Today the Sony has released their first generation of Cyber-shot cameras supporting 3D technology if you use their Sweep Panorama mode. It was about time for this technology to start trickling down the product line. The DSC-TX9 and DSC-WX5 models will come equipped with 12.2 megapixel sensor polished under Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® and Sony G 4x zoom lens respectively. Of course to view the 3D effect of your panoramic pictures (which Sony says the camera captures high-speed burst of frames which are is stitched together using innovative processing techniques to automatically create detail-packed 3D panoramas) you gotta have a 3D TV and those glasses.
Also we learned that Sony will do some magic with your PS3 when they release a 3D Viewer for the console giving you the possibility of not only enjoying 3D photos via your PS3, but also navigating through your photos (Zoom, Pan) increasing the 3D effect drastically. Both T9 and WX5 will feature HDMI out so you could enjoy that 3D goodness on your TV.
Here is some images of the DSC-WX5, which looks quite smashing with its matching color lens ring and is available for $299 pre-order at SonyStyle. Colors include Black and Silver for the USA, while other territories will enjoy brown, beige, blue and pink variants:
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Sony really kicked up the detail of the WX5. Check out the back of the device – the font and so forth is a color shade that matches the color. I love it. Also in the small gallery below is two pictures of exclusive engraved models available by Sony only in Japan.
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Here is the DSC-TX9, which continues on with the popular Cyber-shot TX design that has been floating around for several product cycles. We don’t blame Sony for continuing to use this style, as it has proved popular among consumers.
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Of course, there is other TX9 exclusive engraved variants available in Japan:
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So, it sounds all pretty cool, but I am just wondering how many people out there will be sitting in front of their 3D TVs with their glasses on just to view the 3D panoramic images. I think for this technology to really take off we either have to have 3D printers or have 3D enabled displays requiring no glasses, but I am sure it is all in the works and current 3D is its baby stages of development. I am sure forthcoming 3D VAIOs will be good to play with those images for a little bit.
There are a couple of new modes that Sony added to both of these cameras:
- Sweep Multi Angle™ lets you view images moving in simulated 3D right on the cameras’ LCD screen by tilting the camera back and forth
- Background Defocus, which simulates depth of field control and makes it easy to achieve pro-style images, similar to the results achieved with a DSLR camera and wide-aperture lens.
- Superior Auto mode captures a high-speed burst of up to six frames when you press the shutter button. Camera settings are automatically optimized according to shooting conditions. Cyber-shot™ then combines information from each frame to create an exquisite, low-noise picture with wide dynamic range, as enjoyed by DSLR photo enthusiasts.
- New Soft Skin mode flatters portrait subjects even further, automatically removing small wrinkles and skin blemishes for effortlessly beautiful results.
Sony US press release did not mention anything about its TransferJet capabilities, but we also learned that those two cameras will support it as well. You will just end up buying that special Memory Stick and any other accessories required for you to wirelessly transfer images between your TV and your PC (unless you own one of those VAIO F series that comes embedded with TransferJet tech).
TX9 and WX5 Cybershot cameras will allow you to shoot HD video either in 720p or 1080i mode respectively.
Here is an awesome video of the new DSC-WX5 and DSC-TX9 at the official Sony Japan press event, courtesy of Diginfonews:
Check out this quick snapshot WX5 in real life:
