Sony Cybershot WX5 and TX9 cameras pack 3D panorama & Full HD

Sony has outed its latest Cybershot digital cameras, the 12.2-megapixel 3D-capable DSC-WX5 and DSC-TX9, and the 14.1-megapixel DSC-T99.  Both the WX5 and the TX9 support Full HD 1080i video recording, along with 2D/3D sweep panorama like the NEX-5, with the TX9 also throwing in an underwater-panorama mode when paired with a marine housing.

The WX5 has a 5x optical zoom while the TX9 has a 4x optical zoom; there's also a new "Background Defocus" mode which automatically shoots two images and then combines them to keep the foreground subject crisp and the background suitably blurry.  A "New Soft Skin" mode, meanwhile, does a little Photoshop-style editing in-camera, automatically getting rid of lines and wrinkles.  The WX5 has a 2.8-inch preview display while the TX9 scales that up to 3.5-inches.

As for the DSX-T99, that has a 4x optical zoom, sweep panorama (with underwater mode, but no 3D support) and 720p HD video recording, together with a 3-inch preview display.  All three models will go on sale this summer, pricing TBA.

Press Release:

New Cyber-shot™ digital cameras with Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor for beautiful, low-noise images Slim, stylish WX5 and TX9 with Superior Auto mode, 1080i Full HD movie and 3D Sweep Panorama

08 July 2010

• 12.2 megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor and new Superior Auto mode for superb images with DSLR-style low noise performance

• 1080i Full HD movie recording for playback on your HD TV

• World's first compact still cameras with 3D Sweep Panorama

• Sweep Multi Angle for exciting 3D-style viewing effects

• Background defocus mode for stunning professional effects

Experience a new dimension of photo excitement with this summer's colourful additions to the Cyber-shot™ family of digital cameras from Sony.

Beautifully slim, light and easy to use, the Cyber-shot™ WX5 and TX9 boast exciting new features for outstanding still picture quality compared with conventional compact cameras. Capable of shooting detail-packed Full HD (1920 x 1080, 50i) AVCHD movie clips, they're also the first Cyber-shot™ cameras from Sony that can capture amazing 3D images to enjoy on any 3D-compatible TV.

Superior Auto mode: incredible low-noise images

The WX5 and TX9 are the first Cyber-shot™ cameras that can capture extremely low-noise images, evoking the expressive power of a digital SLR camera.

Powered by the 12.2 megapixel Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor, Superior Auto mode captures a high-speed burst of up to six frames when you press the shutter button. Camera settings are automatically optimised 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.

As an extra refinement, new Background Defocus makes it easy to achieve pro-style images, similar to the results achieved with a DSLR camera and wide-aperture lens. Cyber-shot™ rapidly shoots two frames when the shutter button is pressed. Position information between the foreground and background is analysed automatically, creating a single picture with your subject in sharp focus and a beautifully blurred background. New Soft Skin mode flatters portrait subjects even further, automatically removing small wrinkles and skin blemishes for effortlessly beautiful results.

First-ever 3D Cyber-shot™ cameras

For the first time ever, 3D Sweep Panorama lets you shoot incredible 3D images without needing a bulky, complex double-lens camera system.

Just press the shutter button: the advanced Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor inside the Cyber-shot™ WX5 and TX9 captures a high-speed burst of frames as you sweep the camera from side to side. Information from up to 100 images is automatically combined to create a stereoscopic pair of frames. You can enjoy the incredible results by connecting the camera by HDMI to your 3D-compatible TV.

Cyber-shot™ offers even more exciting 3D image possibilities. Also new this year, Sweep Multi Angle shoots a high-speed burst of fifteen frames, creating a '3D-style' image of your subject that can be viewed from different angles. After shooting, just tilt the Cyber-shot™ from side to side: sensors inside the camera detect your movements, scrolling through the sequence of multi-angle frames as you tilt and view the camera's LCD screen. Multi-angle views can also be viewed simultaneously on an ordinary 2D television as you tilt the camera.

You can also enjoy breath-taking panoramic shots with the Cyber-shot™ TX9 while you're snorkelling or diving. Add an optional marine housing and select Underwater Sweep Panorama mode that optimises white balance for clear, natural results with underwater subjects.

Cyber-shot™ T99 – more style, more colour

Also available this summer, the beautifully sculpted Cyber-shot™ T99 is guaranteed to turn heads with a choice of gorgeous new colour options. Inside its slim, curvaceously sculpted lines there's plenty of smart technology – from Sweep Panorama and 720p HD movie recording to new Soft Skin mode. Like the Cyber-shot™ TX9, the T99 also features new Underwater Sweep Panorama mode for extra-wide sub-aqua scenes.

The beautiful, easy to use Cyber-shot™ WX5, TX9 and T99 digital cameras by Sony are available from mid-September 2010.