The Sony DSC-TX55 Cyber-Shot Digital Camera is an interesting little point-and-shoot with more to offer than the genre's name suggests. Sure, you can just point-and-shoot for pictures that are well exposed and easily captured. But Sony gave the TX55 options that allow you to do more than that.

However, none of this would mean anything if the camera couldn't back these functions up with a substantial amount of pixels. The DSC-TX55 puts 16.2Mp at your fingertips for detailed, clean stills. The camera also gives you the option to capture 1080/60i HD video and 3D still images. No matter how you decide to record the moments of your life, all files are stored to your option of memory cards, which include Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro Mark 2, Micro SD, and Micro SDHC cards.

Helping you to shoot with ease and creativity are a number of features. First is the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 25mm wide-angle lens. This lens has a large focal range, 5x optical zoom, and works with Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. Together with the 1/2.33" Exmor R CMOS sensor and the camera's BIONZ image processor your images are recorded with clarity and efficiency.

Another essential is the 3.3" rear OLED touch screen. Compose, review, and navigate the menu with this large display. Another on-camera feature is the built-in flash for low-light and stop motion capture. The flash is called a "Natural Flash", which aims to capture colors the way the eye sees them by taking a reference shot before shooting the actual flash.

Internal modes include the standard, such as Face Detection, to the proprietary, such as Sweep Multi Angle mode which enables 3D image capture. The included, pre-installed, software for the TX55 is Sony's Picture Motion Browser Portable software, which lets you edit and share your photos and videos and ease. This software is compatible with PC for photo and video editing. Mac users can edit their videos using the optional iMovie.

16.2MP Back-Illuminated Exmor R CMOS Image Sensor

The DSC-TX55 features a 16.2 megapixel "Exmor R" CMOS image sensor that brings out the full resolving power of the camera's Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to deliver extremely fast speed, high resolution, and stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. In addition, the combined "Exmor R" CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor delivers extremely fast up to 10 fps, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight and 1080i movie modes

Slim and Stylish Design

As thin as an AA battery at just under 1/2 inch, this stylish camera is the perfect size to take along almost everywhere. Slip it into a pocket, purse, or backpack and be ready to shoot memorable moments

Full HD 1080/60i Video Capture

Record crystal clear movies at the highest resolution available with capabilities for 60i in 1080. This provides stunning, fast motion video with less distortion for playback on your HD TV. Resolutions for movie capture run from 640 x 480 (VGA) all the way up to the aforementioned 1920 x 1080. In addition, you can even capture still images from the video you've shot

3.3" (1229K Dots) OLED Touch Screen with Wide Viewing Angle

3.3" (1,229K dots) OLED touch screen with wide viewing angle delivers brilliant-quality still images and movies while enabling easy focusing operation. The new reinforced-glass touch screen gives the camera a sturdy feeling and prevents color bleed during touch operations

Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode

Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode for blur-free movies even while walking. Camera-shake compensation using Optical SteadyShot/Active Mode has been improved with the addition of new electronic image stabilization. Now it's easier than ever to obtain sharp, blur-free movies even when zooming in unsteady situations, such as shooting with one hand while walking

3D Still Image and 3D Sweep Panorama Mode

Produce awe-inspiring images with 3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama capabilities. Images will take on a new dimension to view the world in a whole new way

Background Defocus

DSLR photographs are often beautiful because they blur the background, putting the emphasis on your subject. Now our point-and-shoot cameras can deliver this signature DSLR benefit. The system takes two shots, identifies the background and applies a defocused background keeping the subject crisp and clear

Superior Auto Mode

Get cleaner, more dynamic pictures and fewer missed shots. The camera automatically recognizes the correct scene mode, then quickly shoots and combines up to six shots to produce images with greater clarity, optimum dynamic range using backlight correction HDR technology and lower image noise using 6 shots layering technology. Superior Auto intelligently detects 36 scenes for still images and movies, making it easy to get the best shot

Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR Mode

With Intelligent Sweep Panorama HR mode just press the shutter, pan the landscape and let the camera do the rest. It automatically links together each frame to produce a high resolution panoramic image providing the ability to print very large panoramic images as well as to zoom in on small details in the distance and crop them in for a larger view of the object. The high resolution image is a 42.9Mp file which is compressed into a jpg. When opening the file in Picture Motion Browser ver. 5.6, it decompresses to the 42.9Mp file

Clear Image Digital Zoom

Clear image digital zoom maintains a high-resolution feel that is as precise as optical zoom and vastly expands the zoom range without lowering visible quality or pixel count in the final image. With Pixel Super Resolution processing, the camera's 5x optical zoom range is extended, allowing full resolution 16.2Mp images with a maximum 10x zoom

High Speed Shooting

The DSC-TX55 can capture full 16.2 megapixel resolution images at up to 10 frames per second, helping to ensure that the decisive moment is captured such as the soccer ball flying into the goal. In addition, the DSC-TX55 employs a mechanical shutter that helps reduce distortion when continuously shooting moving subjects

Picture Effect for More Expressive Photos

Picture Effect adds a new level of expression to photos, making ordinary landscapes and portraits come to life by heightening mood and emphasizing certain attributes. Seven effects give free reign to your imagination to expand creative horizons. HDR Painting creates a rich painted look. Rich-tone Monochrome produces an artistic black and white image. Miniature transforms mundane landscapes into fascinating works of art. Toy camera transitions an ordinary photo into one with high contrast, tunnel view, and four color shifts. Partial color results in a stunning monochrome photo containing a single designated color. High-key creates photos with heightened brightness for a soft clean look

Natural Flash

Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 25mm Equivalent Wide Angle 5x Optical Zoom

The high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for video recording as well as for outdoor, sports, and travel photos, and Close Focus shoots close-ups within a 1/2" of the subject. A 25mm equivalent wide-angle lens allows you to take wider shots of the scene or group in crowded spaces

HDMI Output

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a compact audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. HDMI connects digital audio/video sources such as a compatible camcorder, Blu-ray Disc player, a personal computer, a video game console, or an AV receiver to a compatible digital audio device and/or video monitor such as a digital television (DTV). Easily connect your Cyber-shot camera via HDMI cable (sold separately) to any compatible HDMI device to easily enjoy and upload content

Smile Shutter Technology

Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. Also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can be used together with Smile Shutter mode. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting

Soft Skin Mode

Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot

Motion Detection

Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces

Backlight HDR

Don't miss a single detail in high contrast shots. The built in backlight correction analyzes the image and automatically adjusts accordingly to give you a perfectly lit shot

Compatible with PC and Mac Systems

The Full HD video captured with the DSC-TX55 can be used with the provided Picture Motion Browser software for PC and iMovie (sold separately) for Mac systems

Anti-Blink Function

It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting or blinking. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot

Face Detection Technology

Sony's Face Detection technology can automatically distinguish between children and adults. Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends

Sweep Multi Angle Mode

In Sweep Multi Angle mode, the camera takes 15 images at different angles as it sweeps across the scene. By tilting the camera during playback, the camera's Gyro Sensor detects motion and displays the image in a 3D-like view on the camera's LCD

Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.6

Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD using an external DVD burning device, as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites (such as Facebook and Sony's Personal Space? site). Using the new 5.6 version also enables playback of 3D images taken on the Cyber-shot camera

Smart Zoom Technology

16Mp Approx. 20x / 10Mp Approx. 25x / 5Mp Approx. 35x / VGA: Approx. 72x / 12Mp (16:9) Approx. 20x / 2Mp (16:9) Approx 48x

Advanced Features

In-camera editing: Trimming, red eye correction, unsharp masking
Shooting tips, Intelligent Auto, and Blink detection

Scene Modes

High Sensitivity / Night Scene / Handheld Twilight / Night Portrait / Soft Snap / Landscape / Beach / Snow / Fireworks / Hi-Speed Shutter / Gourmet / Pet / Soft Skin / Anti Motion Blur / Backlight Correction HDR

AF Modes

9 points AF (Under Face Undetected) / Center Weighted AF / Spot AF/ Flexible Spot AF (touch)

Exposure Compensation

Plus / Minus 2.0 EV, 1/3 EV step