Customer Reviews

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 10.2MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Zoom with SteadyShot Image Stabilization and 3.0 Inch Touch Screen LCD (Black)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

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!

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 as far as shutter lag, 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 a shutter (very little shutter lag after you try to shoot), 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 lag is REALLY long (very slow to take the picture once you press press the shutter button).

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. Canon 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 Canon 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 lag is minmal (comparatively for WP cameras and point and shoots).
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.

UPDATE
Still working great with very nice surfing shots. The Burst feature is excellent.

UPDATE
Still very tough, no leaking, good for surfing shots. Still love the burst feature. Little annoyances: Lens is very close to the edge of the camera, sometimes catches my finger...my fault, but very annoying. Finding with more use that comparatively the picture quality is not that great (just variable, still sometimes is great). Comparing a far less expensive elph, the photo-quality is consistently better with the elph. It still takes very good pictures, and I think for a portable camera that you can take surfing, there is no equal, but outside of that niche there are cameras with consistently better photo quality. (every once in a while it still captures something amazing and different than my other cameras, but consistency is important).

I bought the Canon D10, Panasonic TS2, and the Sony TX5 and tested them side by side. The photo quality was a toss up between the TS2 and the TX5 most of the time with the exception of tricky lighting situations. I am typically a DSLR photographer so using a point and shoot camera is a bit like going back in time. However, with the Sony TX5 it did not completely feel this way. Having a CMOS sensor instead of a CCD (like most other point and shoot cameras) gives this camera better low light shooting performance. If you are more into shooting video than stillshots, the TS2 might be a better choice as they have a better video capture encoding than Sony (not that Sony's is bad by any means) but Panasonic's is better.

Things I love most about the TX5:
-It feels good in your hand and looks good too! It doesn't look like it is trying to convince you with its rivets and armor look that it is tough... it just is and remains stylish and sexy at the same time. Kudos to that!
-The TX5 has a a great "Intelligent Auto" shooting mode that picks the best settings for you based on your composition and light meter readings. Whether your subject is backlight (where the camera will take an underexposed image and an overexposed image and blend them together to make a high dynamic range photo (handheld) which is quite impressive, or you are shooting in low light handheld and the camera will shoot many shots in rapid succession and make the best photo it can from the group, to the specialized scene modes for underwater, snow, beach, fireworks, high speed shutter for sports/action shots, etc... they all do what they claim.
-This camera has one of the fastest start up times and also will shoot at 10 frames / second which is amazing for a point and shoot camera!
-Sony finally got smart and allowed the owners to use SD cards in Sony cameras... its about time!

Things I don't really love about the TX5:
-This camera has only one spot on the whole body to attach any kind of tether. I know many p&s cameras are this way with their little wrist lanyards but it would be great if they could put a matching one on the other side so I could use a neckstrap or something to hold the camera hands free while shooting video, etc.
-While the images generally look good, there are some photos that do come out less than stunning. Sometimes "Intelligent Auto" mode selects the wrong preset and the results are not pretty.
-The touchscreen is a bit oversensitive and often I find myself accidentally pushing buttons when I didn't mean to.
-The camera is so thin and with almost the entire rear being a touchscreen, there is not much to hold on to. Sometimes it can be slippery in the hands and hard to hang on to.
-The lens is fairly wide but if Sony really wants to compete with adventure/sports cameras like the GoPRO HD, it needs a wider angle lens (or attachment).
While the photos generally look good and the in-camera editing much more useful than most other cameras, any prints bigger than 5x7 (depending on the light conditions the photo was shot in) and you may start seeing the noise reduction and/or sharpening artifacts that Sony uses in the their cameras to make better straight out of camera photos.

Bottom line : After testing the top 3 contenders in the waterproof/freezeproof/and tough cameras, I know I made the right decision to go with the Sony TX5. It is fun to use, versatile, captures some great photos with minimal effort (regardless of being on a beach mid-day or en la discotecta at night)... This camera ROCKS! I woudl recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to have to baby and worry about their camera getting wet, dropped, etc. Even outside the waterproof camera realm, I don't think there are many point an shoot cameras (especially in this price range) that take as nice of photos as this camera. The waterproofing, drop proof, freezeproof, etc are all just bonus items on an already great camera!

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!

I previously owned the Sony DSC-T9 and was really happy with the camera. I mostly use my cameras for hiking/camping/backpacking, and when the T9 died I thought it would be really nice to have a camera that was waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof, etc. So I bucked up and paid a premium for the Sony DSC-TX5. At first glance out of the box, I was really impressed...nice looking camera, seems well built, all told it seemed to be a nice replacement for the T9. Upon first use, I realized that the image quality was similar to the T9, which is to be expected from a compact point and shoot camera.

The problem with this camera comes when you don't have a power outlet handy...on a full charge, taking maybe 10 or 12 pictures, the battery on the camera will last about two days. Not particularly handy when you're out backpacking or staying places where there isn't a readily available wall outlet...the primary reason I bought this camera. I could make the T9 last for an entire week on a hike...this TX5 will barely get me to the trailhead before the battery dies. I've returned the camera to Sony under warranty, and they say it's working fine. So they're verified that it's a piece of junk, and operating under their spec.

If the only reason you want this camera is to take pictures of your friends at events and you come home every night to charge it...you can do better on picture quality. If you're buying it for any sort of use where the shockproof, freezeproof, waterproof might be useful...make sure you buy about 20 extra batteries, which are really handy when you're trying to cut weight carrying a backpack!

I bought the Tx5 less than a year ago. I was happy with it while it worked. It took good pictures, and worked as advertised for a while. However, one day it just stopped working. I did not drop it or do anything that would cause it to stop working. I was always very careful to make sure the latches were locked and the seals were clean before I put it into water. It was never dropped from anywhere near 5 ft.

I sent it off to Sony for repair, and they said it had corrison and that it was not covered under warranty. They said that the warranty does not cover physical damage. I was very disappointed with the reliability of the camera and Sony's customer service. It is a nice camera, but it costs way too much for Sony to not stand behind their product. Stay away from Sony. They do not stand behind there products, and their customer service is terrible!!

I loved this camera, for a week. It took great pictures on a beach vacation, and video too. I took VERY good care of it according to the manufacturer's directions. Upon return, following manufacturer's recommendations, I called to find out where to get it cleaned by a sony certified shop. The lady told me it was under warranty, just send it in, they would be glad to do it for free. Then they email a week later, the cover was missing and it would be over $200 to fix. After 3 disconnected calls and three transfers, the "highest" up man said, "sorry". They would rather lose my confidence, and hopefully yours too, than do the right thing. The cover was NOT missing, it was a week old, sent in original packaging! If it had been missing, I would have taken responsibility. Sorry doesn't cut it Sony. I would go with the Panasonic (and am going to as soon as I save enough money for ANOTHER camera, I shelled out more than I planned on this one thinking Sony would last a couple of years if I took care of it like I have the last 15 years with them!). GO with Olympus or Panasonic, Sony doesn't care! Schiesters probably took the case off to clean it and then wanted to charge me for it! ugh!

Needed a new camera for a one week family vacation: whale watching, rafting, hiking and the sorts. Our old camera is an old Nikon Coolpix 5000 (about 7yrs old) and a cheap Fuji (age unknown). Needed a durable waterproof camera that was more modern. Compared with other durables as Olympus and Panasonic. Went with the Sony because of others' reviews and wife wanted the touch screen NEATO feature.
Well, is this one camera for us! Superfast shots, love the shot bursts, and awesome panorama shots of our senic views. Family friend had an Olympus; couldn't keep up with shooting, especially on the whale watching excursion and changing camera settings.

Software: Just offloaded the pics to the computer via the provided software...wow, the software is great. Welcome me to the modern age of photo albuming I guess. The software cataloged ALL my pics that was scattered on my computer and central albumed the pics. Also the software has an facial analyzing tool, cool (haven't tested it yet though).

Beware: DO NOT BUY the off-brand replacement batteries at this time even though they classified to fit this camera because they do NOT. I bought 2 of them, 1 each from different suppliers and none fit. They're too large. Arghhh, oh well, they're cheap, tossed them out for recycle at HOMEDEPOT. Went and got 2 originals from a big box store, was in hurry for trip.

Battery: I guess for their tiny size, their longevity is okay; most days on the vacation, only consumed 1 battery life, but the more video shots you make, the faster the battery consumption. Only 1 day on our vacation did I actually had to utilized the 3rd battery.

Bought a 16gig SD card w/ camera, wasn't sure how much I really needed for the vacation trip so I overdid it with capacity. I roughly figured that 16gig/10meg=1,600 shots. Well, it actually came out to about some 3,000 available shots when I installed the card at max resolution. The camera was so fun to shot, we nearly filled up the card at about 2,700 shots taken during the 1 week trip. Never did we take so many pictures before.... owe it to the camera, it was a plearsure to use.

Touch screen: finger prints wasn't a problem. After we got used to the location of the icons, the touch screen us super fast vs the old buttons and toggle method. You end up using both index fingers on your hand to make setting changes.

With this camera, we really came into the modern age in our picture taking (didn't use the word photography because I don't consider myself one). Our next purchase is an SLR or mid SLR to complete the camera lineup.

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...This camera brings it all to the table with one compact package.

Update: I've had this camera for over a year now, and still love it! I noticed that they came out with a new model now, and maybe they fixed some of the cons listed above. For now, the only other cons I would add is that the paint on the front slide cover chips off, down to the metal underneath, not that big of an issue. Also, the touch screen can be a little tedious to use at first, and water seems to have gotten under the protective layer of the screen, not compromising anything but the viewing experience. Lastly, the flash is fairly weak, but that is expected from such a small camera. All in all, a great investment for a do-(almost)-anything camera

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.