Sony pitching its cameras at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Sony started working on its first digital camera in 1995 and the result was its Cyber-shot DSC-F1. It had an image resolution of 0.35 megapixels and an aspect ratio of 640-by-480 pixels. The DSC-F1 also weighed 280 g and had just enough memory for 30 to 100 photos. A lot has changed since then. At the time of publication, Sony's new cameras for 2010 and 2011 fall into four model ranges that deliver up to 16.2 megapixels while recording full HD video.
Cyber-shot H Series
Sony's H series is a hybrid camera class that combines elements of SLR (Single Lens Reflex) and point-and-shoot cameras. A few of Sony's new 2011 cameras are in this series and the main difference between them is the range of their zoom lenses. The most expensive camera has a 30x zoom while the others have 16x to 10x at the lowest price. All the cameras in this series have 16.1 to 16.2 megapixels, and only the lowest priced model lacks full HD (1,080 pixels) video recording. Other innovative functions in this series are the ability to take panoramic and multi-angle photos in a sweeping burst of frames and to use GPS to add location information to your photos.
Cyber-shot W Series
Sony's W series are their point-and-shoot cameras that have wide-angle lenses and good all-around performance. The cameras in this series have zoom lenses ranging from 7x to 4x, megapixel resolutions from 16.2 to 12.1 and video performance from 1080p (full HD) to 720p. The new 2011 cameras also have an Exmor R CMOS sensor that's twice as light sensitive as conventional ones so low-light photos have less noise and more detail. Sony also offers some unique automatic photo modes in this series, including 3-D panorama and multi-angle modes and a "Handheld Twilight" mode that takes six rapid-fire photos at different exposure settings and overlays them to minimize noise and maximize quality.
Cyber-shot T Series
The T Series is Sony's compact, thin line point-and-shoot category but what it lacks in size it makes up for in performance. These cameras are built to last, especially the new mid-priced TX10 that's shockproof to 5 feet, waterproof to 16 feet, dust proof and can withstand temperature extremes from -14 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The TX10 also boasts full HD video recording with a 50i mode that formats it for optimal TV playback and it comes with a 16.2 megapixel Exmor R sensor and a 25 mm wide-angle lens. The other new T Series cameras have a GPS and 3.5 inch OLED touchscreen (at the top of the line) and 3-D panorama and multi-angle modes but only 720p video and no Exmor R sensor (at the bottom).
NEX Series
At the time of publication, Sony claims that its NEX-3 and 5 models are the world's smallest interchangeable lens cameras. They're designed to have the picture quality of digital SLRs at half the size and weight. Both cameras have an Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor that's 13 times bigger, and a lot more sensitive than the average sensor. In addition, the NEX-5 can shoot full HD video. But the NEX-3 is limited to a maximum resolution of 720p. The NEX-3 and 5 are also 14.2 megapixel cameras that use a BIONZ image processor to deliver the best possible results in all kinds of shooting conditions. You even get manual modes for maximum control and built-in shooting tips that tell you how lighting changes affect F-stop settings.
Tags: this series, cameras this, cameras this series, Cyber-shot Series, full video, Series Sony
