Sony have just announced 12 new Cyber-shot Compact cameras. The new cameras are noted for being the first Cyber-shots to support SD & SDHC cards, with dual slots for both SD/SDHC & Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick format (did I hear someone say “Betamax”?).

The HX5 and TX7 head the line-up, with a bounty of features tucked away nicely in a compact body. Both have the ability to record AVCHD 1080i Full HD video, have image stabilisation and Intelligent Sweep Panorama. They come with a 10mp Exmor R back illuminated CMOS sensor, which has twice the sensitivity of conventional sensors, and 25mm wide-angle lenses (although the HX5 has 10x optical zoom). The Exmor R sensor should perform better when it comes to noise, especially in low light situations.

The HX5 head the lineup of new Cyber-shot cameras

The HX5 features GPS and Compass functions which allows you to where you shot your image using on-line maps and the compass to see which direction you were pointing when the photo was taken. Both have an HDR Backlight Correction feature is useful for balancing high contrast scenes where there is strong backlighting.

The TX7 is a more svelte affair, but does away with features like the GPS, Compass and lacks the optical zoom range seen in the HX5. It does still have 4x optical zoom however and comes with a 3.5″ touchscreen LCD

The slim TX7 from Sony

Both cameras are capable of transferring files via the TransferJet system, whereby the technology finds a link between compatible files when you put them in close proximity to each other. TransferJet can transfer at speeds of around 375 megabits per second and doesn’t need to be paired with the other device, unlike Bluetooth. TransferJet Memory Sticks will be available in January.

Sony have also announced the: DSC-W390, W380, W370, W360, W350, W330, W320, W310, DSC-S2100 and S2000.

Like

Unlike