Sony's new DSC-T5

Sony's new T5 has all the things you love (and hate) about Sony's T-series CyberShot camera line: nice Carl Zeiss optics, very decent resolution (5.1 megapixels, in this case), 3x optical zoom, a sweet 2.5-inch screen, 32MB of internal memory, and, of course, MemoryStick media. With the 0.8-inch thick shooter (which is actually thicker than its predecessors, the T3 and T7) they're claiming increased battery life too, supposedly now with up to 240 shots per charge. Expect it in September for $350.

[Via Yahoo]

[Elias @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Poor Carl... he'd kill himself if he knew his name was on this camera. Twice.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Sony's been selling these compact cameras at 5.1 megapixels with a 2.5 inch screen for years. At least this looks like a small price drop, but up the specs already! Sheesh.

[fabulously @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

people dislike sony T-series except for their superficially clever screens.

[paul @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

will be fun seeing other manufacturer's incorporating the new design in their upcoming models

[Derrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Well, with a more generous battery life, hopefully we won't have to resort to buying more pirated batteries for the Sony T series.

[Ryan gardner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I >LOVE< my T3. I carry it everywhere I go. It's very small, and the image quality is great. The camera is almost INSTANTLY ready to take a picture once I turn it on.

The T5 takes a backwards step by re-introducing that stupid sliding power/lens cover. I had another Sony cam with that sliding cover feature, and it would always turn on in my pocket because it would get slid aroudn and opened. It seems more secure until you think about that factor. A dinky power button, on the other hand, is hard to push and when it powers the lens cover, it keeps your camera off and protected.

The T5 looks lame compared to the T3, but then again, so did the T33...

[KB @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

So let me get this right, Sony introduced the T1 in the 4Q of 2003, then released the T11 in the overseas market, then the T3, T33, T7, and now the T5? Wow. How about investing in proper R&D to make the best product and waiting atleast a year to reintroduce something significantly different and better?

[sr20de @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I bought a T1 when it came out. What a crappy camera that was. Indoor shots were so awful. Maybe they have fixed that, but as long as they use Memory Sticks, Sony will never even be a consideration.

Point and shoots suck anyway.

[Louie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

These are terrible cameras. Sure, the fit in your pocket, but there's better for less money. I can't stand the lack of any manual features and the terrible lens vignetting.

Get a freakin' Canon SD500.

[hamish @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I've been using a T1 for a year now, and it's awesome. My shots have been reprinted full page in national glossies and look amazing quality considering the size of device they were taken on.

Most of those knocking it probably haven't tried it. It's super simple to use, with a good set of manual features for the size/price, and it because of it's form factor, it goes everywhere I do.

[Jerrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Is it just me or does it look oddly like the PS3?!

[Ryan Gardner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

#8 - RTFM.

There are manual functions on the camera... exposure, shutter speed, depth of focus, flash level, etc.

It has a dynamic histogram to let you know what's going on. I shoot with the program mode all the time to get the effects I want.

[Bryant Choung @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

As long as they were beefing it up, they should have improved the flash. IT has long been the been drawback to this line.

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I carry a T7 every day and like it a lot. Excellent, compact camera. I'm not sure I see the point of this new model though... it is a lot thicker and does not appear to have any better performance.

T7 for life!

[Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I have the T1, great camera until you go inside and need to use the flash.

Pisses me off I get a new product and within a year, there have been a few updates to the line.

[Cullen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

yeah, its also got TERRIBLE color saturation, an awful lens (really. please dont talk about that thing like its something special), and the worst tech support in the world behind it. look at the panasonic equivelant, its a far better camera, although more expensive.
this does look like a ps3 :p it also looks like a side by side refrigerator. wtf sony

[Bollocks Mate @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Sheeeesh!

16x9.

16x9.

16x9.

Where's the 16x9 Sensor?

The Panasonic DMC-LX1 is going to blow away the competition when it comes out. Sony will have some catch-up to do........

[~J~ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Well I've had my T1 for just over a year now and never had a single's day bother with it. It WAS back then the worlds smallest 5.1Mbps camera and I bought it for �200 from a Dixons store when they were closing down.

My only gripe was the pathetically small 16Mb Duo stick, but �70 later I had a 256Mb Magic Gate.

Quality wise, it's perfect, I've seen other cameras that are meant to be superior have diabolical output and often see people having to change settings for a picture when *snap* the moment has gone. Not with my T1, simply bring it out, pop down the slide, point and click. Exactly what a camera should be.

I doubt I'll get the T5, but if I were looking for a camera now, it'd definately be on my list to buy.

[Colin Miller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

Why so much hostility? I did a bunch of research on cameras, found that the T1 was the most suitable for my purposes, bought it, and the only problem I've had is with the flash. Otherwise it's been fine.

Think about what you want to do with a camera. Read up on the pros and cons of every camera before you buy one. That will determine the camera best for you.

If you've done so, you'll choose the right one and you shouldn't be suprised or upset about anything about it later. Done!

[Graham Kaplan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

That is one sexy sexy fridge.
I think someone over in Sony-world has a thing for refrigerator-like gadgets.

[pujutengineered @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

I wonder why they are taking a step backwards by having the T5 thicker than T7 with almost every same feature... I have a T7 and I think it's not too bad, just some problems when flash comes into play. There are settings for you to tweak with.. And T5 retails for $350, that's $150 off the T7's $500 retail pricetag

[mediaphile @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

i've had my DSC-T1 for a year, and i love it. i've taken about 2000 pictures with it (ones that i've kept, anyway), and while it has its drawbacks, it has its advantages as well. no one i know carries their digital camera around because they're all so thick. not necessarily big, but thick. not something you can stick in your pocket. that in itself is the main reason i bought the camera, because i already have a 35mm SLR that i take when i'm going to be taking any real pictures. but for me, a digital cam is for capturing those random moments throughout the day that you normally wouldn't be able to capture.

problems: flash is too weak, red eye is constant, and the video format is hard to edit. the red eye is easy to deal with in any moderm photo editing program, and the flash on cameras this small are always weak.

the reason people praise the lens: it doesn't have to move outward to do optical zooming, which is why the body can be so thin. it uses mirrors to bounce the image down inside the body, like a parascope.

the reason the lens will never look as good as bigger cameras: bigger glass ALWAYS looks better.

not saying this camera is for everyone, but i know there's a group of people like me that would gladly give up a little quality for portability and efficiency.

[mediaphile @ Dec 19th 2005 1:02AM]

oh and the red auto-focus assist beam works really well, unless you're totally out of reach of it.