FujiFilm FinePix

AX280

The Sony Cybershot DSC-TX5 is sleek and slim with a slide-down face that reveals the lens and the flash. Almost the entire back of the camera is used to provide a very generous 3″ LCD touch screen. No space is lost on the rear for controls and buttons – nearly everything is driven through the touch-operated menu system.

Despite looking all delicate and dainty, the TX5 is one of the most robust digital compact cameras in the world. It’s curvy body is extremely rugged. It is built to withstand all sorts of extremes – like surviving a drop from up to about 5 feet or being as much as 10 feet underwater for up to an hour. Even extreme temperatures pose no problem. The pink DSC-TX5 is designed to work at any temperature between -10° and +40° celcius. Add to this the fact that the pink Sony TX5 is certified as dust and sand-proof and you might begin to wonder just what you do have to do to destroy it.

The 10 megapixel TX5 features a Carl Zeiss Vario- Tessar lens offering a 4x ultra-wide optical zoom (25mm to 100mm equivalent). Combined with a 9-point Auto-Focus system that can detect up to 8 faces in the shot and SteadyShot image stabilisation system results surely be pleasingly pin-sharp.

Many manual settings and preset modes are available, from lighting modes to ISO speeds. There’s also a fully automatic mode which yields great point-and-click results too. For taking shots of fast moving objects (whether it be racing cars or young kids), the super-fast burst rate of 10 frames per second for up to ten shots even at maximum resolution helps you to be certain that you have the best shot. Keep the best, delete the others. For indoor shots, the TX5’s flash has a range of up to 9.5 feet (reduced to 7.9 at maximum zoom).

As well as great stills, the pink Cybershot TX5 has a 720p HD video mode (as well as an SD 640×480 pixel mode) which makes MP4 format movies at 29.97 frames per second with monaural audio.

Another great feature to be found on the TX5 is Sony’s Sweep Panorama mode which allows for automatic panoramas to be made directly by the camera. Turning through up to 258 degrees will allow up to 100 shots to be taken and automatically stitched together to a single image.

When it comes to storage, Sony is once again a little more open-minded than in the past and allows a choice of either their own proprietary Memory Stick PRO Duo cards or plain simple (and frankly, much more popular) Secure Digital (SD) and SDHC cards. If the worst happens and you accidentally leave your memory card at home, the pink Cybershot TX5 has 45MB of in-built memory so at least a handful of shots are still possible.

Power comes from a Sony InfoLithium NP-BN1 rechargeable battery (the charger is supplied in the box), which the company claims is good for about 250 shots before it needs charging (assuming you don’t use the flash too much that is). Sony’s Picture Motion Browser v5.0 and Picture Motion Browser Portable (5.0 for Windows / 1.1 for Mac OS) software is also included.

Dimensions
The TX5 is 94mm (W) x 57mm (H) x 18mm (D) and weighs just 144g with the battery installed.

In addition to pink, the the the new model will be available in a choice of black, silver, red and green and is expected to be available from April.

As soon as it is launched we will be sure to compare prices of all the major stores so that you can find the cheapest pink Sony Cybershot DSC-TX5 here. Why not set a bookmark and check back regularly.

Canon

Digital IXUS 130

Both the IXUS 105 and 130 share some common components – notably the lens and LCD display and both look quite alike in design. Noticeable is how much curvier things have got since any other IXUS we can remember, even back to the APS days of the mid nineties.

Pink IXUS 130

The IXUS 130, due to be available in pink and three other colours, offers a whopping 14.1 megapixel  with a 4x optical zoom and a whole host of features to really make you drool. The ultra-slim metal case (also the slimmest IXUS ever) houses a huge 2.7-inch LCD display.  Other pink IXUS 105 features include:-

• 14.1 MP
• 28mm wide, 4x zoom. Optical IS
• 6.9 cm (2.7”) PureColor II G LCD
• Smart Auto, Face Detection. Hints & Tips
• HD movies. HDMI
• Smart Shutter
• Smart Flash Exposure, i-Contrast
• DIGIC 4 & Servo AF/AE
• Creative shooting modes

Compare Prices of the Pink IXUS 130

Price comparison will be available shortly. Price expected to be around £279

Pink IXUS 105

In the same announcement, the new pink IXUS 105 also made it’s very first outing. Also available in a choice of several colours in addition to pink, the 105 will be 12.1 megapixel with a 4x Optical Zoom. No HD video either, but of course SD video is there.  The pink Canon IXUS 105 will launch in March and is expected to go for £189.

• 12.1 Megapixel IXUS with compact metal body in four colour options
• Genuine Canon 28mm wide-angle 4x zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer
• 6.8cm (2.7”) PureColor LCD II
• Smart Auto with Smart Flash Exposure and Scene Detection Technology for great looking photos in all situations
• Face Detection, FaceSelf-Timer and Auto Red-Eye Correction
• Combats blur with ISO Auto, Motion Detection Technology and IS
• i-Contrast helps retain shadow and highlight detail
• DIGIC 4 processing for ultra-fast response and high image quality
• Range of shooting modes including Low Light
• Smooth, 30fps VGA movies with Long Play for greater recording times

Compare Prices of the Pink IXUS 105

Price comparison will be available shortly.

Whether the launch of these new models will sound the ‘last orders’ bell for the IXUS 95 and IXUS 110 we cannot be sure. We suspect that in time these models, both still selling well but both now over a year old, will be phased out.

Panasonic

DMC-FS7

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