Sony TX5 Review

Name: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
Brand: Sony

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Main Features

10MP - 1/2.4-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 3200

25-100 mm F3.5-6.3 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

10.0fps continuous shooting

148g. 94 x 57 x 18 mm

Weather Sealed Body

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Sony TX5 Overview

First introduced in February 2010 , Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 is a 10.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.4-inch (6.104 x 4.578 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, weather sealed body and 4.0x zoom 25-100 mm F3.5-6.3 lens.

Sony TX5 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Sony TX5 is a member of Sony's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Sony Ultracompact Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Sony WX220 Compare	2014	18.0MP - 1/2.3'	10.0 fps	92 x 52 x 22mm	121g
Sony W830 Compare	2014	20.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	1.0 fps	93 x 52 x 23mm	122g
Sony W810 Compare	2014	20.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	1.0 fps	97 x 56 x 21mm	111g
Sony TX30 Compare	2013	18.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	10.0 fps	96 x 59 x 15 mmmm	141g
Sony TX66 Compare	2012	18.0MP - 1/2.3-inch	10.0 fps	93 x 54 x 13mm	109g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Sony WX220 vs W830 vs W810 vs TX30 vs TX66

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sony TX5 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Sony TX5 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

Freeze Proof

Image Stabilization

Touch Screen

10.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

148g Light Body

Manual Focusing

Environmental Sealing

TBC Internal Storage

25mm Wide Angle Lens

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CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

No Face Detection Focusing

Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200

Only 9 Focus Points

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

1/1600s Low Max Shutter Speed

No Manual Exposure

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.50

Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30

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Sony TX5 Physical Specs

Sony TX5 weighs 148 g (0.33 lb / 5.22 oz) and has external dimensions of 94 x 57 x 18 mm (3.7 x 2.24 x 0.71″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Sony TX5 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 18mm, it is also quite small, 10mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Sony TX5

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Sony TX5

Min

Average

Max

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony TX5, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Sony TX5 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Sony TX5 with its main competitors:

Sony TX5 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs TX5	Thickness	vs TX5
Sony TX7 Compare	149g	1g heavier	18mm	equal thickness
Fujifilm X-A5 Compare	361g	213g heavier	40mm	22mm thicker
Sony TX1 Compare	142g	6g lighter	17mm	1mm thinner
Sony TX30 Compare	141g	7g lighter	15mm	3mm thinner
Sony TX20 Compare	133g	15g lighter	18mm	equal thickness
Sony T900 Compare	143g	5g lighter	16mm	2mm thinner
Sony TX9 Compare	149g	1g heavier	18mm	equal thickness
Sony T110 Compare	121g	27g lighter	17mm	1mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Sony TX5 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, freezeproof)

Sony TX5 Lens

Sony TX5 features a 25-100 mm F3.5-6.3 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

TX5

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

TX5

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.50 at 25mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f6.30.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

TX5

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

TX5

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

TX5 is equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Sony TX5's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

Sony TX5 Sensor and Photography Features

Sony TX5 has a 10.0MP 1/2.4-inch (6.104 x 4.578 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. TX5 has a native ISO range of 125 - 3200 but unfortunately, Sony TX5 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Sony TX5 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero11 Black with its 27.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony TX5 vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Sony TX5's 1/2.4-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Sony TX5 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Sony TX5 LCD

Sony TX5 has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

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

Unfortunately Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

TX5 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare).
Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

Sony TX5 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect TX5 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Sony TX5 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Sony TX7 Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm X-A5 Compare	3840 x 2160	450shots	Yes	Yes	No
Sony TX1 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Sony TX30 Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	No	No	No
Sony TX20 Compare	1920 x 1080	250shots	No	No	No
Sony T900 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Sony TX9 Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	No	No	No
Sony T110 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No

Sony TX5 Video Features

With Sony TX5, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and MPEG-4 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 .

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker. On the other hand, Sony TX5 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

Sony TX5 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Sony TX5 can shoot continuously at max speed of 10 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately TX5 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Sony TX5 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

What type of Photography is Sony TX5 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Sony TX5 in 5 different photography areas.

Sony TX5 for Portrait Photography

Sony TX5 has a score of 21 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTX5.

Image Stabilization

Manual Focus Mode

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX5 for Portrait Photography

Sony TX5 for Street Photography

Sony TX5 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 Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Image Stabilization

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX5 for Street Photography

Sony TX5 for Sports Photography

Sony TX5 has a score of 21 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTX5.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings

Manual Focus Mode
Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX5 for Sports Photography

Sony TX5 for Daily Photography

Sony TX5 has a score of 54 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
148g
Body Thickness 18mm

Environmental Sealings
4.0X Optical Zoom

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX5 for Daily Photography

Sony TX5 for Landscape Photography

Sony TX5 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 Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTX5.

Manual Focus Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage

Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Sony TX5 for Landscape Photography

Sony TX5 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Sony TX5 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Sony TX5 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Sony TX5

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony TX5 amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Sony TX5 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Sony TX5 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Sony TX5's price range.

Sony TX5 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Sony TX5 has an Overall Score of 40/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 is ranked #166 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #704 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#704 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
#166 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
#7 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
#229 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#187 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(148g)
#392 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sony TX5

Does the Sony TX5 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Sony TX5 have RAW support?
Does the Sony TX5 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Sony TX5 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Sony TX5?
What is the Sensor Size of Sony TX5?
is the Sony TX5 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Sony TX5 have Touch Screen?
Does the Sony TX5 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony TX5?
What is the Weight of Sony TX5?
What are the Dimensions of Sony TX5?

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Sony
Model	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5
Announced	2010-02-18
Body Type	Ultracompact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-100 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F3.5-6.3
Macro Focus Range	1cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	230k 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	1/1600s
Max Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	2.90 m
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
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	BSI-CMOS
Sensor Size	1/2.4-inch
Sensor Dimensions	6.104 x 4.578 mm
Sensor Area	27.94mm²
Sensor Resolution	10 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	3648 x 2736
Max Native ISO	3,200
Min Native ISO	125
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	9
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	MPEG-4
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	148g
Physical Dimensions	94 x 57 x 18mm
Battery Model	NP-BN1
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/ Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Storage Slots	1