Sony presents twelve new Cyber-shot models!

by Brad Soo on January 7 2010

This is madness but no, it ain’t Sparta - Sony has just released a whopping TWELVE digital cameras! Apparently they didn’t want to leave out anybody, so they’ve got compact cameras for everyone today.

Also, someone check that the sky isn’t falling, because all of today’s newly released Sony cameras now support SD/SDHC memory cards (in addition to their own proprietary Memory Stick Duo) via a new, single combo slot which takes both kinds of cards.

The first two cameras are pretty interesting, featuring Sony’s Exmor R backlit CMOS image sensors which promise both high speed shooting and high sensitivity. The new Cyber-shot HX5V is also Sony’s first true “pocket” super-zoom camera (the old H10 and H20 could not fit into pockets), and appears to be the most feature-packed Cyber-shot camera to date (umm, in terms of bells and whistles at least)

Sony Cyber-shot HX5V
(Compact super-zoom)

10 effective megapixels (CMOS)
25 – 250 mm (f3.5 – f5.5) 10X optical zoom lens
Optical image stabilization
HX5V only: Active stabilization reduces high levels of camera shake in movie mode
3.0 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
Some manual controls
Built-in GPS and compass can record location and direction of photos taken
Enhanced Sweep Panorama mode
High Dynamic Range mode takes and combines two photos into 1 HDR shot
Continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second at full resolution
Face detection, software redeye removal
Supports TransferJet wireless transfer of photos to compatible devices via optional accessory
Full HD (1920 x 1080) 60i FPS movie mode with stereo sound and optical zoom; AVCHD format
Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC or Memory Stick Duo cards
Uses a lithium-ion battery
Available in March for $350

The Sony Cyber-shot TX7 shares plenty of the HX5V’s features (sans GPS), including the Exmor R CMOS sensor and various high speed/high sensitivity modes and puts them into a smaller, thinner and more stylish design with less zoom.

Sony Cyber-shot TX7
(Stylish compact camera)

10 effective megapixels (CMOS)
25 – 100 mm (f3.5 – f4.6) 4X optical zoom lens
Optical image stabilization
3.5 inch touchscreen LCD (921,000 pixels)
No manual controls
Enhanced Sweep Panorama mode
High Dynamic Range mode takes and combines two photos into 1 HDR shot
Continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second at full resolution
Face detection, software redeye removal
Full HD (1920 x 1080) 60i FPS movie mode with stereo sound and optical zoom; AVCHD format
Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC or Memory Stick Duo cards
Uses a lithium-ion battery
Available in February for $400

So here are the other eight Cyber-shot models. We now have eight W-series cameras for 2010: the Cyber-shot W310, W320, W330, W340, W350, W360, W370 and W380. Mind boggling, right? Even more amazing is the fact that all eight cameras are positioned extremely near to one another within the $150 to $250 range. So add another 10 to 15 bucks or so, and you can “step up” to the next model - hysterical, I know.

For the purpose of saving you from endless scrolling and confusion, I’m only going to list down the “main” four models here - which are the four that Sony put under the spotlight this CES. The other four are merely gap fillers and you can roughly guess their specifications (ie give or take megapixels or different display).