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Capture the mood with Sony's new low-light-shooting Cyber-shots

By | August 7, 2009, 8:24am PDT

Summary: If you’re tired of grainy, blurry photos taken in low-light settings, Sony’s new Cyber-shot cameras may be the solution. Sony recently announced the addition of two new cameras to the Cyber-shot family: the WX1 and the TX1. The cameras are Sony’s first to use a back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, which Sony says takes in [...]

If you’re tired of grainy, blurry photos taken in low-light settings, Sony’s new Cyber-shot cameras may be the solution. Sony recently announced the addition of two new cameras to the Cyber-shot family: the WX1 and the TX1. The cameras are Sony’s first to use a back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, which Sony says takes in more light, and lets you capture the best shot in low-light scenarios.

According to Linda Barger of the Sony Electronics Blog, Sony engineers have figured out a way to change the image sensor:

“Typically, a wire circuitry sits on top of the light-gathering part of the sensor and blocks the light from coming through. We’ve flipped the circuitry and sensor, allowing twice the light to be captured, even at high speed, reducing noise significantly.”

The two cameras allow twice the amount of light to be captured, which greatly reduces noise. The WX1 (pictured right) has a 10.2-megapixel lens and a 5x optical zoom. It comes only in black. The TX1, on the other hand, comes in blue, pink, silver, and gray. It also has a 10.2-megapixel sensor, and a 4x optical zoom. The TX1 has a 3-inch touchscreen display. Both cameras can record videos in 720p.

The cameras have many of the same features as the DSC-HX1, such as the unique Sweep Panorama mode. The TX1 will be available in September for $380, while the WX1 will be available in October for $350.

[Via Sony Electronics Blog]

[Updated 8/11/09]

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Jennifer R. Bergen is a journalist and blogger living in New York City.

Disclosure

Jennifer Bergen

Jennifer Bergen does not hold any investments in the technology companies she covers.

Biography

Jennifer Bergen

Jennifer R. Bergen is a journalist and blogger living in New York City. After recently moving from her hometown of Boulder, Colorado, she has written for PCMag Digital Networks, and ConsumerSearch.com.

Jennifer is a graduate of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado. In Boulder, Jennifer wrote for the Daily Camera and worked at the university's student-run, independent radio station, KVCU Radio 1190.

Being a recent graduate in the "real" world, she is constantly searching for any sort of deal or free event to help her get by in the Big City during the recession. Jennifer aims to keep you in the loop with any tech deal she finds during her ongoing search. She also is addicted to entering contests, so please send them her way.

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RE: Capture the mood with Sony's new low-light-shooting Cyber-shots
joeblotnik49@... 16th Aug 2009
Oh my! It's ALMOST as good as my 4 year old, $250 Fuji digital camera!
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The reviewer states incorrectly that the sensor allows more light into the camera. That is not possible. The sensor may achieve a greater ability to capture the light entering the camera (such as with a higher sensitivity to light), but that's a different technical issue. The only way more light can pass into the camera would be with a lens that has a higher (wider) maximum aperture. That wider aperture would be expressed by a smaller number, such as F1.4.
Jennifer,

As a photographer I can't belive that you wrote,
"... CMOS sensor, which allows more light into the camera."

It's the lens that lets light into the camera. The sensor then captures whatever light is present.

Evidently this new sensor can capture more light than past sensors which for me is a good thing. I work on movie sets creating the still photographs which will be used later to promote the film. Often films are shot in low light for dramatic effect but it is a terrible situation for me. That's because the audience will accept blur as part of the film but not in my stills. This new sensor could end up in a Nikon professional camera or their semi-pro Coolpix line and if it does I might purchase one.

Terry Thomas
Film Set Stills Photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
www.TerryThomasPhotos.com
How many more years do stand-alone cameras have left?
Is it possible to read the article before you reply? The
article clearly states that they have altered the
physical layout of the sensors to remove wires that had
blocked the light that hits the sensing element.

Thus the same amount of light passes through the lens
but more of that light is available.
Oh my! It's ALMOST as good as my 4 year old, $250 Fuji digital camera!

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