Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (2012 Model)

by Sony

• 16.2 megapixels "Exmor R" CMOS sensor for superior low-light performance
• 4X optical zoom
• 3.0-inch LCD
• Certified waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof
• Full HD 1080/60i with dual record of stills and movies

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 0.7 x 3.8 x 2.2 inches ; 4.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B006K5533I
• Item model number: DSCTX20/B
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (294 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #14 in Camera & Photo > Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 27, 2012

Product Description

Color: Black

From the Manufacturer

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 16.2 MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD

• 16.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor
  
• Certified waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof⁵
• 4x optical/8x Clear Image zoom
• Full HD 1080/60i with dual record of stills and movies¹
  
• Capture the decisive moment with up to 10fps
  
• Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode for blur-free movies
• 3D Still Image and 3D Sweep Panorama mode³
• Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode
• Picture Effect for more expressive photos
• Photo Creativity allows easy photographic expression

Capture stunning photos while overcoming the elements with the ruggedized Sony DSC-TX20. Waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, the DSC-TX20 captures stunning 16.2MP pictures and Full HD 1080/60i videos with its stabilized 4X optical/8X Clear Image zoom lens. Enjoy additional features such as viewing creative Picture Effects on its 3.0-inch Xtra-fine touch-screen LCD before shooting.

Key Features

16.2 Megapixel Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS Image Sensor

The DSC-TX20 features a 16.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS image sensor that brings out the full resolving power of the camera’s Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to deliver extremely fast speed, high resolution, and stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. In addition, the combined Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor delivers extremely fast up to 10fps, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight and 1080i movie modes.

Rugged and Stylish

The DSC-TX20 is just as much at home in the water as on a night on the town. The sleek and stylish camera fits the slimmest pocket or purse, yet is waterproof to a depth of 16 ft, shockproof from falls up to approximately 5 ft and dustproof thanks to its airtight construction.⁵ Seamlessly shifting from underwater marvels to a night on the town, the TX20 always makes it easy to get the best shot.

Full HD 1080/60i

Record crystal clear movies at the highest resolution available with capabilities for 60i in 1080 AVCHD video.¹ This provides stunning, fast motion video with less distortion for playback on your HD TV.² With dual record of stills and movies, you can shoot both at the same time.

Capture the decisive moment with up to 10fps

Capture full 16.2 megapixel resolution images at up to 10 frames per second, helping to ensure that the decisive moment is captured such as the soccer ball flying into the goal. In addition, a mechanical shutter helps reduce distortion when continuously shooting moving subjects.

Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode

Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode for blur-free movies even while walking.⁴ Camera-shake compensation using Optical SteadyShot/Active Mode has been improved with the addition of new electronic image stabilization. Now it’s easier than ever to obtain sharp, blur-free movies even when zooming in unsteady situations, such as shooting with one hand while walking.

3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama mode³

Produce awe-inspiring images with 3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama capabilities.³ Photos will take on a new dimension of creative capabilities for viewing the world in a whole new way.

Optical zoom plus Clear image zoom

Most digital zooms use electronic cropping to get closer to the subject, resulting in unsharp images. With Clear Image Zoom the powerful processor compares patterns found in adjacent pixels and creates new pixels to match selected patterns, resulting in more realistic, higher-quality images. Clear Image Zoom doubles optical zoom for closer photos.

Background Defocus

DSLR photographs are often beautiful because they blur the background, putting the emphasis on the subject. Now the DSC-TX20 can deliver this signature DSLR benefit. The system takes two shots, identifies the background and applies a defocused background keeping the subject crisp and clear.

Picture Effect for more expressive photos

Picture Effect adds a new level of expression to photos, making ordinary landscapes and portraits come to life by heightening mood and emphasizing certain attributes. Select camera models have up to nine different effects.

Photo Creativity

Photo Creativity allows you to fine-tune your exposure settings, such as brightness, color, and vividness, and quickly choose the right enhancement for your subject. Now you can view Picture Effects and Photo Creativity effects in real time on the camera’s monitor or in the viewfinder before shooting.

Superior Auto mode

Get cleaner, more dynamic pictures and fewer missed shots. The DSC-TX20 automatically recognizes the correct scene mode, then quickly shoots and combines up to six shots to produce images with greater clarity, optimum dynamic range using Backlight Correction HDR technology and lower image noise using 6 shots layering technology. Superior Auto intelligently detects 36 scenes for still images and movies, making it easy to get the best shot. 

Face Detection technology

Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends.

Smile Shutter technology

Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. You can also select adult and child priority andindicate the degree of Smile Detection sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can now be used together with Smile Shutter mode when the Intelligent Auto mode is on. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting.

Anti-blink Function

It’s frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. The Anti-blink function works to help counter blinking and squinting. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot.

Soft Skin mode

Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot.

Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode

Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode automatically detects 36 different types of scenes and selects the appropriate camera settings. In Auto Mode, the camera takes a single shot using the optimal settings. In Advanced Mode, the camera takes a photo with the optimal settings and, if in difficult lighting (low light or back light) immediately takes a second photo with another optimized setting so you can choose which to keep.

Natural Flash

Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images.

Motion Detection

Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces.

Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode

With Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode just press the shutter, pan the landscape and let the camera do the rest. It automatically links together each frame to produce a high resolution panoramic image providing the ability to zoom in on small details. This model even detects faces and moving subjects to stitch intelligently different widths to help avoid subject distortion.

<sub>1. Records in 29 minute segments
2. Requires HDTV and HDMI cable sold separately
3. Requires 3D HDTV, HDMI cable (at least 10.2 Gbps) and active 3D glasses sold separately.
4. Combined with electronic stabilization
5. Waterproof certified to IEC60529 IPX8 standard, shock-proof Certified to 1.5M MIL-STD-810F Method 516.5-Shock, and dustproof certified to IEC 60529 IP5X standard.</sub>

What is in the Box:

Battery (NP-BN), Wrist Strap, AC Adaptor AC-UB10, Paint Pen, Multi USB Cable and Instruction Manual

Product Description

Take to the sea, the slopes or the streets with complete confidence when you wield this ruggedized Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 digital camera. Waterproof, dustproof, shockproof and slim enough to slip into your pocket and take anywhere, this tough little camera stands up to the elements and your active lifestyle to capture the action as it unfolds. With a top-notch 16.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor and Full HD 1080/60i video capture (records in 29-minute segments), you'll walk away with high quality mementos of every adventure. Shoot up to 10 frames per second (fps) so you never miss a moment, then relive the fun when you review your photos and HD video on the big, 3.0" touchscreen Xtra Fine LCD.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 100 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome design and quality May 6, 2012

By H. Hristov

Color Name:Black

I just received my DSC-TX20 (Black) yesterday and I've tested it and compared it to the previous DSC-TX10 that I had for one year and I gave it to my brother in law. I've been very happy with the DSC-TX10 and I like the new DSC-TX20 a lot. There is no significant changes, the main ones are that the shooter speed is increased to 4 sec (from 2 sec) for night shooting and the new one has video recording in 60i in 1080 AVCHD. Also the panorama option has been boosted since the DSC-TX10's entry, offering solid panoramas of up to 360 degrees. Sony also increased focusing speed. I think these are basically all the differences. Waterproofing and the design hasn't change at all. I red a lot of comments about the waterproofing on the TX10 - both good and bed. I am scuba diver and I've been doing underwater photography for several years now. This camera is not designed for that, it's rated only for 5 meters (16 foot) which I tested in our community pool and it works just fine. Of course you will need to read the instructions and make sure that the seals are properly closed. The camera is great for any pool and for a lot of fun with the kids. Bottom line - it's awesome camera. For it's class I think it's the best on the market for now. If you are looking for very good pictures from a small camera - that's the one.
I recommend you also read the professional review for this model at [[...]]

70 of 73 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice camera. Best-in-class picture quality June 19, 2012

By Tech-Guru

Color Name:Blue|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this camera after trying (and being disappointed with) the Nikon Coolpix. The picture quality from the Sony camera was light-years better than the Nikon.
The "good":
Very small.
The moveable metal cover did a good job protecting the lens, and was easy to open with one hand.
Superb picture quality and superb videos
16Megapix quality
A good zoom feature

The "bad"
Pricey (most expensive in its class?)
The record, on/off, display, picture buttons are all WAY TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER...It is sometimes hard to press just the button you want
The documentation is not great (the documentation is stored electronically in the camera and is not very comprehensive
The lens is located very close to the top-left of the camera and your finger will make its way into too many of your photos
The electronic viewfinder is difficult to see in bright sunlight (all cameras that have a similar viewfinder will have this problem)

Having said this, I'm glad I bought it and pleased with the quality and the product.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent little camera!! October 15, 2012

By Adam

Color Name:Black|Amazon Verified Purchase

We've had this little guy through a Maui vacation, and it's been excellent!!

First off, some good points:

It's certainly waterproof, and has a "underwater" scene mode to help you shoot underwater. I'm not exactly sure what it does, but it seems to work better underwater with the underwater mode enabled, the auto mode tends to kick the camera into Macro mode underwater.

We've taken it snorkeling with us, as well as played in the waves and surf with it and it worked excellently. You can see the screen while snorkeling without too many issues, the camera does have a touchscreen, and it automatically disables the touchscreen while under water. This does mean that you're limited to changing settings while you're above water, but you can start and stop video recording as well as take pictures, zoom, and turn the camera on and off without the touchscreen.

The built in panorama mode is pretty great, it reminds me of the panorama mode in iOS 6, works basically the same way, turn your camera vertically and move it smoothly and quickly from one side to the other.

The image quality is excellent for what it is, the image sensor is a actual CMOS sensor (albeit still a small one) both "dry land" photos and underwater photos turn out great. I normally shoot with a DSLR and good lenses so impressing me with a point-n-shoot has always been difficult.

The video quality is excellent as well, I haven't viewed any of it on the HDTV yet but viewing them on the built in LCD they've been great.

It also takes standard SD cards as well, which since it's a Sony device is for sure a plus.

The waterproof doors that cover the battery/sd card and the HDMI / USB port both have indicators to indicate that they're closed completely, hopefully to help avoid improperly latched doors.

The charger is just a USB port on a wall socket, this means that you can charge the camera in the car with a 12V to USB adapter, like the ones used to charge cell phones.

Some Drawbacks:

As I mentioned earlier, the touchscreen is useless when you're swimming or snorkeling with it, which means adjusting the settings isn't possible during your underwater excursions.

The sliding lens cover can get dirt/sand trapped under it, but if you keep aware of it and rinse it out it doesn't seem to cause any issues. Also the instructions recommend rinsing the camera out with fresh water if you use it in salt water.

The USB cable isn't a standard micro USB plug, in fact I have no idea what plug it is, I've only seen it once on this camera. That means that if you lose your USB cable, charging the camera isn't going to be possible.

Battery life isn't super long, using it for most of the day brought the battery down to the half range. But since you can charge it off of any USB port, we charge it in the car.

The camera body its self is made of aluminum and isn't rubberized like most waterproof cameras, this means that the aluminum could get scratched or dented. However this hasn't happened to mine yet.

Bottom Line:

The bottom line is, that this is an excellent durable camera that is also waterproof! It's a solid investment if you're traveling or in need of something waterproof!