SONY Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 (50i)

This is neither intended to be, nor to become a "review". It's just a collection of information and notes.

The SONY DSC-TX7 is my third T-Series camera. I started with a SONY DSC-T3 in January 2005, because my other camera got too big, and I wanted the most compact 5MP 3x zoom camera available: "The ideal measurements for a camera are 90-60-19."
When SONY added the optical stabilizer to the T-Series, I was very tempted to get a new model, but I did not like the shape of the available models. I finally switched to the SONY DSC-T700 in October 2008, because of the perfectly flat and compact body design. Because of the 25mm wide angle, I decided to get the SONY DSC-TX7. Besides the different focal length range, the DSC-TX7 has a lot of improvements compared to the DSC-T700.

Special Issues

Sharpness and Contrast

From the beginning, I had the impression that outdoor shots are not as crisp and clear as they should be. In special, I did not manage to get a sharp iSweep panorama. After comparing my TX7 with a demonstrator model at the shop, I decided to have the camera sent in. After two weeks I could pick up the camera, where the repair note only said "Softwareupdate". The camera was well packed, perfectly cleaned, and the front slider seems to work smoother than before. However, the image quality is the same as before.

This is a side-by-side comparison of 100% crops from two still image shots of similar focal length.

 Comparison: Far distance subject, DSC-TX7 vs. DSC-T700. 

This is a side-by-side comparison of 100% crops from two different DSC-TX7 (mine and the demonstrator from the shop).

 Comparison: Two different DSC-TX7. 

I still hope that this is due to a defect, and that it will either get fixed next time I send in the camera, or the replacement model will work at least as good as the demonstrator from the shop - because I really like the 25mm wide angle, and the improved feature set.

Update: 2010-05-04 - The camera is on its way to the service for the second time...

Close Focus Mode

While doing more comparisons between the T700 and the TX7, I noticed that the TX7 seems to have different exposure strategies. When shooting in Close Focus mode with forced flash under normal light, the T700 stops down to f/5.6. The TX7 did the shots at f/3.5, with shallow depth of field and very soft corners. Even after using a strong flashlight, the camera only stopped down to f/4.5. With forced flash, exposure should not depend on the ambient light, at least not that much. I will do more tests as soon as I get the camera back. If my observations are correct, then the close focus mode of the TX7 is next to useless.

Specifications

Outer Dimensions   98mm × 61mm × 18mm
Optical Zoom   4 ×                                               
Actual Focal Length   4.43 - 17.7mm
Apparent Focal Length   25 - 100mm  (4:3 Still Images)
  28 - 112mm  (16:9 Video)
Crop Factor   5.64 ×
Maximum Aperture   F3.5 - 4.6
Sensitivity   ISO 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Battery   SONY  "Lithium N"  NP-BN1 (2.2-2.3Wh)

Focal Length Comparison

Having an aspect ratio of 4:3, the camera captures a little less width, and some more height than a 3:2 Full Frame DSLR camera. Using a 24-105mm lens would cover about the same wide angle height and telephoto width, but for cropped formats, there is no single lens covering the whole range.

    3:2
Full Frame
   3:2
Crop 1.3
   3:2
Crop 1.5
   3:2
Crop 1.6
   Four Thirds
Crop 2.0
Same Width  26.0-104mm  20.0-80mm  17.3-69mm  16.2-65mm  12.5-50mm
Diagonal  25.0-100mm  19.2-77mm  16.6-67mm  15.6-63mm  12.5-50mm
Same Height  23.1-93mm  17.7-71mm  15.4-62mm  14.4-58mm  12.5-50mm

Recording Formats

Type A.R. Q. Dimensions P.Count A.R.
Still Image   4:3   10M   3648 × 2736   9.98MP   1.33:1
Still Image   16:9   7M   3648 × 2056   7.50MP   1.77:1
Still Image   4:3   5M   2592 × 1944   5.03MP   1.33:1
Still Image   16:9   2M   1920 × 1080   2.07MP   1.77:1
Still Image   4:3   VGA   640 × 480   0.30MP   1.33:1
Type Opt. Or. Dimensions P.Count A.R.
Panorama   Std.   Ver.   3424 × 1920   6.57MP   1.78:1   ~120°
Panorama   Wide   Ver.   4912 × 1920   9.43MP   2.55:1   ~180°
Panorama   Std.   Hor.   4912 × 1080   5.30MP   4.54:1   ~180°
Panorama   Wide   Hor.   7152 × 1080   7.72MP   6.62:1   ~270°
Type A.R. Q. Dimensions Bitrate Frames
AVCHD   16:9   FH   1920 × 1080   17Mbps      50i
AVCHD   16:9   HQ   1440 × 1080   9Mbps      50i
MPEG-4   16:9   12M   1440 × 1080   12Mbps      25p
MPEG-4   16:9   6M   1280 × 720   6Mbps      25p
MPEG-4   4:3   3M   640 × 480   3Mbps      25p

Firmware

When I got my camera back from the service, the note only said "Softwareupdate", so I decided to investigate. It looks like SONY realeases only very few  firmware updates for their cameras.

The firmware version is not displayed during normal operation, it has to be activated with a certain procedure. The only available update for a T series camera was for an older model using buttons instead of a touchscreen, so these instructions did not help much. But with only four buttons and the zoom lever available, there are ony very few options left for powering on the camera while pressing another button.

To activate the hidden menu item, hold the zoom lever in telephoto position (T) while powering on the camera using the playback button. Then press MENU, enter the setup mode (toolbox icon), and page down to the fourth page...

SONY DSC-TX7 Firmware Version Menu Item 

After the claimed update, the version still reads "01".

The same procedure works with the SONY DSC-T700, where the Version is displayed as "1" on page 3/7 of the Main Settings menu.

Special Notes

Special Features...

  • Grid Lines (thirds)
  • HDR (2 shots)
  • Anti Motion Blur (6 shots)
  • Hand-held Twilight (6 shots)
  • Anti Blink (2 shots) in Soft Snap (Portrait) mode
  • Portrait Self Timer for one or two persons (face detection)
  • iSweep Panorama (only in full wide angle), see recording formats above
  • Slideshow with music
  • Paint and Retouch
  • Combo slot for MS and SD

Good things...

  • Very good geometric correction in still image mode.
  • Very good auto white balance.
  • Support for Touch and Drag.
  • Improved menu icons and fonts.
  • Menu items can be customized for each shooting mode.
  • Spring loaded battery/card door, easy to handle.

Bad things...

  • Memory Stick don't insert smoothly into the combo slot.
  • Full-time AF (pre-focus) can't be turned off.
  • Image Stabilizer can't be turned off (active with half-pressed shutter).
  • Poor battery life.
  • No more histogram display.
  • No fixed focus settings (indoor/landscape).

Gallery

 Closed   ·   Open   ·   Size   ·   MS   ·   SD 

Lid Closed

 
SONY DSC-TX7 on top of the Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8

Lid Open

 
SONY DSC-TX7 inside the lens hood of the Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8

Size Comparison

 
SONY DSC-TX7 on top of the Hama 1000&1 Card Reader

Memory Stick (PRO-HG) Duo

 
SONY DSC-TX7 with Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo

SD(HC)

 
SONY DSC-TX7 with SDHC Card


Hans-Jürgen Reggel   ·   http://www.hjreggel.net/   ·   2010-02-07 ~ 2010-05-10