Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black)

I currently own a D90, but decided to buy this camera for the apartments is not practical to carry a bulky camera. I have used this camera over the weekend shooting in daylight, indoor and low light and I'm really impressed with the camera.

What I like:

- Outside shooting: Excellent image
- Indoor Shooting: Excellent image quality even in auto mode. Apparently we can not compare with DSL camera but picture quality is much better than previous Sony digital cameras that I owned (View uploaded images)
- Superior Auto Mode: A new feature that automatically reduces blur and noise after each shot.
- Sweeping pan is good and time saving
- 3D image is a nice feature, I tried it with my 3D TV, and it looks good, but it is not as good as you watch 3D movies on Blu-ray, but you can actually see some depth of image.
- 1080i film is great, even looking at 55 "TV.
- Can use both SDHC and Duo card.
- Cheap for a spare battery, $ 12 from Amazon.

What I do not like or need some time to adjust:

- The battery is not great (The bright 921k XtraFine screen should be the main reason), but a second battery can solve this.
- The screen captures your fingerprints easily. Looking for screen saver.
- Need some time to learn by poor change control condition.
- Superior Auto Mode: Use 2 seconds after each shot in order to process the image. When you want to act quickly should this condition not be your choice.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX10 16.2 MP Waterproof Digital Still Camera with Exmor R CMOS Sensor, 3D Sweep Panorama, and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Silver)

Updated 31/05/2011: holding the camera when I looked back there and I'm glad I kept it. Updated rating from 3 stars to 4 stars

I have an underwater camera and robust, junkie, so when I heard about the new camera, I had very high expectations. I've owned two other Panasonic TS1 waterproof cameras and loved them (other than mine leaked last and destroyed the camera. Thank God for SquareTrade) I am not a Sony fanboy "and has never been, but have had some good experiences with quality of construction and ease of use with their products, so I thought I would share a way with Panasonic and test TX10. ... On paper, this camera seemed like it was the perfect water / outdoor camera. I loved the fact that you could drop it in your pocket and take with it everywhere because of its size and it looks at home in a nice restaurant. I spent a week snorkeling, hiking and adventure in Kauai, then served as my first chance to make a thorough overview of what this camera was made for the outdoors .. . and I was not overly impressed with the real world use. The images and videos were good for such a small point and shoot, but the practical was missing on several fronts to make this the "perfect" outdoor camera. But there are a lot of things I really appreciate this little camera. The Classic Pro / Con style, here are my overall thoughts and feelings on Sony TX10.

Advantages:
-Small and compact. Sexy. Take it anywhere. Looking at home on the beach or in a fine restaurant.
-Touch screen is "cool". I would love this video on non-casual waterproof camera ... BUT ... Its also a con, see below
-Cool, useless features like Smile Detection (takes the picture automatically when you smile) and 3D ... did not use 3D. As I said, fun but meaningless.
-Slide cover to protect the lens when it is closed ... But again, even a con. See below
Screen resolution is awesome
-Has the 1080i video at 60 frames per second versus 30 frames per second, most point and shoot operation. This gives the "natural" movement. I love it and it looks good on my 55 "TV
Large-angle lens 25mm
-Image and photo quality was great ... But the video seemed to struggle at times to focus properly.
-I really like the Panorama Shooting mode. Very cool pictures, and they seem well made and fairly smooth. You can take the "High" panoramic images that are up to 43 megapixels! (UPDATE: It has been
-Impregnation seemed pretty stable. I have never found a few drops of water in the house or mist the lens.

Cons:
-Due to the fact that the video is 1080i (interlaced) video tends to have lines when playing in media players such as VLC on Mac and PC (UPDATE: It is the Player's sake - I stuck the SD card in mine. Panasonic Blu- Ray player that can play AVCHD from SD card and 1080 60i video, taken with the camera looks amazing.)
-It was a big one. Start with photo time is so slow (5-7 seconds) and takes a video is 5 seconds on top of it. At the time you press the Record button to capture movies, it takes at least 5-7 seconds to start to film. So annoying. This is incredibly slow compared to Panasonic TS1s I owned. (Update: Still annoying.)
-This is speculation here, but the small and sleek style feels as if I dropped it that it would wear out really bad, or can rupture. Not robust at all. (UPDATE: The black model of this camera will show hack pretty easy ... seems like it only has a very thin coating on the back.)
-The screen is easily scratched by keys or other things in my pocket (skærmbeskytter!)
-The touch screen is accurate about 80% of the time. Its finicky and sometimes inaccurate. Some things have to be used 2-3 times to register. It can not be used while the water if you want to change the settings. Huge CON. Tactile buttons are the key if you need a camera underwater or in snow with gloves on.
-The trigger is too sensitive for me. if you happen to also operate it will take you out of playback mode, ... The full-timers most camera's sensitivity to half-press to focus.
I do not know if it was the unit I had or not, but the white background noise in these films are pretty bad. I tried it in multiple settings, completely dry and it was always there. You can not really tell you about playback on the camera itself, but when you play in any media player, it's overwhelming. If I get a replacement of the unit, I will update this to see if it was a bad microphone. (UPDATE: It was a bad microphone I got a new unit, and the sound is good at it.)
The picture-door kind of tricky to get down. The front is so smooth and the edges are so thin that sometimes a bit clumsy to get it down, even got some dirt stuck between the slide and front of the camera and made some fine scratches when opening and closing of the camera.)
-My fear is that sand and dirt will get stuck in the hinges of the screen cover and jam it or make it grind. I have heard that it is usually not a problem, but the style ... (UPDATE:. Dirt and sand got in the hinge and you could hear the paint while it was there when I returned from my trip to southern Utah a quick fresh water rinse in the sink seemed to bring it back to normal)
-The image covers keep the water after the camera is dry ...
-Battery life is not that good at all, and I do not think you have to plug it in to charge it, rather than having its separate charger. I would like to have two batteries and charge one while I take the others to use. (UPDATE: I purchased the Sony battery charger for this and aftermarket generic battery from eForcity here on Amazon, the secondary battery is actually a better life than the Sony battery Sony battery: 630mAh .. aftermarket. 900mAh I would recommend it)

So there you have it. I love the form factor, but for a rugged outdoor camera I would prefer a more solidly built as Panasonic TS3. Great form factor for everyday use in town use. The biggest concern I have that will probably cause me to return the camera, touchscreen and non-robust built. The films and pictures are amazing, so when it comes down to it, that's what matters most. If you want a waterproof camera to protect against spills or just a fun day at the pool as this may be something for you. To use this camera on snow, on the beach, snorkeling, hiking, climbing, etc. .. Be careful with it, or I'd probably look more to a more robust camera that Panasonic TS3 or TG Olympus Tough Series. They all take great pictures and videos in my opinion. I would recommend this camera? Yes.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX10 16.2 MP Waterproof Digital Still Camera with Exmor R CMOS Sensor, 3D Sweep Panorama, and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Blue)

I really enjoyed my first waterproof compact camera Pentax Optio W10 ---.
Train decent pictures and waterproof ... great for snapping pictures of my children in and around the water.

Also bought the Optio W30 and W60, hoping that the updated models would be much better than the former. Unfortunately, the picture quality getting worse with each newer model. Bummer.

Does the Canon D10 ... I like the pictures from the D10 better than the Pentax D10 is used as the primary and the W60 as a backup.
D10 is bulky and the focus is rather slow, but the jpeg colors are nicer than the Pentax.

Sony DCS-TX10 last week, have not tried the water yet, but the following comments:

Positive:
- Much faster focusing than the D10
- Wide angle begins at 25mm versus 35mm for the D10
- Stunning high-definition movie mode with zoom support and stereo
- Good powerful images with accurate color
- Very compact
- Image stabilization very good
- Sweep Panorama is a useful and enjoyable
- Sliding protects the lens

Negative:
- It takes a few seconds from startup to first slide
- Takes 5-7 seconds to start recording a movie, if not in video mode
- This is very annoying, maybe it can be determined by future firmware update?
- Not so crazy about the touch screen
- The battery does not last very long (about the same as D10)
- Water resistant to 5 m to 10 m for D10
- Playing pictures seems a little sluggish

There is no separate charger that is loaded into the camera via a USB cable, an iPod / iPhone.
I prefer to have a separate charger, so I can charge a spare battery while you are still using the camera, but I think others may prefer simply download from a USB port. Just to be clear, it comes with a charger (like an iPhone) so you can recharge from a wall outlet as well. But no one charger.

Bought this battery and charger kit from Amazon:
Wasabi Power Battery Charger for Sony Cyber-shot NP-BN1, DSC-T99, DSC-TX5, DSC ...

I have not taken it in the water yet ... So if this camera die on me after hitting the water or do something totally unexpected, I'd say this is the best waterproof compact that I've owned and would highly recommend it.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with 16x Optical Zoom G Lens, 3D Sweep Panorama and Full HD 1080/60p Video

I have been looking for a good, pocket-able to travel to zoom the camera in a few months and have looked at a number of different models, including Fujifilm 550exr. I settled on Sony's specifications, and the reputation that Sony has to make state-of-the-art cameras. I must say that I was not disappointed. I am most interested in out-of-the-box image quality, because I know that most times my attitude is to take a series of images without too much trouble and let the camera do most of the work for me. This is certainly the case when I travel, because I usually try to get the most out of the experience I have rather than focusing too much on to fiddle with camera controls.

So I compared the images from HX9V to a Sony NEX5 and an older Panasonic. I spent IA settings on all three cameras. I must say I was very pleased with the results. The HX9 gave consistently good images from its Intelligent Auto Superior Auto modes, in some cases was close shot from NEX5. If it could not compete (and it makes perfect sense because there are different sizes on the image sensor) was in low light. Not that HX9 not had very good low light capability, but it could not draw the shadow detail of color clarity NEX5. What was it always interesting for me to compare the pictures that was how sharp and clear images were from HX9. Further pixel level, it was obvious that this was at the expense of the overall smoothness of the image, especially in the shadows and on the edges where the images parts came together. But in many cases, took the overall visual detail and contrast in shadow areas of pictures taken in daylight and surprisingly good NEX5 for clarity. When things got a little ugly was in the shadow areas of pictures taken in low light. But overall I was very impressed by the flexibility of the camera and the images were generally balanced.

So here's my checklist of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:
- Beautiful screen with beautiful colors and resolution
- Very crisp images with vivid colors
- Good zoom, good sharpness at all levels of zoom
- Nice menu system easy to use. Large display makes menus appear even better
- Good control (except for on / off switch, which is a bit too flat / small)
- Lots of fun and useful picture and recording options
- Convenient and easy image scrolling during playback
- Nice feel in your body, very well built, scroll wheel and buttons have a quality feel
- Nice option for multiple / Burst images of the image to improve image reproduction / clarity

Cons
- A bit chunky for a true pocket / travel camera
- Do not like it in-camera charging method. Why use it?
- Minor delays in the zoom / review of the camera images
- Extra sharpness of the images comes at no cost to the smoothness

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-TX10 16.2 MP Waterproof Digital Still Camera with Exmor R CMOS Sensor, 3D Sweep Panorama and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black)

If you want to read an opinion from a professional photographer, so read on ...
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The TX10 is compatible with Sony Marine Pack cabinets or other enclosures.

Advantages:
1) The TX10 is lit in dim light, still photography, removes most of the noise, even at ISO 800
2) The small form factor means you can easily hide the camera from "predators".
3) There is water "resistant" but not completely waterproof aka. You should not dive with it.
4) It is HD 1080p video is pretty good compared to other digital cameras in this price range.
5) zoom while video recording is possible. Most consumer digital cameras can not zoom while in video mode.
6) Surprisingly good wide angle (you do not need a wide angle adapter)
7) The panorama mode is fun and effective, but not very good quality (sound is created because of the panoramic size).
8) Excellent flash coverage.
9) Selection of MPEG or AVCHD. MPEG is the best choice for compatibility and editing, but it takes more space on your memory card. AVCHD is a pain to edit than MPEG.

Cons:
1) Compared to my old Canon HV20 is TX10 simply not enough to stabilize the image. Not a deal breaker, but you might want to take a stand with you at all times.
2) Battery life is sad, I can not get more than 80 minutes continuous video recording from a fully charged Sony battery. I understand the third party batteries reasonable worse (if they work at all). It is a particularly poignant problem if you are near water, because you can not open the camera to change the battery then.
3) The TX10 can charge the battery "in camera", it does not come with the standard battery charger, instead Sony has included a USB cable and a USB adapter. This is a terrible problem for travel photographers, the battery life short, but it takes several hours to recharge a battery in the camera, of course, while it is charging, you can not take pictures or videos. It also means that you can not upload your "extra battery" at the same time. To solve the problem, you would need to buy extra batteries and an external battery charger, so now you have to carry two chargers. This could have been easily avoided if Sony had taken with its standard charger, as they do with older models.
4) All 3-D photography is worthless gimmicks, ignore them. They just takes precious space in memory and you can not see 3D without special equipment.
5) A mini-HDMI to HDMI cable not included, it can cost up to $ 30 to buy a cable from Sony. Get a cheap one for a few bucks, do not buy a Sony HDMI cables are compatible.
6) The interactive touch-sensitive menu can only be described as a complex maze, very difficult to navigate. If Sony charged with a friendly user interface, they failed.
7) LCD touch screen is hyper-sensitive and small icons way to end, the final result as you rarely Touch the icon you are aiming for, by the time you solve the mess you have created an accident is your design fled scene. You can help by "hide" the icons, but then, yes, it also requires extra time. Resulting in an above-average learning curve.
8) This camera is very slow at times, mostly because of 1080p video and higher 16.2MP images require more processing power of time. Not an ideal camera for action shots.
9) If you like manual exposure control, forget it, this camera will make you crazy crazy. It is automated, although it has a nice balance. On the other hand, the automatic presets a better job than a man would in many cases.
10) In video mode, lacks the color saturation and the video is overexposed 1 / 2 stops, this creates a slightly faded bluish appearance. I think they rushed this camera on the market, and it just needs a firmware update to fix this. On the other hand, still image color balance and exposure much nicer. Unfortunately, the camera "forgets" your manual exposure adjustments when you turn it off.
11) The digital zoom is surprisingly worse of its kind, completely useless, but I never use it anyway.
12) Divers Alert: Sony "Marine Pack" case is inconsistent with the DSC-TX10.
13) The amateur diver: TX10 is not really waterproof, no matter what Sony might want you to believe. The camera is just "water resistant" at best. It is possible to open the battery latch the water by accident (there is no secondary locking mechanism such as Panasonic) and the seals are not strong enough yet. Remember, everyone takes a small drop of water to mist your camera lens from the inside.
I have yet to see a "waterproof" consumer camera that can last more than a couple of hours under water without a cause. The Internet is filled with horror stories about this issue. There is no reason to play with your investment. But I strongly recommend TX10 for use in rain or snow. Maybe even kayaking.

All in all, I like this camera takes good pictures, not as good as a Nikon SRL but color balance is quite good for the price, but if you do not need a water "resistant" camera and then get the newly launched Sony HX7V it takes better images, and it is cheaper.

By the way: I went back TX10. The above relationship was too much of a nuisance.