Sony TX10 Waterproof Compact for an "all around" park camera? Good? Bad?

[Indy21]

Trying to save up for a nice little compact digital camera for our next trip to the World and I've been doing a little research on a few waterproof/dustproof cameras.

I think this style of camera would be perfect for park hopping especially for it's compact size and waterproof for the water parks. Of course, I probably wouldn't dive with it but I wouldn't have to worry about it getting splashed on.

Anyone have any experience with this Sony or any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[webshark3]

In the arena of waterproof cameras, it's top 2. I'd probably go with the Panasonic, but I'm sure it's comes down to personal preference between the 2.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q311waterproofcompactgrouptest/

 

[zackiedawg]

I have the non-waterproof version of that camera - the earlier TX1. The same basic concept, design, controls, etc. It can certainly be a very capable all around P&S camera for basic travel shots, family shots, etc. You would be limited compared to, say, a DSLR and a bag of lenses - but you won't be missing much of anything compared to other compact cameras. The only real limiting factor is that it's not a superzoom, so you don't have that huge lens range...but you have a good, solid usable range for every day shooting, you have the waterproofing which would be great to not have to worry about a rainstorm or hopping on Kali River Rapids, and you have some very cool image-stacking modes that make it by far one of the best P&S cameras for low light scenery handheld. There are not many P&S cameras that you'd recommend cranking up to any ISO over 400, but with the TX series HHT mode, ISO 1600 becomes perfectly detailed and clean. For me, HHT (hand-held twilight), AMB (anti-motion blur), and sweep panorama alone make the Sony my choice in a P&S camera. I just wish mine was also the waterproof version!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

We acquired a Sony P&S camera as an un-claimed lost and find item at my wife's work. She likes it but I can't stand the bizarre menus the camera uses. I've been shooting Canon DSLR since 2002 and much prefer their menus. We also got a Canon Point and Shoot from the same source and I'll use that when I want to take only a small camera.

The other thing I don't like about Sony is their insistence that you have to use their exclusive type of media card. The cards are hard to find readers for and I couldn't read the cards for the longest time. I finally found a reader while on vacation in PA last year and ended up buying four of them. The Canon, on the other hand, uses a standard SD card and most computers with built-in readers will read SD cards.

Canon does make a nice waterproof camera, the Powershot D10. You might check it out along with all the others.

 

[webshark3]

The other thing I don't like about Sony is their insistence that you have to use their exclusive type of media card.

Canon does make a nice waterproof camera, the Powershot D10. You might check it out along with all the others.

The new Sonys use SD/SDHC/SDXC now too. The Canon model is nice, but it's aging, and it not a true compact.

 

[zackiedawg]

We acquired a Sony P&S camera as an un-claimed lost and find item at my wife's work. She likes it but I can't stand the bizarre menus the camera uses.

The TX series cameras have a completely different menu layout, and completely customizable on-screen layout of key controls, than past Sony cameras.

The other thing I don't like about Sony is their insistence that you have to use their exclusive type of media card.

Actually, all Sony cameras for the past 2 years can take either SD or MS duo cards...even their P&S models. This is something Sony long ago ended, but many folks that use other brands are unaware and still tend to 'ding' Sony for this. Point-of-fact, at one point SD was also a little used prorpietary card format, and other brands like Olympus used to require their own card too. Sony being one of the largest selling P&S manufacturers had their card type competing against 4 or 5 others, and eventually as SD began to win out with a majority of camera companies and models moving over to it, Sony did as well.

Canon does make a nice waterproof camera, the Powershot D10. You might check it out along with all the others.

Just a note - they are fairly different cameras. The D10 is more a standard P&S - a larger, chunkier model with some more controls, while the Sony model is an ultracompact slimline camera designed to slide in a chest pocket. The Panasonic model, several Olympus models, The Fuji models, and the Pentax waterproof models would generally fit into the ultracompact or slim waterproof category with the Sony, while the D10 sort of has its own category to itself at the moment as a larger compact waterproof camera. A fine model worth a look, but not necessarily a cross-shop model if looking for something slim and pocketable.

 

[Indy21]

Thanks for the replies. I've read the dpreview comparisons and they choose the Panasonic over the Sony, I have to disagree a little.

I'm no camera 'nut' but I'm trying to break into some light photography, ya know, just for family and outings and that sort of thing.

I have a Lumix DZ-10 and when I bought it around 8 years ago I was impressed with it's outdoor pictures and I loved the zoom. One thing that stood out to me in the dpreview was that the Sony takes pretty decent indoor pictures as well as outdoor pics. My Lumix takes terrible indoor pics unless you get the lighting just right, the onboard flash is very weak.

Another reason I'm looking for a kind of all arounder compact (weatherproof) is because on our last trip to Disney, I had went out the week before trying to get everything prepared and bought a high cap SD card and was all excited about how many pictures I was going to be able to hold, etc...

...guess how many pictures I took with my Lumix? Oh, maybe around 25-30.

Now guess how many I took with my iPhone 3GS? Close to 500!!!

Why would I pick my iPhone over my $700 camera? CONVENIENCE.

We went in August (ugh, heat!), wearing a big honking camera around my neck all day wasn't gonna work. Plus I was always paranoid about getting it wet or when the occasional FL shower would pass through I'd be scurrying for cover.

My iPhone was VERY easily accessible at all times and I must admit, I took some very good pictures with it. So good in fact that we had one of those photo books that you make online made with most of those iPhone pics as a Christmas present to the in-laws.

I don't get all technical about my pictures or study them too hard so I'm sure a photo-junkie would point out all the flaws and such but they're good enough for my family and myself.

I think I will pursue this Sony and quite possibly buy the time I save up a little extra cash the NEXT Sony in the waterproof line will show up!

When are new cameras generally released or shown at expos anyways?

Thanks again y'all!

 

[kylieh]

It might be, and it's a long shot, worth considering a p&s of your choice if there is a recommended by manufacturer waterproof casing as an extra. You could end up with extra features on the camera and add the waterproofing as required.

 

[Indy21]

It might be, and it's a long shot, worth considering a p&s of your choice if there is a recommended by manufacturer waterproof casing as an extra. You could end up with extra features on the camera and add the waterproofing as required.

True.

But adding a waterproof case means you sacrifice the 'slimness' of a camera such as the TX.

 

[webshark3]

...guess how many pictures I took with my Lumix? Oh, maybe around 25-30.

Now guess how many I took with my iPhone 3GS? Close to 500!!!

Why would I pick my iPhone over my $700 camera? CONVENIENCE.

Can't argue with what works for you. I am curious how an iPhone is more convenient than the Lumix. It looks like a pocketable camera. Unlocking the iPhon, starting the camera app, focusing, and repeating seems like more of a hassle than the ever-ready P&S. Not to mention not being able to replace the battery. But your opinion seems to be very popular with many people here.

I'll be going with a Canon s95 this year for photos and video. It fits nicely in a strap pouch on my sling-backpack, and is always at the ready. I have 8 batteries charged and ready and a couple 32GB cards (emptied nightly). If there are two phrases I've never uttered (or plan to utter) in Disney, they are:

- darn, my battery is dead.
- darn, my card is full.

 

[alan]

I've been a 100% Canon digicam user since I bought my Pro1 back in 2004 or so... but when I went skiing back in February my G10 was in for repair and I had been wanting a waterproof camera for a while anyway, so I bought the TX5 - the predecessor to the TX10.

I have to say that I was blown away by how good a little camera it is!

The camera is tiny - it goes with me everywhere I do, worn on a belt pouch.

The picture quality is very good - though it does tend to benefit from a light "Smart Sharpen".

Hand Held Twilight is excellent for static subjects, giving vastly reduced noise.

Movie mode is smooth and fluid; mine is 720i whereas I think the TX10 is 1080.

Sweep panorama is great!

The quality of the TX5 is such that when I found that my G10 was not, in fact, repairable I replaced it with another Sony - the NEX-5.

Both for the original skiing photographs and a later Summer holiday where the camera went splashing around in the lakes of the Verdon Gorge, the TX5 has proven to be a real trooper and I would have no hesitation recommending it!

A few from the TX5:

2011-02-13 I Don't See The Point by atp, on Flickr


2011-02-19 Last Day by atp, on Flickr


2011-07-05 (Day 312) I Feel Good! by atp, on Flickr

regards,
/alan

 

[Porktitioner]

Originally posted by Webshark3
"I have 8 batteries charged and ready and a couple 32GB cards (emptied nightly)."

I'll be taking my s95 to Disney for the first time this Nov. I'll probably shoot around 200 pix a day and maybe some video. I will have enough cards, but will I need that much battery power?

 

[webshark3]

I'll be taking my s95 to Disney for the first time this Nov. I'll probably shoot around 200 pix a day and maybe some video. I will have enough cards, but will I need that much battery power?

I'm paranoid, so no you shouldn't. I clocked a generic Power2000 battery at 90min of continuous HD video recording (3 clips). I just clocked a super-generic (Amazon 50cent battery) at 60min of continuous HD video recording.

On a normal day, I probably use 2 batteries with a good mix of photos/video/and viewing. I don't use flash a lot, but flash does seem to have a significant impact on battery life. I've has some generics fail in the Florida heat, so I'm really just prepping for potential failures.

 

[Porktitioner]

Whew! Thanks. I thought I was in trouble there. Sounds like a couple of batteries will work fine for me.