Sony DSC-TX5 Camera

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Sony unveiled their newest point-and-shoot camera yesterday. The DSC-TX5 is what Sony calls “rugged”, as it can go underwater and survive certain drops. In fact, Sony says it’s the world’s smallest certified waterproof digital camera. The camera will have a slim compact design and will also be carrying a 10.2-megapixel censor.

As said above, this camera is slim – really slim. It’s a sub-compact type that’s roughly the size of the deck of cards and Sony suggests you can “fit it in your pocket or purse”. Oh yeah, it’s also pretty durable. It’s waterproof until 10 feet (and for one hour only), and can survive drops up to five feet. It’s also dust-proof and is protected against cold and hot weather.

The sensor is Sony’s “Exmor R” type. The lens is made by Zeiss and the DSC-TX5 can take 720p video at 30 fps. On the backside, it’s got a three-inch LCD screen that can even be used underwater, wet or dry. Like a lot of cameras these days, it also offers some basic (very basic) photo editing features on-board the camera. Other features include facial recognition and a panorama feature.

The camera also has an on-board Bionz processor (no Cell, Sony?) that uses a HDR (High Dynamic Range) engine to compensate for heavy backlighting, like taking a picture with the sun on the frame.

If this new point-and-shoot catches your eye, you can expect Sony to start shipping them this April. The expected retail price is $350.