If you mistook the TX200V for a fat iPhone 4/4S at first glance, be assured that you’re not the only one. But its delicate gracefulness has none of the iPhone’s fragility. The TX is Sony’s line of more rugged point-and shoots, and this 18-megapixel shooter will likely outlast your lifetime’s vacations.
The TX200V is dust-proof, water resistant to up to 16 feet (roughly 4.87 metres) and freeze-proof to -10 degrees Celsius. However, that glass faceplate probably means that it’s not drop proof, which seems like a strange compromise given that people are more likely to drop their cameras than bring it on an underwater expedition.
The iPhone-esque design is also found on the back, which is all OLED touch screen and nothing else.
Underneath the camera’s sleek exteriors are backside-illuminated CMOS sensors for better low-light shooting, a new autofocus system that can lock in on subjects in less than 0.13 seconds in good lighting and 0.25 seconds in poor lighting, and a 5x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens (25mm to 125mm). ISO can be boosted to 12,800 if you want to risk the noise, and image stabilisation promises clearer images.
The zoom can be digitally enhanced up to 250mm using Sony’s “Clear Image Zoom” technology. It uses a “by-pixel super resolution” technology which is claimed to be better than regular digital zoom, but there’s no knowing for sure until we can see some sample images.
Given the TX200V’s hardiness, it can be a great travel companion. This use-case is made more appealing through the camera’s built-in compass and GPS functions, which allows shooters to display shooting location and direction, and even track their journey on a map.
Of course, there is the trendy feature of applying effects to your photos in-camera, including HDR, miniature, toy camera, and more.
Need video? This camera packs pretty powerful video features, such as full HD video recording at 60fps and a Dual Record feature for capturing still images while shooting video.
The TX200V will land in Singapore in March, and currently retails stateside for US$500, which is expensive enough to give pause. But the camera strikes a balance between aesthetics, functions and durability and will likely find buyers based on its looks alone.
