Sony TX20
- 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
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.
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.
F3.5-4.616MP1/2.3"2012
Sony TX20 Gallery
You can see the TX20 from different angles in the gallery underneath.
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.
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.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe 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.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesTo get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
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.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoBelow is a photo of the Sony TX20 besides a soda to help you get a sense of its scale.
The top view directly below will show you the button arrangement on the TX20.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.