Sony 16.2MP EXMOR R Cyber-Shot DSC-TX100V First Look Review by DCR

On January 5 2011, Sony announced five new 16.2 Megapixels Cyber-shot digital still cameras - models DSC-TX100V, DSC-TX10, DSC-HX7V, DSC-WX10 and DSC-WX9. These cameras features a Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS sensor and are the world's first compact digital still cameras to include 3D Still Image mode for taking 3D images using only one lens and imager. They also have innovative Dual Rec (record) technology, for taking still photos during video capture. 

The TX100V is the first Cyber-shot camera with a 3.5-inch OLED with touch screen that provides deeper blacks and more vibrant color contrast on the screen, all while being thinner and having a faster response time than most LCDs. It can also support full HD (1920 x 1080/60p) video capability at 60p. The DSC-TX10, DSC-HX7V, DSC-WX10 and DSC-WX9 cameras can record movies at 60i in 1080 AVCHD format. Additionally, the DSC-WX10 camera include a high-speed linear auto focus feature that provides quick and precise focusing similar to the speed of a DSLR camera. The DSC-TX100V is available in silver, black and red for $378. Here's the summary of first look review by DigitalCameraReview:

"The TX100V is the world's first ultra-compact digicam to offer 16 megapixel resolution (via its 1:2.33 Exmor R CMOS image sensor) and it features a new 3.5-inch touch screen OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) monitor that completely dominates the back of the camera. OLED screens are known for outstanding blacks, high contrast, and accurate color reproduction. If all that isn't enough, the TX100V's LCD resolution is an amazing 1229k dots making this screen far sharper than those offered by the competition - very important when checking overall sharpness in macro shots and for assessing critical focus in other photographic genres. The TX100V also permits users to geo-tag images and videos. I often point out that the video modes of point-and-shoots can't compete with a full featured camcorder, but I certainly can't say that about the TX100V which generates 1080 HD video at 60 fps in the AVCHD format at a 28 Mbps compression rate. Not all consumer camcorders offer comparable video capabilities, and you can't slip any of those bad-boys in the back pocket of your Levi's. The TX100V also features a 3D shooting mode and a Background Defocus mode for "old school" style portraits.

The TX100V's 4x (25-100mm equivalent) Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom is surprisingly good, especially considering it is a periscope style zoom (which is why it doesn't protrude from the camera body) but corners are a bit soft. The Tessar lens is over a hundred years old and I wonder what Carl Zeiss would think about his most famous optical formula being so differently configured. The TX100V (which is available in red, silver or black) measures 3.9 x 2.4 x 0.72 inches and tips the scale at a featherweight 5.2 ounces (with battery and memory card) which is both smaller and lighter than most smartphones. In fact, with the front cover closed, the TX100V actually looks more like a smartphone than a digital camera. Users slide the front panel (which also acts as the lens cover) down to power the camera up and then slide the front cover back to its closed position to power the camera down."