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Sony TX20

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F3.5-4.6) lens
  • 133g - 96 x 56 x 18mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43

Sony TX20 overview

Sony TX20 is Sony's Ultracompact digital camera first launched on February of 2012. It has a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The TX20 is rated #7 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras & all-around #590 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. Remember to try out our Advanced camera filter to find camera results based on your personal requirements.

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

Sony TX20 history

The Sony TX20 has a history of related cameras. Here, you can identify all older and latest models as well as key features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX30 front thumbnailSony TX30
TX20 vs TX30
26-130mm
F3.5-4.8
18MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX20 front thumbnailSony TX2025-100mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX66 front thumbnailSony TX66
TX20 vs TX66
26-130mm
F3.5-4.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX200V front thumbnailSony TX200V
TX20 vs TX200V
28-140mm
F3.5-4.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX10 front thumbnailSony TX10
TX20 vs TX10
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX55 front thumbnailSony TX55
TX20 vs TX55
26-130mm
F3.5-4.8
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T110 front thumbnailSony T110
TX20 vs T110
27-108mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX100V front thumbnailSony TX100V
TX20 vs TX100V
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T99 front thumbnailSony T99
TX20 vs T99
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX9 front thumbnailSony TX9
TX20 vs TX9
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T900 front thumbnailSony T900
TX20 vs T900
35-140mm
F3.5-10.0
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T90 front thumbnailSony T90
TX20 vs T90
35-140mm
F3.5-10.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Sony TX20 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Sony TX20 based on features that are normally viewed as essential in a digital camera.

built in lens has zoom (25-100mm 4.0 x zoom)
decent megapixels (16MP)
does have HDMI out
environment proofing
great battery (250 per charge)
has built in flash
has face detection focusing
has manual focus
has tracking autofocus
image stabilization (Optical)
nice clear screen (922 thousand dots)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
provides focus via touch
rather wide (25mm)
touchscreen enabled
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
can't use external flash
does not have external microphone support
does not have headphone support
does not have Timelapse mode
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
has no phase detect AF
has no RAW support
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of shutter priority mode
max zoom aperture not good (f4.6)
no articulating screen
no manual control
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
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Sony TX20 Sensor specifications

The Sony TX20 is powered by the BIONZ chip. The sensor specification on the Sony TX20 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter might lead to cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 16MP and has a standard ISO range of 125 to 3200. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not supported so the user has less margin for error.

The image below illustrates the TX20's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The TX20 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is pointed out in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

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

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony TX20 dimensions

Sony TX20 weighs 0.29 lbs (133g / 4.69 ounces) & the over all size of the camera is 96mm x 56mm x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7"). The weight of normal Ultracompact camera is 121g and the Sony TX20 is on par compared with its competitors.

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Below is a photo of the Sony TX20 besides a soda to help you get a sense of its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 dimensions scale

The top view directly below will show you the button arrangement on the TX20.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 topview buttons dials

Sony TX20 Lens specifications

The TX20 has got a fixed lens and a focal range of 25-100mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which is definitely not great however it would certainly be valuable in some situations.

At the widest 25mm, it comes with an aperture of f3.5 and that's rather slow and not ideal for low light events and you may find it difficult to get good bokeh. You will likely also have to boost the ISO setting which results in noisy shots. With the tele end, 100mm comes to f4.6 which is pretty slow and you would need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

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Sony TX20 Connectivity

The TX20 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that include NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to copy images and in some cases adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.

A few applications even allow a Liveview and click the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera contains a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external screen. Nearly all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery using the USB port.

Photography Glossary

Sony TX20 Video specifications

The maximum video resolution on the Sony TX20 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and AVCHD file format. 1080p resolution gives you an excellent balance for video quality versus file sizes but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with any room to downsample. The camera doesn't feature a microphone and / or headphone jack so you have no control over the sound. It is perhaps best to purchase an alternative camera should you require better sound for your videos.

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Sony TX20 Weather Sealing

Sony TX20 features environment sealing which makes it a fantastic pick for use for challenging climates. This can be particularly beneficial when you are unsure about the elements you may encounter for outdoor photography.

Sony TX20 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony TX20 has a 3 inch fixed display boasting a resolution of 922 thousand dots.

Moreover the display is touch friendly so you are able to switch focus point as well as change settings by using your fingertips.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 screen and viewfinder Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The View Finder details for Sony TX20 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite beneficial for bright outdoor situations which may make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Sony TX20 Shutter specifications

Sony TX20 continuous shooting speed is 10.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/1600s.

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Sony TX20 Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Sony TX20 comes with only in-built flash lacking external flash ability.

Sony TX20 Autofocusing specifications

Sony TX20 comes with just Contrast Based Autofocus & lacks Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster & precise compared with Contrast Based focusing. The camera has Face detection which is valuable for portrait photography.

Sony TX20 has tap to focus. You are able to use your fingers to change where you focus. It also boasts Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Sony TX20 can use manual focusing in case it is needed for low light conditions or you need to have more precise focusing control.

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Sony TX20 Battery life

The battery (NP-BN) for the Sony TX20 is made to last for 250 photos based on the CIPA standards making it above the usual when compared to its category. The general Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 comes with the highest possible (320) battery life for this category of cameras.

Underneath is a number of Ultracompact cameras having the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX20 front thumbnailSony TX20250 nonono

Sony TX20 for various categories of photography

The following bar chart indicates a overview of the Sony TX20 for various categories of photography. To read more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Sony TX20 Portrait photography information

The Sony TX20 receives a points total of 40 which is dreadful, and means the camera is simply not appropriate to use for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimension, support for RAW files & flexibility to utilize external flash.

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manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
provides face detect focusing
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Sony TX20 Street photography features

Getting a above average rating of 67, the Sony TX20 is a good fit to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera features a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
weather proof
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support

Sports photography with Sony TX20

A average sports photography points total of 50 suggests the Sony TX20 is fairly adequate for taking pictures of sports. A camera must have very good tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery pack (250 CIPA)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus

Travel photography with Sony TX20

Portability is super important when selecting a travel camera. In general, the Sony TX20 gets a nice 72 as a travel camera which is a respectable choice to buy for your trips.

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good battery life (250 CIPA)
environment proof
comes with focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)

Sony TX20 Landscape photography advice

When you are looking to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most vital aspect is going to be image quality. The Sony TX20 with it's moderate grade of 52 as a landscape camera is somewhat acceptable compared to it's competitors.

Photography Glossary
has manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
environment proofing
good battery pack (250 CIPA)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function

Vlogging with Sony TX20

A camera for vlogging should really posses a moving screen, mic input and preferably IBIS. Considering everything, the Sony TX20 is simply not appropriate for vlogging as it delivers a dreadful rating of 35.

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pretty wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic support

Sony TX20 Alternatives

If you want alternatives to the TX20, below is a list of the highest placed cameras that fall within the class of Ultracompact.

The line chart down below gives you a bird's eye view of the TX20 compared to it's highest ranking competitors mentioned earlier.

Following are several cameras you may look into as alternate options. To read a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20
Category
Ultracompact
Released
2012-02-28
Physical type
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Chip
BIONZ
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW support
Max native ISO
3200
Min native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points
0
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.5-4.6
Macro focusing distance
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3 inches
Screen resolution
922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech
XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
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
Slowest shutter speed
4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
3.70 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
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
133g (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions
96 x 56 x 18mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.7")
Other
Battery life
250 images
Battery style
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NP-BN
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
Single
Launch cost
$330