Sony WX5, TX9 handle 3D panoramas

Sony started off Thursday by unveiling three Cyber-shot cameras, two of which are its first point-and-shoots to support 3D. The WX5 and TX9 together can use their sweep panorama modes to create a 3D image viewable on a supporting computer or TV, including through HDMI out. A new trick, sweep multi angle, composites 15 different angles to create a 3D image that can simulate 3D even on the camera's 2D display.

Both have back-illuminated, 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensors that should improve their sensitivity in low light and which also are key to some multi-shot photo effects. A new automatic mode is smart enough to recognize when multiple shots are needed to improve the final image quality. It can take two shots for a "natural" flash that uses a reference shot to reduce the washed-out effect, and a pseudo-bokeh effect that compares two shots to defocus the background much like a wide aperture lens. Both can shoot at up to 10FPS in bursts, though possibly at a lower resolution.

Both cameras can shoot widescreen 1080i (or 4:3 1080p) AVCHD/H.264 video and are split mostly by their bodies and lenses. The TX9 is Sony's ultra-compact model with a 4X (25-100mm equivalent) lens and almost exclusively touchscreen control. Opting for the WX5 reverts to manual controls but provides a 5X (24-120mm lens) with a relatively wide f2.8 maximum aperture.

The two will be available in September and will start at $300 for the WX5, moving up to $400 for the TX9.

One conventional camera, the T99, will ship at the same time. It shares a touchscreen-driven body similar to the TX9 but uses a 14-megapixel CCD and supports 2D sweep panoramas. Sony prices it considerably lower, at $250.

WX5





TX9





T99

By Electronista Staff