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Sony TX1

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 front
 
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-140mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 58 x 17mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
33
Features
21
Overall
28

Sony TX1 overview

Sony TX1 is Sony's Ultracompact digital camera initially announced on August of 2009. The camera houses a 10MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.4" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 3648 x 2736.

The TX1 is placed #117 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras and all-around #1175 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. You can try out our Advanced camera filter to find camera results based on your custom requirements.

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Below is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony TX1 history

The Sony TX1 is part of a family of products. You can see the detailed range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX5 front thumbnailSony TX5
TX1 vs TX5
25-100mm
F3.5-6.3
10MP1/2.4"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX7 front thumbnailSony TX7
TX1 vs TX7
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
10MP1/2.4"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX1 front thumbnailSony TX135-140mm
F3.5-4.6
10MP1/2.4"2009

Sony TX1 Pros and Cons

Below is a checklist of advantages and drawbacks of the Sony TX1 based on things that are typically seen as crucial in a digital camera.

built-in flash
built in zoom lens (35-140mm 4.0 x zoom)
comes with HDMI out
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is touchscreen
screen size is good (3")
doesn't have headphone support
doesn't have mic support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
has no phase detect AF
has no RAW format
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of manual exposure
lack of shutter priority mode
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low max shutter speed (1/1,250s)
low resolution screen (230 k dots)
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
manual focus not available
MP count low (10MP)
no external flash support
screen does not articulate
screen is not selfie friendly
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
slow at full zoom (f4.6)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
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Sony TX1 Sensor info

The Sony TX1 is powered by the Bionz processor chip. The specification of the sensor on the Sony TX1 is 6.104mm x 4.578mm (1/2.4"). The 28 mm² sensor can resolve 3648 x 2736 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization since the latter can easily lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 10MP and delivers a standard ISO range of 125 to 3200. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved which means that the user has less margin for error.

The image below illustrates the TX1's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The TX1 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.9 and is presented in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 sensor size Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony TX1 dimensions

Sony TX1 weighs in at 0.31 pounds (142g or 5.01 ounces) and the sizing of the camera is 94mm x 58mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7"). The weight of general Ultracompact camera is 121g and the Sony TX1 is weightier when compared with its competitors.

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Below is a photo of the Sony TX1 alongside a softdrink to help you to have a sense of its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will illustrate the button design on the TX1.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 topview buttons dials

Sony TX1 Lens info

The TX1 is equipped with an inbuilt lens providing a focal range of 35-140mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which might not be significant however it will definitely be convenient in certain cases.

At the widest 35mm, it provides an aperture of f3.5 and that's quite slow and not great in low light conditions and you will likely find it hard to capture a shallow depth of field. You will probably also have to boost the ISO setting which results in noisy images. For the tele end, 140mm comes at f4.6 which is very slow and you may need to apply slower shutter speeds.

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Sony TX1 Connectivity

The TX1 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which include NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You can easily copy files and oftentimes change camera settings without connecting straight to the camera.

Certain applications even give a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external monitor. Almost all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery through the USB port.

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Sony TX1 Video info

The highest video quality on the Sony TX1 is 1280 x 720 and it can capture in file format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You should try to get at least FUll HD quality for good video. The camera doesn't include a mic and / or headphone jack which means you have no control over your sound. It is perhaps best to find a different camera should you need better sound in your videos.

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Sony TX1 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing in the Sony TX1 so you need to be cautious in rainy and dusty conditions.

Sony TX1 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony TX1 is equipped with a 3" fixed display boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Additionally the display is touch friendly which means that you can easily adjust focus point and change settings using your fingertips.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 screen and viewfinder Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

The ViewFinder details regarding Sony TX1 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

In those bright outdoor conditions which make the camera screens washed out and tricky to view, viewfinders are very useful.

Sony TX1 Shutter info

The max shutter speed is 1/1250s.

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Sony TX1 Flash and Hot shoe info

Sony TX1 has got only built-in flash without external flash ability.

Sony TX1 Autofocus info

Sony TX1 has got just Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker and accurate when compared with Contrast Based focusing.

The AF system supports 9 focus points to select from. Sony TX1 lacks manual focusing. Manual focusing mode can be useful in low light scenarios or you need more exact depth of field control.

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Sony TX1 Battery life

The typical Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 has the highest (320) battery life in this range of cameras.

Following is a number of Ultracompact cameras that come with the best battery life:

Sony TX1 for different types of photography

The following diagram indicates a summation of the Sony TX1 for different types of photography. To check out more, check out the specific section below.

Sony TX1 Portrait photography advice

The Sony TX1 has a points tally of 19 which is bad, and means the camera is not really very good for portrait photography. Photographing portraits favors greatly towards sensor specs, support for RAW files plus the capability to utilize off-camera lighting.

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manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support

Sony TX1 Street photography details

Getting a moderate points total of 57, the Sony TX1 is somewhat suited for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of image quality plus portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.4")
does not have RAW files

Sony TX1 Sports photography advice

A bad sports photography points total of 24 suggests the Sony TX1 is not really very good for photographing sports. A camera should have fantastic focusing and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,250s)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect autofocus

Sony TX1 Travel photography information

Portability is very critical when buying a camera for travel. Overall, the Sony TX1 gets a moderate 51 as a travel camera which is fairly suitable to purchase for your holidays.

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built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)

Sony TX1 Landscape photography factors

For anyone planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most important factor will be image quality. The Sony TX1 at it's bad grade of 31 for a landscape camera is not really very good within the current marketplace.

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pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode

Sony TX1 Vlogging info

A camera for vlogging should posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and preferably IBIS. Considering all the details, the Sony TX1 is not really very good as a vlog camera as it delivers a bad score of 28.

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has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support

Sony TX1 Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the TX1, below is a selection of the top scored cameras which fall within the class of Ultracompact.

The chart underneath provides you a summary of the TX1 compared to it's top ranking competitors mentioned previously.

Following are several cameras you might look into as alternate options. To read a complete comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Class
Ultracompact
Released
2009-08-06
Physical type
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
Bionz
Sensor size
1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions
6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area
27.9mm²
Sensor resolution
10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
3648 x 2736
RAW data
Max native ISO
3200
Min native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
35-140mm (4.0x)
Max aperture
f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing distance
8cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3"
Resolution of screen
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
2s
Highest shutter speed
1/1250s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
3.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
142g (0.31 lbs)
Dimensions
94 x 58 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7")
Other
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type
Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots
Single
Price at launch
$350