Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V review (Silver)

Editors' note: Several of the design, features, and shooting options are identical between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V and the Cyber-shot TX66 we reviewed earlier, so readers of the earlier review may experience some deja vu when reading the same sections below.

Sony's T-series cameras have always been showpieces. Ultraslim, ultrasmall point-and-shoots that you whipped out at a party or a night out that made people stop and take notice. Its top-of-the-line 2012 model, the TX200V, still elicits that response, but the "oh, wow, that looks cool," comments are now punctuated with a "but it looks like my smartphone." And looking at it, that response is understandable.

However, the TX200V is more powerful than most -- if not all -- current ultracompact cameras, and a smartphone can't compete with all of its capabilities. At just barely more than half an inch thick, the TX200V features an 18-megapixel Exmor R backside-illuminated sensor, a 5x f3.5-4.8 26-130mm Carl Zeiss lens, and a 3.3-inch 1.2-million-dot-resolution touch-screen OLED display. It's also waterproof to 16 feet as well as dustproof and freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Apparently putting all of that into a very small body is a costly undertaking. The suggested retail price for the TX200V is $500, which elicited one response from everyone I told: laughter.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V's 18-megapixel resolution doesn't really bring anything to the table for regular snapshots. If you view photos at 100 percent, you'll see noise and subjects look soft and painterly, especially once you get above ISO 200. Despite having a resolution you might find on a larger digital SLR, the photos do not compare.

That said, at reduced sizes -- 60 or 70 percent or smaller -- photos do look very good up to ISO 800. If most of your shots end up on Facebook or get turned into photobooks or 8.5x11 prints or smaller, you'll probably be pretty happy with what this tiny camera turns out.

Sample photos:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V

If you're looking for accurate colors, you won't get them with the TX200V (reds were an exception). However, they are bright and vivid, which, frankly, is what most people want from a point-and-shoot. If you don't fall into that category, Sony has added simple sliders to its auto modes for brightness, hue, and saturation, so you can tune them to your liking. (For more on this Sony's photo quality, view the sample photo slideshow.)

For its size, the TX200V turns out great full HD video in AVCHD format; good enough to be viewed on a large HDTV. The 1080/60p resolution and strong image stabilization makes for some smooth movement. Shooting fast-moving subjects with a pocket camera typically results in ghosting and judder, but that's not the case here. If you're looking for a single ultracompact device for capturing photos and movie clips (it has a 29-minute continuous recording limit), this is one of the best options available. The optical zoom does work while recording, though you may hear it moving in quiet scenes, and the stereo mic produced good audio.

Sony continues to do an excellent job of getting the most from its speedy Exmor R sensors and high-performance Bionz image processors to give snapshooters better results. There are plenty of shooting options on the TX200V to play with, including nine creative modes for those of you who are addicted to filters and effects. (For more on this Sony's shooting capabilities, view the sample photo slideshow.)