Sony TX10 Review – Should you get this Waterproof Rugged Camera?
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The new Sony TX10 was released early this month but it looks like supplies will run short.
As of post time, some color models only have a few stocks left in Amazon, and some say that the Japan quake may have affected the supply of electronic products coming from the country.
Should you order now before supplies run out or just look for other cameras with similar features? Read on this Sony TX10 review to find out.
Sony Cybershot DSC-TX10 vs TX5
A lot of people wanted to know the difference between the TX10 and the older TX series models, specifically the DSC-TX5 as the price difference is quite huge and yet there isn’t really much improvement in the looks department.
Full HD Movie Record
It may look the same as its TX cousins but the Sony Cybershot TX10 definitely has improved powerful features. It records full HD video at 1080i versus 780p of the Cybershot TX5, while its Exmor R sensor allows it to capture crisp photos in low light.
Better Low Light Performance
If you’re not familiar with Exmor R, it is a new digital camera sensor technology developed by Sony for its flagship models this year. The company claims it has more than twice the light sensitivity of conventional sensors and picks up less image noise.
This really makes sense for a waterproof camera as it’s obviously darker under water. Sony TX10 review from users have confirmed that the TX10 is indeed more light sensitive (check out the sample shots below).
3D Imaging
Perhaps the coolest feature is that the tx10 is capable of capturing 3d pictures even with its single lens, which is made possible by an algorithm that takes 2 angles for each shot. And if that doesn’t convince you, it’s also capable of taking still images while recording a video, as well as panoramic pictures with Sony’s Sweep Panorama technology.
There are a lot more improvements such as higher resolution (16.2 MP vs 10.2 MP), better waterproof and shockproof specs, and USB charging. This is best illustrated in the video below:
Note: It is waterproof up to 16 ft and not 5 ft as stated in the video.
I made a quick table below comparing the TX5 and TX10:
| Sony TX5 | Sony TX10 |
|---|---|
| 10.2 Megapixels | 16.2 Megapixels |
| 4x optical zoom | 4x optical zoom |
| 230k dots LCD screen | 920 k dots LCD screen |
| 720p @ 30fps movies | 1080p @ 60fps movies |
| CMOS image sensor | Exmor-R sensor (more light sensitive than CMOS) |
| no 3D capability | with 3D imaging features |
| waterproof up to 10 ft | waterproof up to 16 ft |
| shockproof up to 5 ft | shockproof up to 5 ft |
| freezeproof up to 14 F | freezeproof up to 14 F |
Sample Shots
You will find below some sample shots using the TX10. Click the thumbnails to view the larger image. The images, as you can see, are just stunning you would think it’s a product of a DSLR. I’m amazed at how such a small camera can do so much!
Low light shot (ISO 120)
Macro shot
Landscape
Pros and Cons
Small and Powerful
If you’ve owned a TX camera before then you will also love the slim form factor and the huge 3 inch touch LCD screen, although the TX10 has better screen resolution (921k dots), more touch sensitive and faster processor. I really don’t have high expectations for small cameras but I was amazed with the Sony DSC TX10′s speed and picture quality.
Missing Features
Perhaps the biggest disappointment from fans is the lack of GPS and geo-tagging capability, which is quite ironic for a camera that is dedicated for outdorsy people and frequent travelers. But I think can live without those features. I don’t think I’ll be geotagging all of my photos very often if I had a GPS camera as it will obviously drain the battery faster.
Here’s a rundown of its pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| slim, lightweight and ultra compact | average optical zoom (4x) |
| waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof | no geo-tagging |
| Full HD movie record (1080/60i) | quite expensive (see best price here) |
| Better light sensitivity | |
| Takes 3D photos |
Who should get the Sony TX10
I think the Sony TX10 is best for those who want a rugged compact camera that still performs well (I’ve seen a lot of all-proof cameras before with so-so picture quality). While you can just buy a waterproof case for a non-waterproof camera, it doesn’t really protect the camera from accidental splatters (e.g. beverages).
I’ve heard a lot of people saying they want more features (such as GPS and better optical zoom) but ruggedized cameras have very limited electronics real estate due to the space consumed by its protective layers. So it’s really hard to cram a lot of features in such a limited space.
You can try looking for cheaper alternatives (and perhaps with better specs), but it will probably be at the expense of picture quality (remember that only Sony uses the new Exmor-R sensors) and size (the Sony TX10 review is currently one of the smallest rugged cameras).
