Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX1 Review

Sony's TX1 amazes with its svelte profile, and disappoints with inconsistent picture quality.

Summary

While DSLRs generate huge amounts of online buzz, point-and-shoot digital cameras generate huge amounts of sales. An analyst told us that over 30 million digicams will be purchased this year, the majority for less than $199. Yet if you’re at this site, a low-priced model is not your target, and we’re not too thrilled with them either. Enter the new 10-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 for $379, an aim-and-forget camera that’s loaded with some definite buzz-worthy technology, including a new CMOS sensor, along with the ability to capture great panoramas and quality images in low light. Let’s see how this one worked overall in the real world.

Features and Design

The TX1 and new sister WX1 ($349) have the same imaging system, but differ in some key ways: the TX1 has Sony’s classic T-Series styling, which is super thin, and has a sliding lens cover that powers it on and off. The WX1 has a more traditional, boxy shape.

We’ve always liked the T-Series design, and the TX1 doesn’t spoil the formula. The new model is thin, all right, measuring 0.65-inches thick, and it has very few protrusions, buttons or dials. You make almost all of your adjustments – other than the zoom and shutter button – using the 3-inch touch screen. Available in dark gray, pink, blue or silver, the TX1 measures 3.75 inches wide, 2.4 tall and weighs a svelte 5 ounces with battery and card. This one is as compact as can be, and you’ll find yourself popping it into your pocket along with your cell phone.

The T Series uses a sliding front panel to power it on and off, and protect the lens. Move it down, and you’ll see the flash, mic, AF assist lamp and lens, which is a 4x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar. The focal range is 35-140mm, which is decent, but we prefer a wider opening angle (by comparison, the WX1’s 5x zoom starts at 24mm). There are just a few low-key logos and icons, but the overall feel of the TX1 is very slick, and our dark gray edition looked super cool.

The top of the camera has a silver metallic accent, along with a small power button, shutter and a tiny toggle for the zoom. Definitely do a hands-on test with this camera, as it may be just too small for some people. The rear of the TX1 has a 3-inch touch screen LCD rated 230K pixels. It handled sunlight fairly well, but wiped out in direct sunshine. It also lacked fine detail when framing or reviewing shots. Sony definitely should’ve upped the quality of this screen. The only other thing you’ll see on the back is a playback button and a silver attachment for the wrist strap – this camera is as minimalist as they come.

The bottom of the Made-In-Japan camera has a metal tripod mount, a compartment for the battery and optional Memory Stick Pro Duo cards, as well as the connection for Sony’s proprietary multi-connector cable. This camera records 720p HD video, but to watch scenes directly on your television, you’ll need an optional cable, not a consumer-friendly move.

What’s in the Box

The DSC-TX1 comes with the camera, battery, charger, a 59-page English owner’s manual and a multi-connector cable fitted with USB and A/V connections. The VMC-MHC1 cable needed to watch high-def video clips on your HDTV goes for $39. If we were shopping for this camera, we’d ask the dealer for a hefty discount for a bundle including the cable. The supplied CD-ROM has Picture Motion Browser (Windows only), a more in-depth manual, and Music Transfer (Windows/Mac) for adding tunes to slideshows. PMB makes a good, basic program for transferring, editing and archiving images.

With the battery charged and a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo card in place, it was time to hit the streets.