Unbox/Review: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20

In a time where bulky DSLRs are all the rage, portable point-and-shoot cameras seems to be all but forgotten. But at the rapid pace of technological advancement, it’s not impossible for these tiny palm-sized cameras to turn the tide around isn’t it?

Sony Philippines sent us one of their newest snappers, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20, the successor of the highly successful TX10, for review. Let’s see if this rugged, water-proof camera will change your mind.

Design

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20, designed for rugged camera environment, doesn’t look the look. It’s actually very stylish, maybe too stylish that it borders the “delicate hold with care” line. But don’t be fooled, this point-and-shoot camera is rated to survive 16 feet underwater, is dust and freeze resistant, and can survive up to 5 feet drops.

The first thing that one will notice with the TX20 is its feature sliding camera lens cover. For a camera designed for rough environments, this sliding cover doesn’t help apart from its slender design. It’s slippery and hard to grip.

Another downside of the sliding cover is its poor resistance to leftover water and dirt. The mentioned tends to stick around the insides of the cover, so unless you blast it with air there’s going to be something in there for quite a while.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 itself is small, even for the cameras in its class. It measures a thin 2.25in x 3.9in x 0.7in and weighs in at 4.7oz. Located on its top are all its physical controls. The other remaining controls are located at the touch panel itself.

The TX20‘s 3-inch, 16:9 high definition touch screen is properly sensitized, and so is its on-screen controls. If you are holding the camera screen-down on your palm though, it might call random touch screen presses which could probably lead you to restoring your settings, missing you that once in a lifetime shot.

There’s a stylus provided in the box for those having troubles managing the touch screen.

Sony has waterproofed the terminals of the TX20 by installing two orange rubber gaskets, found at both openings of the HDMI and USB ports and at the battery and memory card slot.

Performance

The TX20‘s boot time and in-between loading times are almost there compared to today’s standards, but it’s not as snappy as you’d imagine it to be. Still faster than a 650MHz smartphone though. How’s 1.5 seconds from boot to first shot sound?

This camera snaps photos fast, and there’s almost no shutter lag in between shots, so you’ll likely capture the moments your taking, albeit there’s the chance of blurry photos, depending on the user and the timing of course. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 also offers up to 10 continuous shots before processing the images. That means you can capture at least a second of real-time movement (one second in real-time movement has a lot of actions happening).

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 offers up to 4x optical zoom and up to 8x Clear Image zoom on its 16.2-megapixel Carl Zeiss lens. The camera also features Sony’s Exmor R CMOS technology, which enables the user to still take outstanding photos at low-light environments.

Video is at full HD with a 1920x1080i60 resolution in AVCHD. You can connect the TX20 directly to an HDTV and watch your freshly captured video from there.

Image Quality

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 can definitely hold its own weight against more powerful cameras. Unfortunately it comes up short in some points. More on this later.

Nikon D3100 18-55mm (left) and Sony Cyber-shot DC-TX20 (right) photos (Click to enlarge)

The images above are taken at the same light conditions (indoor sunlight) using a Nikon D3100 and the TX20. There are significant image quality differences, even at the TX20‘s Superior Auto mode.

Well-lit outdoor images however will enable the TX20 to have its photos pop out vividly. But sometimes it isn’t always the case due to over-processing issues. Given the resized images above, both images look fantastic. But upon closer inspection (images at original size, 3+ MB), images look soft and blurred.

Nikon D3100 18-55mm (left) and Sony Cyber-shot DC-TX20 (right) photos (Click to enlarge)

Side note: For a more “pro” looking shot, the TX20 offers a Background Defocus mode, blurring the background making photos look like bokeh shots.

Prominent sharpness is exhibited at the frame’s center, while softness is noticeable at the sides. Fortunately the TX20′s SteadyShot technology helps with lessening blurry shots (steady hands are also, of course, required).

It is recommended that ISO 400 is maintained when using the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20. Higher settings, paired with lens sharpness issues, produces noisy images and blurry details.

Sample images using the TX20‘s various native filters

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 also offers a variety of fun filters accessible with just a few touches of the screen. The only issue with the filters are the darkness of the Toy Camera option and the selective color processing of the Partial Color option, especially the on the different shades of red.

The HD video feature of the TX20 is reasonable. We had the chance to test it ourselves. Unfortunately we weren’t able to upload it. Instead, here’s a video of the TX20 courtesy of CNET:

Verdict

If you’re looking for a tough but stylish camera that you can bring with ease from the club to the beach, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 is probably for you. Not only is it tough, it also gives off awesome shots.

If you on the other hand are touchy about the pixels, you should go look somewhere up to the DSLR range.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 retails for P19,999.00, 12% VAT included.

And that wraps it up for this post. Share this post to your friends looking for a camera that’s light on the pocket and awesome at performance and style.

‘Till my next installment.

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Unbox/Review: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20

Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V Review

With the arrival of smartphones, portable video cameras have been sidelined for the longest time. But with the resurgence of interest in glasses-free 3D technology, things may just take a whole new turn for camcorders.

Enter the Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V: A portable camcorder capable of recording in both 2D and 3D plus the ability to capture stills, and good ones too. For the few weeks I’ve been with it, all I have to say is it was a great experience. Now if you’re interested in a camera that captures 3D and 2D, let yourself through this review and find if it’d fit your style.

Design

The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V, simply put, looks awesome. Then again, almost every piece of hardware Sony churns out has a killer appeal. You can even say it looks like a mini-sub toy with a flashlight. And from a design point-of-view, it’s a vast improvement to its predecessor the HDR-TD10E, making it more appealing.

The device, as with all recent Sony entries to their Handycam line, is small and nice to the touch. It comes only in a black/silver scheme that fits the model well.

On the front of the camcorder lies the Exmor R-powered dual-sensor dual-lens camera that enables the device to capture real-time 3D. Near the lens at the lower right is the manual control dial for dual-lens focusing.

At the left side of the HDR-TD20V is the rotatable flip viewing screen that is also touch-capable, so you can input real time commands while capturing video or on pause. Flipping it over unveils a whole new panel full of manual command buttons and input ports and slots.

The right side of the device features the very comfortable hand slot with a smooth patterned material to boot. The velcro strap is adjustable and also carries a standard USB cable—fully attached and non-removable— for easier transfer of photos and videos. It’s also where the DC IN port is located.

The top side is where you can find the wide angle/telephoto (W/T) knob, an instant photo button (snaps instantly even in video mode), and the mode button.

And lastly, the back side carries the battery, the 3D/2D switch, and the record button. These plus the status indicators make for a nice rear for the Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V.

All in all, the design not only looks good, it’s also operation friendly.

Display

The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V‘s small touch panel shows lively and crisp colors in high definition 2D. In its 3D mode though, it just goes to a whole new level. See, you can view what you’re capturing in 3D in 3D.

As you can see with the photos above, we were not able to capture the true essence of the display’s HD 3D. Get this though: imagine yourself walking into that 3D TV exhibition room and you seeing those stock 3D videos from a Samsung 3D TV right before your eyes without 3D glasses on, stretching your arm as if to touch what’s right in front of you. Eye-popping. That’s exactly how it feels like, albeit with a much smaller screen (3.5″ Xtra Fine LCD 1229K with TruBlack technology) and with much less power because come on, a full-fledged 3D HDTV is going to beat a small 3D LCD display hands down any day.

Performance

3D Video

Now this is where it gets serious. The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V runs a dual-lens system similar to last year’s HDR-TD10E. It’s also equipped with two back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensors for capturing video in low light conditions. Those two bug eye lenses capture two videos simultaneously, processing it, overlapping both for a 3D effect on 3D mode. It’s what Sony calls the Double Full HD 3D.

The Double Full HD 3D playback on the 3.5″ display is wonderful, as I have mentioned above. I even compared the experience to a full-fledged glasses-free 3D TV. Sadly, not everyone owns a glasses-free 3D TV—not even me—so I wasn’t able to test it. To that effect, I won’t give an opinion on 3D TV playback.

2D Video Capture / Audio Capture

The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V‘s 2D video, though as not as captivating as the 3D to a lesser extent, is definitely one of the best a camcorder can achieve. Thanks to the Exmor R sensors on the dual-lens, you can see everything the camcorder is capturing, even in poorly lit environments.

2D videos are on 1440×1080, not on the same scale as the device’s 3D (1920×1080), but still is high definition. Zooming works real time without lag and lens refocusing, adding credibility to the power of this small machine.

Videos won’t be complete without audio. The HDR-TD20V‘s built-in mic is running 5.1-channel surround, and is located just below the lens. The mic placement is prime and optimized to catch incoming and surrounding sound, even ambient noise.

Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V Sample 2D AVCHD Sample Video

*Video integrity may change when uploaded at a third party service

Photos

If you own a point and shoot or a DSLR and aren’t very picky about the pixels, the HDR-TD20V’s photo mode will do wonderfully for you. The dual-lens comes with 20.4MP, 10x Optical Zoom, and 17x Extended Zoom that would snap up images that’s good for the everyday snapper person. But like I said, the device would only work for you if you aren’t picky about pixels.

The following sample photos are untouched and were captured via the HDR-TD20V’s 2D photo capture mode. No tripod was used while capturing these images.

Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V Sample 2D AVCHD Sample Photos (Click images to enlarge)

At normal zoom, 2F Resorts World Manila

At 10x Optical Zoom plus 17x Extended Zoom, 2F Resorts World Manila

Battery Life

The included battery is officially called InfoLITHIUM® with AccuPower™ Meter System NP-FV70. As long as the name is, the battery life seems to be sufficient for conducting regular camcording. I used a combination of videos and photos on it and it just hit the red at around the seventh hour. Pretty decent for a square-ish battery.

Other Features

As mentioned above, the left side of the HDR-TD20V houses an array of buttons and terminals. There’s an SD card slot here for those who want to expand memory (the device comes with a 64GB internal memory), a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 3.5mm mic jack (presumably to capture sound better), an HDMI port, a USB port, a power button (the device turns on once you flip the display open), a play button, a button for the front torch, and a button for 2D/3D toggle.

GPS

Yes, this camcorder has GPS. Its biggest use is the tagging photos and videos at a specific location. Say, you went to Venice, snapped up some photos there, and enabled GPS. The device would tag your photos to a specific place in Venice (accuracy to meters unknown) and would show it later to those who would view it. But alas, GPS technology on portable video cameras is more of a novelty than function because of operational difficulty and because it’s unnecessary.

Wind Noise Reduction

The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V‘s wind cut seems effective. I captured videos on a rather windy place, camera face against the wind, and no noise seems to register on playback, even with headphones on.

Verdict

This device was launched at CES 2012, and it’s a big update to the bulky HDR-TD10. It has an improved image sensor, a higher pixel count, a hugely redesigned body, plus GPS to boot. But all these are jack because the main attraction of the HDR-TD20V is its capability to record in 3D.

Performance-wise, I was fully content with how it did its job: it captured video and audio fantastically; battery life is superb; overall handling is very user-friendly. Another good thing about it is its usability right out of the box. You don’t even need to purchase extra memory.

The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V is truly a machine to flaunt; not only does it capture fantastic video, it does so through 3D. If you’re ready to embrace what could possibly the new display frontier and be captivated by eye-popping images, this camcorder is for you.

Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V Price in the Philippines

The Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V has a standard retail price of P119,999.00. If you have this huge an amount of money to spare for a 3D camcorder, this is definitely worth it.

‘Till my next installment.

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Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V Review

Sony Xperia L, the 4.3-inch mid-range camera smartphone from Sony

Another Sony Xperia phone is coming to town for 2013. This time it’s the Xperia L, a mid-range model that provides class-leading camera technology that supports HDR for both photos and videos.

The Sony Xperia L inherits its good looks from its brothers but with sloped edges and a matte plastic removable back cover. Just like other Xperia phones, it also has a transparent bottom edge that illuminates when there are notifications.

It has a 4.3 inch FWVGA screen for an average 228 ppi pixel density. It doesn’t have that Sony Mobila BRAVIA Engine like its pricier brothers so don’t expect the same sharp and vivid display. That doesn’t exactly mean it’s all that bad though considering it’s a 4.3-inch screen.

As for power, the Xperia L uses a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage plus microSD support. It runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has NFC to boot.

It’s value proposition would be its 8-megapixel camera with Sony’s unique “Exmor RS for mobile” sensor technology for vivid colours and stunning clarity. HDR (High Dynamic Range) ensures that both your photos and videos are captured clearly, even at night or against a strong backlight. And with the dedicated camera key that goes ‘from sleep to snap’ in just over a second even from a locked screen, this fast-capture camera phone will ensure that you’ll never miss another moment.

The Sony Xperia L should be available this month for Php14,990 and comes in black, red, and white.

Sony Xperia L Specs:
4.3-inch 480 x 854 FWVGA touchscreen display, 228 ppi
1GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8230 Snapdragon
Adreno 305 GPU
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD up to 32GB
HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, NFC
8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and Exmor RS for mobile
VGA front camera
Li-Ion 1750 mAh battery
128.7 x 65 x 9.7 mm
137 g
Colors: Black, Red, White
SRP: Php14,990

Sony Xperia L, the 4.3-inch mid-range camera smartphone from Sony

Sony Xperia SP, 4.6-inch dual-core LTE Android phone for P19,990

Sony just announced their latest LTE handset, the Sony Xperia SP set to be available by the end of the month for Php19,990. It joins Sony’s list of LTE-capable handsets which include the Sony Xperia V, Xperia Z, and Xperia ZL.

With Sony’s mobile design expertise, the Xperia SP is yet again a beautiful phone with a premium design. It has a precision-crafted co-moulded aluminum frame for a seamless look that is both sleek and solid. It also has this cool color-changing “transparent element” with illuminations you can customize whenever you get an alert, incoming calls, or even when you’re just playing your music.

The Xperia SP has a stunning 4.6” HD Reality Display with Sony’s latest Mobile Bravia Engine 2 for sharp visuals with superior brightness. The engine makes adjustment to the picture by adding new real-time contrast optimisation to the sharpness enhancement, high-quality color management and noise reduction. Same as what the Bravia TV does.

Powering the Xperia SP is a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon Krait processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage to go with a microSD slot.

This LTE handset boasts of a fast 8-megapixel camera with HDR and Sony’s Exmor RS for mobile camera technology that allows you to shoot bright photos even under low-light conditions. Front camera is limited to a VGA resolution only though.

Battery on the Sony Xperia SP is rated at 2370mAh. This handset will be available by the end of May in black and white colors for Php19,990.

Sony Xperia SP Specs:
4.6-inch 720 x 1280 HD resolution touchscreen, 319 ppi
Sony Mobile Bravia Engine 2
Corning Gorilla Glass
1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960T Snapdragon Krait
Adreno 320 GPU
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
1GB RAM, 8GB intenral storage, microSD up to 32GB
8-megapixel Exmor RS mobile camera with LED flash
1080p @ 30 fps Full HD video recording
VGA front camera
HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Li-Ion 2370 mAh battery
130.6 x 67.1 x 10 mm
155g
Colors: Black, White
SRP: Php19,990

Sony Xperia SP, 4.6-inch dual-core LTE Android phone for P19,990