Sony has announced two new digital cameras Cyber-shot TX1 and Cyber-shot WX1 hoping to breath life into the company’s struggling digital camera business. Along with two new cameras Sony is also launching a robotic docking station called Party-Shot, capable of taking photos without human involvement.
The Cyber-shot TX1 and WX1 both switch from a usual CCD sensor to the CMOS technology more commonly seen in DSLR cameras. The features such as 10FPS burst shooting and a sweeping panorama mode that automatically takes and stitches together shots with views up to 185 degrees (TX1′s regular lens) or 256 degrees (wide-angle WX1) were previously seen only in High end ultrazoom cameras like HX1.
The new cameras are part of a marketing concept Sony calls “Image3″, or image cubed. Cameras in the “Image3″ family have three ingredients:
- A faster “BIONZ” image processor
- A redesigned “Exmor R” CMOS sensor
- A premium “Carl Zeiss” or “G Series” lens
Above additions will enable the cameras to produce higher quality images and offer software-driven features like quickly created panoramic images, advanced software noise reduction and high-definition video capture.
Comparison Chart of Cyber-shot TX1 and WX1
|
Specifications |
WX1 |
TX1 |
|
Megapixels |
10.2 |
10.2 |
|
Optical Zoom |
5x |
4x |
|
LCD |
2.7 inch |
3 inch touchscreen |
|
Video |
720p30 |
720p30 |
|
Focal Length |
24mm-120mm (35mm Equivalent) |
35-140mm (35mm Equivalent) |
|
Aperture Range |
f/2.8-f/7.1 |
f/3.5-f/4.6 |
|
Price |
$349.99 |
$379.99 |
Sony Party-shot IPT-DS1
Sony Party shot is a robotic docking station which unlike Roomba stays stationary and takes pictures automatically without any human involvement. The Party shot IPT-DS1 is a wireless device powered by two AA batteries with an optional power adapter.
Sony has designed Party-shot to work only with latest Cyber-shot TX1 and DSC-WX1 digital cameras. When placed in the center of the room the Party-shot can take pictures automatically by tilting forward and backward as well as panning around 360 degrees.
A composite video-out connector is also available to plug into a TV for playback. Users can set the Party-shot to shoot freely or adjust settings to limit its range of motion and shooting frequency.
Price: The Sony Party-shot IPT-DS1 will retail for $149.99.
Tags: cyber shot tx1, cyber shot wx1, docking station, robotic, sony cyber shot tx1, sony party shot