
CONS
- battery life is short, about average for todays small cameras but I’d recommend a spare battery for most anyone just in case. The battery does charge fast though.
- limited control, I’d love for it to have some control over saturation, contrast, and sharpness. Aperature/Shutterspeed control would be great as well…
- very saturated and ‘poppy’ image quality, to me it is just fine but it is not subtle and you cant really control it in camera.
- awkward media cable port. I generally do not use these and mainly just use a card reader but if I were to use the cable I wouldn’t like it.
Overall, if you are getting this camera for the purpose of being waterproof(and more durable than normal) then you will be pleased with everything else it offers. There are as good or better cameras out there for specific functions but if you are looking for a camera that takes good photos, is snappy, has a bunch of fun and usable features, and is waterproof then this should be very high if not at the top of your list!
Carson Lawall @ 3:21 pm
I bought this camera (Sony Cyber-shot Tx5) to replace a 2 year old olympus stylus tough that had leaked and to supplement a Fuji Finepix F200 EXR with waterproof case. This will be a little comparison for waterproof cameras and cased cameras. Skip to the bottom if you just want to read about the cyber-shot.
The olympus was a pretty good camera, mediocre to good image quality, slow shutter, and unfortunately it eventually leaked after 2 years. I used it for surfing pictures, which is pretty rough on a camera. As advice for people using cameras in salt water, always rinse after and make sure the 0-rings are clean. From reviews it appears that eventually these cameras are going to fail (cannon, olympus), so take care as best you can because it looks like the service life is about 1-3 years. The olympus is a very good camera, but the slow shutter makes action shots a little hard to catch at times.
The Fuji Finepix f200EXR is probably the best point and shoot I have ever had. I did buy the hype about the new sensor technology and decided to try it out. I have not been disappointed. Very good image quality, easy to set up, automatic settings are very good. The waterproof case is another $159 to an already expensive camera (about $350), but it has fast shutter speed, very fast burst, great low light image quality and it is easy to use. The automatic technology is good, but can be variable even shooting the same subject based on the light and camera position. The drawback is that when in it’s waterproof case it is very bulky and will not fit in a wetsuit sleeve. Surfing picutures have been really good with this camera, but you essentially have to leave your board on the beach and get in the water specifically to photograph the action. (not a very spontaneous camera).
Fuji also makes an inexpensive WP camera (about $120) but the shutter speed is REALLY slow.
I also compared this with the digital elph on dry land (the elph also has a waterproof case), and the elph also takes very good pictures and might also be an option in this price range (or a little cheaper-probably the same price with the case). The elph actually was a little better in tough backlighting situations. Cannon also makes a waterproof camera but there appears to be a lot of failures of waterproofing in the reviews, and it looked a little big so I did not try it. The Cannon waterproof camera reviews are pretty good as far as image quality so it may be worth checking out.
For the Cyber-shot TX5, I found the picture quality to be very variable when set with the automatic settings (there are limited choices). Some pictures are great, some pretty bad. It actually can vary even when you are shooting the same subject as repositioning the camera can change the setting and change the picture. (If your picture turns out bad, try repositioning the camera). Some pictures look a little too bright and colors look almost unreal…although this can be variable so rarely the pictures turn out better than even the Finepix, but most of the time the Finepix wins. Sometimes it may have nicer looking images because they appear bright/sharp and almost unreal, but in most cases you probably won’t be looking for that appearance.
The burst speed is very fast (fastest of those I tested) and great for action shots.
Shutter speed is fast (comparatively).
No problems with water yet. The camera has a lower rating for depth and drop height than the olympus, and feels less sturdy.
The battery life is a little short
Doesn’t give very much control over the settings, but this is a point and shoot so, that’s really what it is made for.
The sweep panorama mode is really neat, although not something I use a lot.
The biggest plus for this camera is it is very small. It fits anywhere. I think if you need a small camera (say one that fits in a wetsuit sleeve), that is waterproof, this is probably your best bet for a fast small camera with good image quality.
Overall:
for a small camera
the cybershot is a very good small camera with a lot of easy to use features. Very fast, good for action, and portable enough to be in the action. variable photo quality, but usually good to very good. I’m still playing with the cybershot so there may be more good things or more bad things about it, but so far I’m fairly happy with it. Too new to really comment on durability.
The olympus, very tough, good photo quality, also small, but a little slow for action (that said I took action pictures with it for 2 years). might be a better camera if you are going to abuse it.
for image quality (using a point and shoot):
may be best to get a regular point and shoot with a waterproof case. FujiFinepix f200EXR would be my vote, Very good amateur surf photography camera in the water (but can’t really surf if you have the camera with you). Tough case, rated deep enough for scuba diving.
David A. Young @ 4:41 pm
We purchased this camera for our recent trip to Disney World. My wife primarily wanted a compact camera to fit in our pockets, and I wanted a waterproof/rugged camera that took good quality indoor and outdoor pictures and HD video (with the ability to zoom during video). The large touchscreen and easy touchscreen controls were both an added bonus with the TX5! It was great to be able to use our good quality camera on water rides and at the pool where many other cameras couldn’t go! The underwater picture mode takes amazing high quality color pictures, and the video mode works very well underwater even at night! My only minor complaints are that the flash is a little weak (understandable given the compact size) and that the finish gets marred with finger prints very easily (but it also wipes clean easily). I will most likely purchase a 2nd battery to make sure it lasts through an entire day of pictures and videos. I would definitely recommend this camera to busy families who don’t want to worry about destroying their camera in almost any condition or having enough room to always have it with them for those unexpected photo opportunities!
Stacy @ 7:22 pm
The are very few things that I can complain about with this camera. It takes a really great picture, its fast, its tough and it is smaller than a cell phone. Probably the only things I could be critical about would be the zoom and possibly that it is overly good with lower light situations…it brightens the scene more than I find appropriate (this is easily fixed in the program auto settings) The x4 zoom does very little to bring in any distant subjects. This lens captures a very wide angle so the zoom can be used to narrow the field of view a bit.
I originally purchased the camera to use while kayaking, so the waterproofing was a priority. I tested this in a glass of water and a sink. Video and picture functioned fine underwater and the camera is still functional afterward. I have no plans taking the camera any deeper than rolling my kayak will take it, so I believe this test should suffice.
I will upload some of my pictures from this camera. Like I had said, I think it takes great pictures, and I like the camera very much. I would buy it again.
Sarah Meekhof @ 9:13 pm
I got my Sony Dsc-tx5 a couple days ago in the mail from Amazon. One of the first things I noticed was how slim and nice it looked. Compared to the other waterproof cameras I saw, this one definitly stood out because of its styling, and being waterproof. I was looking for a “durable” camera because I take mine everywhere. This one seemed like an ideal camera because I do take more-then-the-average person “artsy” shots, but also it was waterproof. I am really pleased with the image quality of this camera. Comapared to other waterproof cameras I tested, this one’s image quality seemed much better, and I am telling you, it is! I especially like the low-light settings, which seem to work really well. Another part of the camera that i like and appreciate taking closer shots, is the function where you can tap the touchscreen to tell the camera where to focus. this is really useful in close-ups where the camera will not focus where you want it to. Another thing i like is the panorama shot, which contrary to popular belif (in reviews that I read) you can use it with just your hands and it works perfectly fine.
Now for the [few] cons. One of the first things I noticed after getting the camera wet that was a little tiresome was the sliding cover smearing water on the lens. If water gets under the cover, it stays under for awhile, and puts dots on the lense if you don’t wipe it off every time you open it. The only other thing that i disliked about the camera was its usb port. It is located right next to the battery compartment, and has a single flimsy door that opens to let you plug it in. It seems that this door could easily be snapped off, and thus comprimise the water-proofing of the camera.
All in all, though, this camera is definitly worth investing in, if you have the cash. Higher then normal picture quality with the ability to take some really good shots, good low light photographs, and waterproofing…Thsi camera brings it all to the table with one compact package.