Sony just unveiled three new compact cams, with two—the WX5 and TX9—that make up Sony’s first cameras “that can capture amazing 3D images to enjoy on any 3D-compatible TV.” The two cams both feature 12.1 megapixels sensors, and achieve the 3D images using something called 3D Sweep Panorama technology.
The first 3D compact cam we’ve seen, Fuji’s FinePix Real 3D W1, packed a pair of lenses on either side of the cam’s frame that takes simultaneous images to achieve the effect. Sony’s method comes with a single lens, but uses the same concept: you press the shutter (to get a quick burst) and sweep the camera from side to side to get a series of shots from up to 15 different angles, and the cam combines them into a stereoscopic image. You’re going to need to connect it to a 3D-capable HD display via HDMI to see the results though.
Both cams also feature good low-noise shooting, thanks to the Superior Auto mode that combines up to six frames (again, in a burst) into a quality “DSLR-like” shot. The mode also comes with a Backgroud Defocus feature that gives a nice depth-of-field effect you’d normally get from a cam with a wide aperture lens that blurs the background after merging two shots.
Both cams feature widescreen LCD displays and HD video recording, but come in different body types. The WX5 features an f2.8, 5x zoom lens, a 2.8-inch LCD screen and standard camera buttons, while the TX9 is a 17.5mm-thick pancake compact that packs a 4x zoom, a larger 3.5-inch touchscreen for controls, and a waterproof frame for shooting underwater panoramas.
The WX5 will cost $300, while the TX9 is priced at $400. Both will be available in September.
Sony also announced another compact, the T99, that shares the TX9’s compact design but drops the 3D capabilities (although it keeps the waterproof frame and can still shoot 2D sweep panoramas). Priced at $250, the T99 packs a 14.1MP sensor, a smaller 3-inch touchscreen, amd a slightly slimmer 16.8mm-thick frame.
Tags: 3D digicams, 3D imaging, Cyber-shot, Digital Cameras, Sony
