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Sony TF1 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
    • Sony TF1

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 3200
    • 25-100 mm F3.6-4.7 Zoom Lens
    • Optical Image Stabilization
    • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
    • 1 fps continuous shooting
    • HD - 1280 x 720 video
    • 152g. 102 x 62 x 23 mm
    • Weather Sealed Body
      •
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    Sony TF1 Overview

    First introduced in June 2013 , Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 is a 16.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 25-100 mm F3.6-4.7 lens.

    Sony TF1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Sony TF1 has an Overall Score of 41/100 and ranked #181 out of 629 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Waterproof), and ranked #728 out of 1223 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Sony TF1 Physical Specs
    Sony TF1 weighs 152 g (0.34 lb / 5.36 oz) and has external dimensions of 102 x 62 x 23 mm (4.02 x 2.44 x 0.91″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Sony TF1 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 23mm, it is also quite small, 5mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Sony TF1
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Sony TF1
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Sony TF1 with the dimensions:

    Sony TF1 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Sony TF1 Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony TF1, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Sony TF1 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Sony TF1 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony TF1 with its main competitors:

    Sony TF1 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs TF1 Thickness vs TF1
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Nikon W300
    Compare     		231g 79g heavier 29mm 6mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Canon M50 II
    Compare     		387g 235g heavier 59mm 36mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Olympus TG-6
    Compare     		253g 101g heavier 32mm 9mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Canon D30
    Compare     		218g 66g heavier 28mm 5mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Canon SX740 HS
    Compare     		299g 147g heavier 40mm 17mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Olympus E-PL6
    Compare     		325g 173g heavier 38mm 15mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Panasonic TS25
    Compare     		144g 8g lighter 20mm 3mm thinner
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Panasonic ZS80
    Compare     		327g 175g heavier 42mm 19mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Sony TF1 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, dustproof).

    Sony TF1 Sensor and Photography Features

    Sony TF1 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. TF1 has a native ISO range of 100 - 3200 but unfortunately, Sony TF1 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Canon PowerShot S120 in the same price range.

    Sony TF1 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony TF1 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Waterproof cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Sony TF1's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Sony TF1 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Sony TF1 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Sony TF1 Lens

    Sony TF1 features a 25-100 mm F3.6-4.7 4× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 25mm, and 100mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    TF1
    Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    TF1
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f3.60 at 25mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end and neither at tele end with its f4.70.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    TF1
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    TF1
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    TF1 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.



    Sony TF1 LCD

    Sony TF1 has a Fixed Type 2.7" LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. At only 2.7", the screen is on the smaller side and 460kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    Sony TF1 back view and LCD

    TF1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7000 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Sony TF1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Sony TF1 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Battery

    Sony TF1 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 240 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Waterproof Cameras

    Sony TF1
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Olympus TG-4 with its 380shots is the model with longest battery life among Waterproof cameras. Check the comparison of Sony TF1 vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Waterproof cameras list.

    Sony TF1 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Nikon W300
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 280shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Canon M50 II
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 305shots Yes Yes Yes
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Olympus TG-6
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 340shots Yes No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Canon D30
    Compare     		1920 x 1080 300shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Canon SX740 HS
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 265shots Yes Yes Yes
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Olympus E-PL6
    Compare     		1920 x 1080 360shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Panasonic TS25
    Compare     		1280 x 720 250shots No No No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Camera Panasonic ZS80
    Compare     		3840 x 2160 380shots Yes Yes No

    Sony TF1 Video Features

    With Sony TF1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    TF1 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
    Sony TF1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7100 or Nikon Coolpix P7000 in a similar price range.

    Sony TF1 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Sony TF1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately TF1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Sony TF1 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

    Sony TF1 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Sony TF1 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Sony TF1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Water Proof
    Shock Proof
    Image Stabilization
    Touch Screen
    Face Detection Focusing
    152g Light Body
    Environmental Sealing
    25mm Wide Angle Lens
    Report a correction

    Buy Sony TF1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200
    Only Unknown Focus Points
    Small LCD Screen ( 2.7")
    Low Screen Resolution ( 460kdots )
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    Low Battery Life: 240 shots
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.60
    Slow Lens at Tele: f4.70
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Sony TF1 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Sony TF1 in 5 different photography areas.

    Sony TF1 for Portrait Photography

    Sony TF1 has a score of 22 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTF1.
    Image Stabilization
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Sony TF1 for Portrait Photography

    Sony TF1 for Street Photography

    Sony TF1 has a score of 54 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.60
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Sony TF1 for Street Photography

    Sony TF1 for Sports Photography

    Sony TF1 has a score of 18 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTF1.
    Environmental Sealings
    Image Stabilization
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    Unknown Focus Points
    Poor Battery Life: 240 shots
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    100 mm Tele Lens
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Sony TF1 for Sports Photography

    Sony TF1 for Daily Photography

    Sony TF1 has a score of 66 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Waterproof Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    152g
    Environmental Sealings
    4.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Sony TF1 for Daily Photography

    Sony TF1 for Landscape Photography

    Sony TF1 has a score of 22 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Waterproof Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTF1.
    25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Environmental Sealings
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Sony TF1 for Landscape Photography
    Sony TF1 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Sony TF1 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Sony TF1 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Sony TF1

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony TF1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Nikon W300
    Nikon W300
    Compare
    Canon M50 II
    Canon M50 II
    Compare
    Olympus TG-6
    Olympus TG-6
    Compare
    Canon D30
    Canon D30
    Compare
    Canon SX740 HS
    Canon SX740 HS
    Compare
    Olympus E-PL6
    Olympus E-PL6
    Compare
    Panasonic TS25
    Panasonic TS25
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS80
    Panasonic ZS80
    Compare

    Sony TF1 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Sony TF1 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Sony TF1's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Sony TF1
    Does the Sony TF1 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Sony TF1 have RAW support?
    Does the Sony TF1 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Sony TF1 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Sony TF1?
    What is the Sensor Size of Sony TF1?
    is the Sony TF1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Sony TF1 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Sony TF1 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony TF1?
    What is the Weight of Sony TF1?
    What are the Dimensions of Sony TF1?
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Sony
    Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TF1
    Announced 2013-06-21
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Number of Lenses
    Lens Focal Range 25-100 mm (4×)
    Max Aperture F3.6-4.7
    Macro Focus Range 1cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology TFT LCD display
    Screen Size 2.7"
    Screen Resolution 460k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 2s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 3.90 m
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.07mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456
    Max Native ISO 3,200
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points Unknown
    Number of Cross Focus Points 0
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 152g
    Physical Dimensions 102 x 62 x 23mm
    Battery Life 240 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model NP-BN
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
    Storage Slots 1


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