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Sony TX55

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 109g - 93 x 54 x 13mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
97
Imaging
39
Features
46
Overall
41

Sony TX55 summary

Sony TX55 is Sony's Ultracompact digital camera initially introduced on July of 2011. The camera has got a 16MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The TX55 is rated #12 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras & over all #674 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should try our Advanced camera filter to see camera ratings based on your customized criteria.

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Here is a graph of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Sony TX55 history

The Sony TX55 has a history of related digital cameras. Down below, you can see all earlier and most recent models along with main specs.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX30 front thumbnailSony TX30
TX55 vs TX30
26-130mm
F3.5-4.8
18MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX20 front thumbnailSony TX20
TX55 vs TX20
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX66 front thumbnailSony TX66
TX55 vs TX66
26-130mm
F3.5-4.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX200V front thumbnailSony TX200V
TX55 vs TX200V
28-140mm
F3.5-4.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX10 front thumbnailSony TX10
TX55 vs TX10
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX55 front thumbnailSony TX5526-130mm
F3.5-4.8
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T110 front thumbnailSony T110
TX55 vs T110
27-108mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX100V front thumbnailSony TX100V
TX55 vs TX100V
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T99 front thumbnailSony T99
TX55 vs T99
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
14MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX9 front thumbnailSony TX9
TX55 vs TX9
25-100mm
F3.5-4.6
12MP1/2.3"2010
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T900 front thumbnailSony T900
TX55 vs T900
35-140mm
F3.5-10.0
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T90 front thumbnailSony T90
TX55 vs T90
35-140mm
F3.5-10.0
12MP1/2.3"2009

Sony TX55 Pros and Cons

Below is a checklist of positives and negatives of the Sony TX55 based on aspects which are generally considered crucial in a digital camera.

built in image stabilization (Optical)
built in lens has zoom (26-130mm 5.0 x zoom)
flash built-in
good battery pack (250 CIPA)
great minimum ISO (100)
has HDMI out
has manual focus
high resolution screen (1,230 thousand dots)
OLED tech
reasonably wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3.3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
touch screen
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
has no phase detect auto focus
has no RAW files
lack of manual exposure
max zoom aperture not good (f4.8)
no aperture priority
no headphone support
no mic support
no shutter priority
no Time Lapse recording
screen is fixed
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sony TX55 Sensor info

The Sony TX55 houses the BIONZ chip. The measurement of the sensor on the Sony TX55 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor can capture 4608 x 3456 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can cause cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 16MP and provides a standard ISO range of 100 to 3200. Sadly, RAW files are not saved which means that the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath displays the TX55's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The TX55 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is shown in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 sensor size C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon

To get a sense of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony TX55 dimensions

Sony TX55 has a weight of 0.24 lb (109g / 3.84 ounces) & has outer proportions of 93mm x 54mm x 13mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.5"). The weight of typical Ultracompact camera is 121g and the Sony TX55 is very much the same when compared to its competitors.

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Here is a picture of the Sony TX55 besides a soft drink to help you to get a sense of its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 dimensions scale

The top view just below will show you the button design on the TX55.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 topview buttons dials

Sony TX55 Lens info

The TX55 comes with an inbuilt lens and a focal range of 26-130mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which isn't outstanding but it could be handy in a few situations.

At the widest 26mm, it features an aperture of f3.5 and that's somewhat slow and not very good for low light situations and you will find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You might also need to raise the ISO causing noisy shots. On the tele end, 130mm comes with f4.8 which is pretty slow and you might need to choose slower shutter speeds.

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Sony TX55 Connectivity

The TX55 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to send files and in some cases adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.

Certain applications even stream a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can easily be hooked up to an external display. Nearly all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Sony TX55 Video info

The max video quality on the Sony TX55 is 1920 x 1080 and you can capture in MPEG-4 and AVCHD file format. 1080p quality offers a decent balance for video quality versus file sizes but 1080p is not going to leave you with any room to crop. The camera does not have a microphone and headphone jack which means you have got no control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to get another model should you need decent audio for your videos.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

Sony TX55 Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing for the Sony TX55 so you need to be careful in wet and dusty conditions.

Sony TX55 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony TX55 has got a 3.3 inch fixed display screen boasting a resolution of 1,230 thousand dots.

Additionally the display screen is touch friendly which means that you can shift focus points as well as change settings with your fingers.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 screen and viewfinder Jaw-Dropping Space Capture Exposes Earth's Mesmerizing Golden Luminescence

The ViewFinder specs for Sony TX55 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite helpful for sunny outdoor conditions which may make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Sony TX55 Shutter info

Sony TX55 continuous shooting rate is 10.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.

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Sony TX55 Flash and Hot shoe info

Sony TX55 features only inbuilt flash without external flash support.

Sony TX55 Autofocus info

Sony TX55 features just Contrast Detect Autofocus & is missing Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker & accurate compared with Contrast Detect focusing.

The AF system has got 9 focus points to select from. Sony TX55 has the ability to use manual focus in case it is needed for low light situations or you want more accurate control on focus.

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Sony TX55 Battery life

The battery pack (NP-BN) for the Sony TX55 is built to last for 250 shutters with respect to the CIPA measurements which is higher than standard in comparison to its class. The usual Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 comes with the maximum (320) battery life for this type of cameras.

Following is a number of Ultracompact cameras that have the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-TX55 front thumbnailSony TX55250 nonono

Sony TX55 for specific types of photography

The following illustration displays a rundown of the Sony TX55 for specific types of photography. To read more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Sony TX55 Portrait photography information

The Sony TX55 receives a rating of 36 which is bad, and means the camera is just not acceptable for portrait photography. Taking portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimension, RAW support plus the option to use external lighting.

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manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files

Sony TX55 Street photography information

Coming in at a average points total of 58, the Sony TX55 is fairly suitable for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format

Sony TX55 Sports photography information

A bad sports photography rating of 44 suggests the Sony TX55 is just not acceptable for photographing sports. A camera must have fantastic focusing plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
great battery (250 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus

Sony TX55 Travel photography details

Size is really important when choosing a travel camera. All things considered, the Sony TX55 gets a above average 69 as a travelling camera which is a respectable fit to take with you on your vacations.

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good battery power (250 per charge)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)

Sony TX55 Landscape photography features

In case you're looking to buy a digital camera for landscape photos, the most critical factor is going to be image quality. The Sony TX55 with it's reasonable grade of 50 as a landscape camera is somewhat adequate in the current marketplace.

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manual focus
rather wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3.3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
great battery pack (250 per charge)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode

Sony TX55 Vlogging factors

A camera for vlogging should posses a articulating screen, mic input and ideally IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Sony TX55 is just not acceptable as a vlog camera as it delivers a bad score of 34.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
fairly wide (26mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic support

Sony TX55 Alternatives

If you want replacements to the TX55, below is a list of the highest rated cameras which fall within the family of Ultracompact.

The diagram down below will give you a bird's eye view of the TX55 vs it's highest ranked competitors listed previously.

Following are additional cameras you might have a look at as alternatives. To read through a comprehensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Make
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55
Type
Ultracompact
Introduced
2011-07-24
Physical type
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor Chip
BIONZ
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW images
Highest native ISO
3200
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture
f/3.5-4.8
Macro focus distance
3cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen size
3.3 inch
Screen resolution
1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology
XtraFine OLED display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
30 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
3.70 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
109g (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions
93 x 54 x 13mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.5")
Other
Battery life
250 images
Style of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-BN
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage type
microSD/SDHC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots
Single
Launch cost
$350