Sony TX1 vs Sony WX500: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Cameras Across the Photography Spectrum

In the world of compact cameras, Sony has been a persistent innovator, offering options that fit everything from casual snapshots to more purposeful creative endeavors. Today, we’re pitting two Sony models from different eras and categories against each other: the ultra-slim Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 from 2009 and its more recent small-sensor superzoom sibling, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500, launched in 2015. Both priced closely at around $350 (used or discounted by now), these cameras serve distinct niches, and my experience with them reveals much about balancing portability, image quality, and versatility.

I’ve spent considerable time testing both in varied conditions, from landscape hikes to quick street jumps, and even tricky macro and low-light setups. So whether you’re a photography enthusiast hunting a compact carry-everywhere or someone needing a simple travel companion with long reach, I’m here to break down these cameras thoroughly - sensor tech, autofocus, usability, and real-world image quality included.

Let’s dive in.

Pocket-Sized Design and Handling: Not Just a Matter of Inches

Sony’s TX1 stands out with its ultracompact form factor, designed for those who prize sheer portability. Measuring just 94x58x17 mm and weighing a featherlight 142 grams, the TX1 is slim enough to slip inside a shirt pocket or evening clutch - no fuss about bulk.

The WX500, meanwhile, is chunkier at 102x58x36 mm and 236 grams, a natural consequence of its superzoom lens and more feature-packed body. The extra girth is not unwelcome, though - it creates a more substantial grip and a sense of sturdiness on hand, which some shooters (myself included) find reassuring during extended use or fast action shooting.

Ergonomics-wise, the TX1’s ultra-flat body sacrifices some tactile feedback. Its fixed 3-inch touchscreen is responsive but lacks the tilting convenience that the WX500 offers with its 180-degree tiltable screen, perfect for selfies or low-angle shooting.

The WX500’s control layout is more traditional and functional, featuring dedicated dials and buttons for quicker access - shutter priority, aperture priority, manual modes, and customizable buttons make it a more serious tool for the enthusiast looking to nudge the camera beyond point-and-shoot territory.

Top view reveals the difference:

In short: If size and discretion are your ultimate priorities, the TX1’s slim silhouette is a winner. For those who want quick controls, ergonomic grip, and a more confident feel in hand, the WX500 is preferred.

Sensors and Image Quality: Pixels, Precision, and Noise

Looking under the hood, the fundamental difference between these cameras arises with sensor technology and resolution.

The TX1 boasts a 10-megapixel 1/2.4” BSI-CMOS sensor (measuring 6.104 x 4.578 mm), respectable for its time but now considered modest. The sensor area clocks in around 27.94 mm². Shooting max images at 3648x2736 pixels, it offers images good for web use and prints up to 8x10 inches comfortably.

The WX500 ups the ante with an 18-megapixel 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor, inching a tad larger at 6.17 x 4.55 mm sensor size (28.07 mm²). Though it’s marginally bigger, the higher pixel count means higher detail potential if handled well. The max resolution of 4896x3672 pixels allows cropping flexibility and larger print sizes.

From personal shooting tests, dynamic range is broadly similar, with neither camera excelling at extremes. However, the WX500 handles higher ISO settings much better, pushing usable ISO up to 12800 (though optimal image quality stays below ISO 1600 for clean results). The TX1 maxes its native ISO at 3200 but shows noticeable noise when pushing beyond ISO 800 in real-world conditions. This is unsurprising given the sensor generations and processor leaps between 2009 and 2015.

Color rendition is natural from both, but the WX500’s improved Bionz X processor tames noise more effectively and yields crisper edges in detailed areas - a boon for landscape and street photography where clarity matters.

While neither supports RAW capture (a glaring omission for prosiers), the WX500’s capability to shoot in varied aspect ratios (1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9) gives more compositional freedom.

Finding Focus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Nothing bolsters creativity and confidence faster than responsive autofocus - especially for moving subjects.

The TX1 provides a basic contrast-detection autofocus system with 9 focus points but no face or object tracking. Manually focusing isn’t supported, and autofocus is single-shot only - no continuous AF or tracking. In practice, this translates into a sometimes sluggish and occasionally hunting AF experience, especially in low light or on subjects with low contrast. If you’re photographing static scenes or portraits in good light, it gets the job done, but I wouldn’t rely on it for wildlife or sports.

The WX500 is a different beast. Although it also relies on contrast detect, Sony crammed it with face detection, multi-area AF, center AF, and even AF tracking capable of chasing sudden motion. With continuous AF mode enabled, it managed burst shooting at 10 fps with solid focus retention - a rare feature in this compact zoom category.

I didn’t observe the WX500 getting stumped easily, even in moderately low light, which is a testament to Bionz X processing combined with refined AF algorithms. The camera uses a zoom lens with a fast switch from wide to telephoto, and AF adjustments stay snappy throughout, making it better suited to sports and wildlife photography.

Zoom Lenses and Macro Capability: Reach vs. Compactness

Both cameras come with built-in fixed zoom lenses, but their coverage and utility are quite different.

The TX1’s 35-140 mm equivalent lens (4x zoom) starts at a moderate wide-angle but leans more compact. Aperture ranges from f/3.5 to f/4.6, moderately fast but not stellar for low light. Macro focus distance is 8 cm, allowing decent close-ups but not extreme magnification.

WX500 takes zoom seriously: 24-720 mm equivalent (30x optical zoom), a remarkable reach for its size, though with slower apertures (f/3.5-6.4) making the telephoto end more suited to daylight or tripod use. Its macro mode kicks in at just 5 cm, allowing very close framing of tiny subjects with decent sharpness.

The zoom versatility makes WX500 a better all-around tool for travel, wildlife, and events where you want to shoot wide landscapes or distant subjects without changing lenses.

Display and Interface: Screen Smarts

Having a good screen to review shots and frame tricky compositions is critical outdoors and on the go.

TX1 sports a fixed 3-inch touchscreen with 230K dots - a pretty low resolution by modern standards. It’s responsive but not super detailed, and no tilting means awkward angles for low or high shooting.

WX500 elevates this with a 3-inch tilt-angle LCD boasting 921K dots, resulting in a crisp, rich display that’s far easier to compose with and review images on. The tilting screen is invaluable for vloggers or shooting street scenes at waist or overhead level.

Notably, WX500 omits touchscreen capabilities (oddly, given TX1 has one), so control relies on buttons and dials instead.

Flash and Stabilization: Light Where You Need It

Both cameras have built-in flashes with varying ranges: TX1 offers 3 meters; WX500 claims up to 5.4 meters with Auto ISO, a more powerful unit.

Image stabilization is “Optical” in both, helping reduce handshake blur and aiding low-light shots. During handheld telephoto shots, WX500’s stabilization felt more effective, especially when zoomed in - a core advantage for its superzoom design.

Video Capabilities: Casual vs. Functional

Both cameras support video, but specifications diverge.

TX1 maxes out at 1280x720 (HD) at 30 fps, a serviceable basic video feature for casual shooters but lacking manual video controls or higher framerates.

WX500 offers Full HD at 1920x1080 up to 60p and supports AVCHD and XAVC S formats, appealing to those wanting better video clarity and smoother motion. Manual exposure is available in video - useful for creative control. No microphone or headphone ports on either model, though, limiting audio options.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

TX1 doesn’t provide detailed battery life figures, but clocks in lower than modern compacts due to smaller battery capacity and older tech.

WX500 rated for approximately 360 shots per charge - respectable and more reliable for a day out shooting.

Connectivity-wise, TX1 lacks wireless features. WX500 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing straightforward pairing with mobile devices for quick image transfers and remote camera control - hugely convenient for travel or social media sharers.

Build Quality and Durability: Can They Take the Scuffle?

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, water resistance, or significant impact resistance. Both are best handled with care and mostly indoors or fair weather shooting.

The WX500 feels more robust thanks to its chunkier frame, but neither is designed as an adventure tough camera.

The Usual Suspects: Storage and File Formats

TX1 uses Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards or internal storage. Most users find this outdated today, as Memory Stick cards are rare and more expensive.

WX500 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and Memory Stick Duo, offering more flexible and cheaper storage options widely available.

Neither camera shoots RAW, which limits post-processing latitude for advanced photographers.

Putting It All Together: Scoring Strengths by Genre

Here’s an overview assessment of how these cameras performed through my various shooting tests:

Sony TX1 front Sony TX1 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Sony TX1: The Ultra-Compact Minimalist

If your priority is a camera that’s ridiculously slim and pocketable, works mainly in good lighting for casual snaps, and you appreciate a touchscreen interface, the TX1 has charm - and simplicity - that still holds appeal. Great for who want a “set-and-forget” camera with decent image quality, perhaps to slip into an everyday carry bag or clutch.

Sony WX500: The All-Purpose Compact Zoomer

If you want a camera capable of traversing various photography disciplines - travel, wildlife, portraits, video - with solid image quality, better low-light performance, and versatile zoom, the WX500 is worth the slight bulk. Its manual modes, tiltable screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, and smarter autofocus make it a serious travel companion and casual enthusiast’s tool.

Final Thoughts: Technology Marches On - But Each Camera Has Its Moment

In my years testing cameras, it’s rare a model from 2009 is still worthy of consideration, yet the Sony TX1 holds a nostalgic place with its stealth pocketability and simple user experience. However, the WX500’s advantages in sensor resolution, autofocus sophistication, zoom range, and general versatility put it miles ahead for most practical uses today.

If budget allows and you want one compact camera to do many jobs well, the WX500 is the no-brainer choice. But if you want the tiniest possible footprint for quick outings and don’t demand much zoom or rapid response, the TX1 remains a sweet little gem.

I hope this thorough comparison helps clarify which Sony compact best fits your photographic ambitions - and that you’re ready to shoot with confidence, no matter which model you choose.

Happy snapping!

Note: All image comparisons come from hands-on testing and side-by-side review sessions to give you authentic insights beyond specs sheets.

Technical image sources:

• Size and ergonomics: size-comparison.jpg
• Controls top view: top-view-compare.jpg
• Sensor specs: sensor-size-compare.jpg
• Screen comparison: back-screen.jpg
• Sample galleries: cameras-galley.jpg
• Overall ratings: camera-scores.jpg
• Genre performance: photography-type-cameras-scores.jpg