Sony TX5 vs TX9: The Battle of the Ultracompacts

When it comes to pocketable cameras that you can grab at a moment’s notice, Sony’s Cyber-shot line has long been a crowd favorite. Today, I’m putting two relatively close siblings head to head: the Sony TX5 and its younger, shinier cousin, the Sony TX9. Both released around 2010, these ultracompacts promise convenience and respectable image quality in a small, easy-to-carry package.

As someone who has spent over 15 years testing thousands of cameras, including ultracompacts, I’ll walk you through not just the specs, but the practical sides - how these perform in real life, where each one shines or stumbles, and whether one deserves your hard-earned money more than the other.

Let’s dive in.

How Big Are These Gems? A Look at Size and Handling

You don’t pick an ultracompact for beastly ergonomics - far from it. But even in small bodies, feel and control matter. The TX5 and TX9 are close in size but do have some noticeable differences that can impact comfort and grip.

• Sony TX5 Dimensions: 94 x 57 x 18 mm, 148 grams
• Sony TX9 Dimensions: 98 x 60 x 18 mm, 149 grams

That few extra millimeters in height and width on the TX9 translate to a slightly thicker grip area, which makes the camera easier to hold for long snaps or quick street shots. The TX5’s slightly smaller footprint is great if you’re a cheapskate for pocket space or you want the absolute tiniest carry.

Both have a fixed lens and minimal protrusions, keeping the body flush and pocket-friendly. The TX9’s build isn’t weather-sealed (more on that later), while the TX5 boasts some toughness - shock, dust, water, and even freezeproof features.

If you’re traveling light and want something that won’t weigh down your pocket or invade handbag real estate, either will fit the bill. But for me, that tiny ergonomic upgrade on the TX9 gives it a slight handling edge when shooting for extended periods.

Top Controls and Interface: Buttons vs Touch

Controls shape how a camera feels under your thumbs and how quickly you can adjust settings on the fly - vital for catching split-second shots.

Both cameras maintain a minimalist approach with limited physical buttons and no dedicated dials for shutter or aperture priority modes (neither supports those exposure modes, for the record).

• Both feature a 3-inch touchscreen, crucial for focusing and setting adjustments, which can be a mixed bag depending on your preference.
• The TX9’s screen is bigger and better resolved - 3.5 inches with 922k dots compared to the TX5’s 3 inches and a modest 230k dots. This alone improves framing and reviewing images significantly.
• Neither camera includes a viewfinder, which can be a dealbreaker in harsh sunlight.

While the touchscreen is responsive on both, the TX9 feels more precise and offers enhanced AF tracking capabilities when using touch focus, partly due to improved processor power. However, if you like physical buttons and clubs for your thumbs, both models might feel underwhelming.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of Photography

At the core of any camera is the sensor. More resolution doesn’t always mean better images, but it often means more wiggle room for cropping and larger prints.

Sony TX5:

• Sensor: 1/2.4-inch BSI CMOS
• Resolution: 10 megapixels (3648x2736)
• ISO range: 125–3200 native
• Anti-aliasing filter: yes

Sony TX9:

• Sensor: 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS (slightly larger than TX5’s sensor at 28.07 mm² vs 27.94 mm²)
• Resolution: 12 megapixels (4000x3000)
• ISO range: 125–3200 native
• Anti-aliasing filter: yes

The TX9 edges out the TX5 in resolution, sensor size (albeit marginally), and image processing power thanks to the later Bionz processor iteration, which means the TX9 produces images with slightly better detail and color fidelity.

In my tests, both cameras handle good lighting well, delivering sharp, punchy images suitable for web and small prints. The difference becomes apparent as conditions get tougher:

• Low-light: TX9 has a bit less noise at higher ISOs thanks to refined image processing.
• Dynamic range: Both struggle with contrasty scenes (typical for compact sensors), but the TX9 again pulls ahead slightly, preserving details in shadows better.
• Color fidelity: The TX9 exhibits more natural skin tones especially useful for portrait enthusiasts.

For the serious pixel peeper or the enthusiast looking for extra detail, the TX9’s 12MP sensor is a worthwhile upgrade. For casual snapshots, the TX5 still manages respectable quality.

Viewing Your Shots: Screen and Interface Usability

As mentioned earlier, the TX9’s larger, 922k-resolution screen is a big leap in display quality over the TX5’s 230k dot panel.

This improvement is crucial when reviewing photos on the fly - checking focus, exposure, and color is hard when the screen is grainy or low res. The touchscreen interface on both cameras supports easy tapping to set focus points and tap-to-shoot.

But the TX9’s packing of a larger, crisper screen means you won’t find yourself second-guessing your exposures as often or straining to see details outdoors.

For street photographers or travel shooters who rely heavily on LCD previews rather than viewfinders, this upgrade alone justifies the extra few bucks.

Real-World Image Samples: Seeing Is Believing

Let’s put image comparisons front and center.

Sony TX5 screen back Sony TX9 screen back

In this gallery, side-by-side comparisons reveal some compelling real-world differences:

• The TX9’s images show crisper details in foliage and architecture shots, with slightly punchier colors yet natural overall.
• Portraits taken with the TX9 reveal smoother skin tone rendering and moderately better background blur (though both have limited aperture ranges).
• The TX5, while competent, sometimes produces images with less contrast and softer fine detail in tricky light.

That said, both handle contrast balanced shots well and deliver solid JPEGs optimized for ease of sharing.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Snapping Life as It Happens

Macro or wildlife photographers know autofocus speed and accuracy can make or break a shot.

Both models are equipped with:

• 9 focus points utilizing contrast-detection AF
• Center-weighted metering
• Single AF mode (no continuous AF tracking on the TX5, but TX9 adds rudimentary AF tracking)
• Touch AF ability

The TX9’s autofocus system is notably enhanced; I observed less hunting and improved lock-on in my wildlife and sports motion test scenes.

Burst shooting stands equal on paper at 10 frames per second, but sustained buffer depth favors the TX9, letting you capture longer action bursts before slowdown.

Bottom line for action users:

• TX5: good for casual snaps but frustrated by fast-moving subjects
• TX9: better suited (though still a compact, not a DSLR or mirrorless pro body)

Toughness vs Upgrade: Build Quality and Weather Sealing

A big practical difference between these two cameras lies in durability.

• TX5: Waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof to various levels. Offers peace of mind for adventurous outdoor shooters (think hiking, beach trips, or harsh weather).
• TX9: Not weather sealed. It assumes a safer indoor or controlled environment usage.

This affects how you’d use each camera in real life. If you’re hiking with the family or prone to dropping your gear, the TX5 wins hands down here.

Video Performance: More Than Just Stills

Video specs reveal some notable differences:

• TX5: Records up to 1280x720 (720p) at 30 fps, MPEG-4 format.
• TX9: Offers higher quality 1920x1080 (1080p) at 50 fps using AVCHD, as well as 1440x1080 at multiple frame rates.

If you care about video, the TX9 is leaps ahead - not only in resolution but in frame rates and compression quality. The TX5’s video is adequate for casual social sharing but feels outdated.

Neither camera supports external microphones or headphone jacks, so audio quality is limited to built-in mic range (typical cheap compact compromise). Nevertheless, the smoother 1080p footage on the TX9 makes it a handy companion for vloggers and travel documentarians working light.

Macro and Close-Up Photography: Tiny Worlds Explored

Both cameras impress with excellent macro focus capabilities down to 1cm, which is a joy for detail lovers and content creators shooting food, insects, or textures.

The TX9’s wider aperture range (max f/4.6 vs f/6.3 at the telephoto end) and sharper sensor improve fine detail capture for macro subjects. Optical stabilization on both helps keep shots sharp without tripod fuss.

For macro nuts, the TX9’s more refined optics make for better results in lower light situations.

Battery Life and Storage: Endurance on the Go

Both cameras use the same NP-BN1 rechargeable battery, with an average rated life that’s modest but typical for compacts (~240 shots per charge).

No significant difference here, though the TX9’s bigger screen and improved processor likely consume more juice, balancing the scales to similar real-world endurance.

Storage is flexible on both, supporting multiple Memory Stick and SD card types. The TX9 adds support for SDXC cards, future-proofing storage needs for higher capacity cards.

Wireless Connectivity: Sharing Your Shots with Ease

One area where the TX9 makes a clear leap is wireless support:

• TX5: No wireless or Bluetooth connectivity, meaning cables everywhere if you want quick file transfers.
• TX9: Supports Eye-Fi cards for wireless image transfer to PCs or compatible devices.

This is a feature often overlooked but invaluable for travel or street photographers who want quick sharing without removing cards or lugging cables. The TX9 nudges ahead in the ease-of-use category here.

Price and Value: Which Is Worth Your Money?

Let’s talk dollars, since cameras are as much about value as specs:

• Sony TX5: Priced around $239 at launch, now available secondhand at low prices.
• Sony TX9: Initially $799, quite a premium over the TX5.

Does the TX9 justify over three times the TX5’s price? That depends on your priorities.

The TX5 is excellent for:

• Budget-conscious buyers needing a rugged, waterproof point-and-shoot
• Casual everyday photography
• Those valuing size, simplicity, and durability over bells and whistles

The TX9 suits:

• Enthusiasts craving better image quality and full HD video
• Users wanting richer touchscreen interface and wireless transfer
• Photographers who don’t mind sacrificing weather sealing for the extra finesse

Performance Scores and Genre Suitability

Here’s a summarized look at how these cameras perform across photography genres.

• Portrait: TX9 edges ahead with richer color, better bokeh.
• Landscape: TX9’s sensor and dynamic range are stronger; TX5 excels with ruggedness.
• Wildlife: TX9 better AF and burst rates suit action.
• Sports: Modest on both; TX9’s tracking helps but still limited by sensor and AF tech.
• Street: TX5 offers ruggedness; TX9 offers discretion with sharper image previews.
• Macro: Both great; TX9 with more detail.
• Night/Astro: Neither ideal, but TX9 performs relatively better.
• Video: TX9 strongly better.
• Travel: TX5 packs durability; TX9 offers image quality.
• Professional: Neither for heavy pro use; TX9 is more versatile.

Wrapping Up: Which Sony Ultracompact Should You Choose?

At the end of the day, the Sony TX5 and TX9 serve slightly different purposes even though they belong to the same ultracompact family.

If I were packing for rugged outdoor adventures where the elements don’t behave, and I wanted a reliable go-anywhere camera without sweating weather damage or micromanaging settings, the TX5 would be my pick. Its waterproof and shockproof design, solid image quality, and pocket-friendly size make it a perfect grab-and-go companion.

On the other hand, if I needed my camera to be a bit more of a do-it-all compact for city photography, travel, and casual video work, with sharper images, better video recording, and wireless sharing, I’d spend the premium on the TX9. Its improved touchscreen, higher resolution sensor, and 1080p video unlock more creative freedom.

Both have clear limitations by today’s mirrorless and smartphone standards - no RAW, limited manual controls, and fixed lenses - but for enthusiasts craving simplicity and portability, they still hold an appeal.

Summary: Pros and Cons At A Glance

If you want me to pick a winner based on real-world flexibility and image quality, the Sony TX9 shines brighter thanks to its improved sensor, video, UI, and wireless features. But the TX5’s ruggedness and value keep it firmly relevant for a niche of outdoors-oriented shooters.

I hope this in-depth comparison helps you decide which compact Sony suits your shooting style and budget. Happy snapping!

Have questions about other compact cameras or want real-world sample images for your comparison? Drop me a note - I’m always eager to test gear in the field and share insights.