Last update 19 November’09 – Review and Sample Photos @ PhotographyBlog
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 announced on August 5, 2009 is a 10.2 megapixel compact digital camera and it is one of the first to use back illuminated CMOS sensors. It features 5x optical zoom, 10 fps high speed shooting, anti motion blur, HD movie capture, 2.7 inch LCD, sweep panorama mode, optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization, dynamic range optimizer, face detection, pet mode, ISO range from 80 to 3200, Camera dimensions are 3 9/16″ x 2 1/16″ x 25/32″ (90.5mm x 51.8mm x 19.8mm ), and it weighs 5.3oz. (149g) – With battery and Memory Stick media.
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Review Index – (updated 19 November’09)
PhotographyBlog
If full manual control of your camera is not high on your list then the WX1 would be an excellent choice. It comes loaded with a lot of innovative “here, let me do it for you” modes, which can make the process of taking regular pictures, panoramas, and low light images a lot easier and more fun. Looks can be deceiving, while the WX1 looks like all the competition it delivers really nice results and it’s a lot of fun to boot.
Rating: 
DevHardware
The WX1 impressed the reviewer. They indicated the average person just would not expect a compact with so much technology, but not so with this little camera. Packed with lots of shooting modes this camera makes the photographic experience fun and memorable.
DCResource
The reviewer thought the photo quality of the WX1 was disappointing and had hoped that in this particular area it would shine. Even at its lowest ISO setting of 160 the pictures exhibited detail loss, major shadow noise and near the edge of the frame there was blurring. When they pumped up the ISO to 200 – 800 it did a little better than similar cameras, but for example the Fuji FinePix F200EXR does way better. It also had a tendency to overexpose and blast out the highlights. All-in-all this camera just didn’t capture their attention or even hold it for that matter. Your money would be better off spent on something else.
GoodGearGuide
“This is not the fastest camera on the block. When you start the camera up it is poky enough that it can grind on your nerves, and when you shut the camera off it takes way too long also. However, its autofocus speed impressed us, plus it does make you select macro for shooting close ups, the WX1 does it on the fly, nice. The camera is a mixed bag while we liked its low light ability and the sweep panorama is cool but the above mentioned flaws keep it from getting a perfect rating.”
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PhotographyBay
“I feel the WX1 is high on the list of top consumer compact digital cameras. Warning – unless you are willing to admit that a camera is super smart and you can trust it to do the job without your help you will probably love the WX1. On the flip side. Unless you agree to switch the mode dial off the full auto selection, you probably don’t want this camera. With a ton of special modes the WX1 stands above the crowd.”
Cameras.uk
“The Sony Cybershot DSC WX1 has features you don’t see on a typical, pocket camera. With features like a very high speed burst mode, a sweep panorama mode for landscapes and cityscapes, and a High Definition movies mode this camera definitely sets a high standard. Image quality is also very good.”
Rating: 
CNET.uk
“Sony has used a sensor found in its high-end camcorders and a lens based on those from its Alpha dSLRs, should you expect excellent photo quality? It certainly sounds reasonable. But, in the end, the fun-to-use DSC-WX1 is still a point-and-shoot camera, capable of above-average photos under challenging conditions where most other snappers in its class fail.”
Rating: 
ImagingResource
“There was good detail in the images, but the reds and blues were clearly oversaturated. But the Sony WX1’s 5x G lens with optical image stabilization wasn’t really a liability. In fact, its 24mm wide-angle focal length was a boon in such a small camera. For its extreme low light capability in such a remarkably small package, the Sony WX1 still earns a Dave’s Pick”
The New York Times (Canon PowerShot SD880)
“So does this settle the “What camera should I buy?” question? Unfortunately, not quite. You’ve still got some agonizing to do. The Sony WX1 is nearly irresistible for its low-light abilities, HD video, sweep panorama and burst mode. Still, in good light, a Canon PowerShot SD880 IS
CNET
“Just because Sony used a sensor and lens based on those from its Alpha digital SLRs, should you expect SLR-quality photos? I don’t think so. While the WX1 is capable of producing excellent snapshots, it’s still a point-and-shoot camera. It’s just a really, really nice one with several fun and useful features.”
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Sample Photos
[Image Quality Samples @ PhotographyBlog]
[Sample Image @ DCResource]
[Sample Image @ Cameras.uk]
[Sample Image @ CNET.uk]
[Sample Photos @ ImagingResource]
[Sample ISO Example Photos @ CNET]
Press Release
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 5, 2009 – Sony today announced two new Cyber-shot® cameras (DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 models) that provide unprecedented advances in low-light performance with approximately twice the sensitivity of cameras with traditional image sensors.
These Cyber-shot cameras are the first to employ Sony’s new “Exmor R” back illuminated CMOS sensor technology to improve shooting in low-light scenarios, enhancing image clarity and drastically reducing grain.
“With these new “Exmor R” CMOS sensor cameras, Sony has vastly improved the customer experience for taking pictures with digital still cameras in low-light scenarios,” said Phil Lubell, director of the digital imaging business at Sony Electronics. “We’ve all taken pictures in dimly lit areas, where the results were grainy and unclear. By redesigning the way these cameras capture light, Sony is leading the industry by creating this easy way to take amazingly clear, vibrant photos in low lighting scenarios.”
“Exmor R” Sensor Optimizes Low-Light Performance
Conventional image sensor architecture has required wires and other circuit elements to be positioned above the light sensitive photo-diodes, limiting the imager’s light gathering capability. Positioning these elements behind the photo-diodes, Sony’s “Exmor R” image sensors can gather more light, resulting in approximately twice the sensitivity compared to conventional sensors.
To further extend low-light shooting performance, the TX1 and WX1 cameras incorporate the hand-held twilight and anti-motion blur multi-shot modes introduced in Sony’s breakthrough Cyber-shot DSC-HX1. Using “Exmor R” CMOS sensor’s high speed, these modes capture six separate images in less than a second and utilize Sony’s BIONZ™ processor to combine the shots into a single image of extraordinary detail and low noise.
Combining the “Exmor R” technology with hand-held twilight and anti-motion blur modes delivers a breakthrough in low-light photography. Users can now capture images of stunning detail and low noise in scenes with no more than candlelight—without flash or the need of a tripod.
Innovative Sweep Panorama™ and High-Speed Shooting
In addition to their breakthrough low light performance, these new cameras also include Sony’s Sweep Panorama and 10 frames per second burst shooting features, which were introduced with the Sony® DSC-HX1 camera. The TX1 and WX1 cameras offer these features in smaller, more compact bodies that match nearly any unique style.
Capturing wide landscapes is as easy as “press and sweep.” Sweep Panorama mode lets you reach beyond the traditional wide-angle lens and capture breathtaking shots. Using the high-speed “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, the cameras shoot continuously while you sweep across the scene. Using the BIONZ imaging processor, they automatically stitch the pictures together to create one stunning panoramic photo.
The TX1 and WX1 Cyber-shot models can take up to 185 and 256-degree panorama shots respectively in one easy press-and-sweep motion with an image size of 7152 x 1080 (ultra wide horizontal).
The 10.2 mega-pixel WX1 camera has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display and is just over three quarters of an inch thin—an ideal choice for DSLR owners who also want to carry a compact, high performance digital still camera.
The WX1 camera features a Sony G lens with an extraordinary wide angle 24-120mm 5x optical zoom. This lens’ f/2.4 maximum aperture offers nearly twice the light gathering capability of conventional lenses, and works together with the “Exmor R” imager and low-light shooting modes to provide low-light photography beyond the abilities of other compact cameras.
Tech Savvy Cameras
These cameras include the most recent Sony technology, including, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode which, recognizes scenes, lighting conditions and faces, and adjusts settings resulting in clearer images, faces with more natural skin tone and less blur; Face Detection that detects up to eight faces and optimizes focus, flash, exposure and white balance and intelligent Scene (iSCN) that delivers nine Scene Selection modes to quickly adjust for specific shooting conditions.
Pet mode is a new Sony feature that minimizes blur when shooting moving pets. This new mode also reduces glowing pet red-eye.
Additionally, the cameras have technologies Sony Cyber-shot customers have come to expect. These include Smile Shutter™ technology that automatically captures a smile, dynamic range optimization (DRO) that improves exposure and contrast, intelligent Auto Focus that captures fleeting moments and HD video capability that records HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format.
With HD video capability, these cameras record HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format for stunning large-screen home movie playback. You can record up to 29 minutes (or up to 2GB file size) in 720p format.
Pricing and Availability
The TX1 camera will be available in silver, gray, pink and blue this September for about $380. The WX1 camera will be available in black this October for about $350. Pre-sales will start in August. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available online
