Buy Sony DSC-WX5 WX Series Exmor R CMOS SensorSony DSC-WX5 WX Series Exmor R CMOS Sensor Product Description:
- 12.2-megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor
- Capture vast scenic vistas and 16:9 shots with 3D Sweep Panorama
- 24mm (35mm equiv) professional wide angle G Lens
- 1080i AVCHD Movie records high-quality HD movies
- Includes camera, rechargeable battery, wrist strap, battery charger, paint pen, multi-connector cable, and CD-ROM
Product Description
Pictures that you could only imagine are now possible with the DSC-WX5. It starts with the outstanding low-light performance of Sony's "Exmor R" CMOS sensor. Amazing features like Superior Auto and Background Defocus make it easy to get the best shot. There's even 3D Sweep Panorama8 and Full HD 1080/60i AVCHD movies.7
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
WX5 vs. S95 vs. P300 vs. LX5
By Eric J. Svancara
I am an armature photographer who's goal is to capture moments in my life as well as those around me. I hate using flash photography as I want to capture images/video the exact way that it originally appeared to me. For most occasions I use a Canon 20D with a Canon 1.8 50mm prime lens. This setup allows me to capture "moments" in low light, with no flash. However, at time has gone on I have found it rather unrealistic to carry a DSLR with me at all times for various reasons, also I wanted to be able to capture video as well. I did not want to have to carry a separate device in order to capture video as well. So, the next logical conclusion was to look for a point and shoot camera that would perform in low light situations as well as record high quality video as well.In no particular order I am reviewing all the P&S cameras that I reviewed in their comparable classes. The requirements were 1) To be easily pocketable 2)high performance in low light with no flash 3) record high quality video 4) have reasonable zoom for photos as well as videoP300 - NikonThis camera is small = very pocket friendly being the third smallest on the list, equipped with a fast lens ie f/1.8, and has good zoom @ 4.2X, video res; 1080p @ 30fps, sensor is CMOS. This camera takes really good low light pictures, the lens and CMOS sensor helps a great deal with this. Also, the P300 takes closer macro pictures than the other cameras as well as a wider angle. However, the video can be choppy/jumpy at times. The P300 scored 3/4 on my scaleS95 - CanonThis camera is still very pocketable, however it is the second smallest on the list. The lens is a f/2.0, zoom @ 3.8X, video res; 720p, sensor is CCD (CMOS is better) however the CCD sensor in the S95 is around double the size of the two cameras with CMOS and the S95 has a superior digital processor. Out of all the cameras when considering general photography as well as low light photography the S95 takes the best pictures out of all 4 cameras. However, the video is of lower quality and is easily to see when comparing. Also the video mode does not allow any zoom. This camera scored 3/4 as well.LX5 - PanasonicThis camera is the least pocketable of all the cameras listed to the point that I would not be able to fit this camera into my pants pocket. The lens is a f/2.0, zoom @ 3.8X, video res; 720p, sensor is CCD (CMOS is better) however the CCD sensor in the LX5 has the largest sensor out of all 4 cameras. Out of all the cameras when considering general photography, and low light the LX5 falls slightly below the S95, however the LX5 is the most superior camera for macro shots out of all 4 cameras. The LX5 video also though 720p is still superior to that of the S95 and P300. Also unlike the S95, the LX5 can zoom during video. The only negative for this camera was it's larger size. Again I score this camera a 3/4.WX5 - SonyThis camera is the smallest out of all 4 i.e. 40% smaller than the canon. The lens is a f/2.4, zoom @ 5x, video res; 1080p, sensor is CMOS however, this sensor is smaller than LX5 and S95 CCD. The sensors nor the lenses are not the only thing to consider, the processor and it's software are also rather important. That is where this camera really shines. For general and low light the LX5 and S95 win, but not by a large margin. The WX5's video is only second to the LX5, since the LX5 captures better overall and lower light images. I scored this camera a 4/4.To summarize best;Low light photography = 1)S95 2)LX5 3)WX5 4)P300General photography = 1)S95 2)LX5 3)WX5 4)P300Size (smallest) = 1)WX5 2)S95 3)P300 4)LX5Best Video = 1)LX5 2)WX5 3)S95 4)P300Most zoom = 1)WX5 2)P300 3)LX5/S95S95; What killed it for me was the non ability to zoom during video, and the low amount of zoom as wellLX5; What killed it for me was the too large of size, if you can get past that for your use it is the best choiceP300; What killed it for me was the terrible video and lower low light performance.WX5 vs. WX9 vs. WX10What is the difference between these cameras and why should you consider one over the other?WX9 lens is f/2.6 however, it is the thinest of the three camerasWX10 lens is f/2.5 however, it has 7.6X zoom but is the thickets out of the three camerasThe WX9 and WX10 are more expensive, the only reason you should consider the WX9 is if you want an ever so slightly larger screen and ever so slightly thinner camera. As for the WX10 it has better zoom and better image stabilization.Here is a picture I took at club Moon in Las Vegas with my WX5 of Hip-Hop artist YelaWolf.[IMG][...][/IMG]
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
High quality full HD camcorder in your pocket!
By geekmeister
This camera is perfect for any parent who wants to preserve their kids' adorable moments for posterity but doesn't want to lug a camcorder around. Being just such a parent I was looking for a pocket camera that could replace my aging and trusty Canon SD870IS (which shoots a perfectly acceptable SD, or standard definition video), but I wanted to start shooting in full 1080P HD (with stereo sound). Until this little SONY camera came along, nothing fit the bill. I purchased this camera the moment it came out on the market (with little or no reviews to fall back on.) I wasn't disappointed. No, this camera is not perfect, but if you are looking to shoot full HD video AND have the camera fit in your pocket, you can't go wrong with Sony DSC-WX5.Here are some pros and cons:PROS:- Shoots very high quality HD 1080p (and 1080i) video. Perfect pocketable HD camcorder replacement.- Excellent low light video capabilities (almost zero noise in videos).- Excellent photos in good light (sometimes almost DSLR-like), good in low light (with some noise reduction artifacts).- Decent optical image stabilizer (but not perfect - keep your camera steady for best shots).- Beautiful, high-resolution screen (I recommend getting a HARD clear plastic screen protector - the screen seems fragile).- Metal body (feels very well made)- Small form factor (this thing is tiny and extremely pocketable!)- Fast 5X zoom. The zoom toggle is very sensitive and well positioned.- Great 24mm wide-angle lens that can record wide areas - very rare in video cameras for any price.- Easy to navigate menus- Dedicated video recording button (can shoot video no matter the current photo setting). Perfect for catching those unexpected moments.- Recessed ON button make it nearly impossible to turn on the camera unintentionally (and risk breaking the lens).- Everything is very automated (easy for non-techy people and especially useful when shooting kids.)- Can shoot very sharp HD in both AVCHD 60fps 1080i and MP4 30fps 1080p (I only shoot MP4 because I hate interlaced videos and desire highest level of compatibility with video players and editors. Please note that shooting at 30fps requires slow panning to prevent jerkiness in your videos)- 3D photos (requires good light and lots of practice).- Can use standard SD flash cards (not just Sony Memory Sticks as in times past).CONS:- Battery life is mediocre compared to older cameras (but many newest HD pocket cameras on the market today are not much better), especially if you shoot lots of video (so buy spare batteries - I bought some aftermarket ones at an auction site for $15 / each - they work just fine). Some Amazon resellers sell cheap aftermarket batteries as well. Batteries are very small, so get 2 or three extras.- Videos record some low level auto-focusing and optical stabilizer noise that is audible in some quiet settings. Zoom noise is also recorded (so, I try to avoid zoom when shooting videos, but it's nice to have it available when needed - most pocket camera disable zoom.)- Camera occasionally has trouble auto-focusing in video mode (especially in dark settings.)- A non-standard connector for file transfer (Sony like proprietary stuff). Not a big deal, but still...- Recessed ON button (a plus against accidental camera activation) can be hard to press, especially if you have large fingers and short fingernails.- When using flash sometimes the left corner of a photo is darker when completely zoomed out to shoot widest area possible - protruding lens obscures flash (a limitation of positioning of the flash element on cameras of this size). No biggie and sure beats annoying pop-up flashes in some of the newer pocket cameras by other manufacturers.)- Very few manual controls.- Some noise in low light photos.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
GREAT CAMERA, but DO NOT COVER THE MIKE!
By A.Y.
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RLSKY2ZU6B0H1 We purchased this 12.2MP compact digital camera because it was the ONLY product on the market that met all three of our requirements: (1) 24mm Wide Angle: 28mm is simply not wide enough for too many places we have visited. (2) Full-HD Video: 1080 HD at 60 frames per second is noticeably sharper and smoother than 720 30p & 24p. (3) Underwater Housing: For scuba diving.24mm Wide Angle: WX5 has a sharp 24-120mm equivalent 5X zoom, which delivers considerably wider field of view than most compact digital cameras normally equipped with 28 or 35mm lenses.Full-HD Video: WX5 delivers sharp and smooth 1920 X 1080 60i AVCHD and 1440 X 1080 30p MP4 videos that are comparable to our SR11 camcorder. The camera also has optical zooming and continuous auto focus in the Movie mode; however, a little zooming noise can be heard in the video and the zooming action is not camcorder smooth. From now on, the WX5 will be our main video camera for travel and underwater because it is smaller, lighter, and has a much wider lens. Videos recorded on the Class 10 SDHC card came out very smooth, but a little less so with the Class 4 memory hence getting Class 6 or higher is recommended. A fully charged battery will record about 40 minutes of Full-HD video, cinematographers should bring extra batteries accordingly.Underwater Housing: Ikelite makes a compact and lightweight waterproof case for the WX5, enabling the camera to be used for scuba diving and all sorts of water sports. The clear housing is very well built, and all of the camera functions are easily accessible. The rear buttons are very close together so it's a good idea to wear the thinnest dive gloves possible. Since the WX5 does not have RAW and Manual, we will rely on a translucent white-balance diffuser to properly set Custom White Balance for stills and videos, and use Exposure Compensation and ISO settings to manually adjust exposure for difficult lighting situations like underwater. RAW is only for photos; therefore, people who value videos as much as stills should learn to use Custom White Balance to get the most accurate colors.iSweep Panorama: This in-camera feature automatically takes and stitches multiple shots to form one ultra-wide image, it will be extremely useful, visiting places like the Grand Canyon or the Great Wall of China. The stitching isn't perfect every time so it's a good idea to take a few shots and choose the best one. Although this feature was not on our must-have list before, it will be from now on since it is easy to use and does a great job!ISO Performance: The Exmor R sensor produces very good low-light performance up to ISO 800. Since people don't share photos, pixel-peeping at 100%, the 50% crops can better demonstrate what the noise levels will appear under normal viewing on a 1920 X 1200 monitor. Personally, I won't hesitate, using ISO 400, or even ISO 800 when necessary, but not ISO 1600 on up.The bottom line is the WX5 is a great little camera with class-leading performance and feature set; however, it is after all a compact point-&-shoot so don't expect dSLR performance from such a tiny lens and sensor. As always, to get the best results for nighttime and indoor shots from a compact camera - use the lowest ISO setting and a tripod. Freezing fast-moving subjects in low light - use a dSLR.CAUTION: DO NOT COVER THE MICROPHONE WITH YOUR FINGER WHILE RECORDING VIDEOS because loud camera noise will be recorded in your movies, causing you to think the camera is defected. Also, since MOST computers cannot play highly detailed Full-HD videos without stuttering, one must check the smoothness of the movies on a HDTV before faulting the camera.I have quite a few samples images and videos: google: albert yu wx5
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