Philetus
05-10-2010, 18:35
I plan to start a Springer-to-Damascus 40-day hike in late May, and so I've spent the past few months looking at possible new cameras to take with me. I don't want to lug a full DSLR, and I had no faith in my old Sony Cybershot surviving the trip.
I came across a preview for Sony's new TX5 (http://tinyurl.com/2b3qnc3) online in February and was very intrigued. It's supposed to be shockproof, waterproof, dustproof (basically, trail-proof), all at about 5 oz., battery and memory included.
I got it not long after it was released, and got a chance to see how it performed in the wild last week on a three-night solo through the lower Palmetto Trail in South Carolina.
The first day, I had a heat-index of 90 (got to love these Lowcountry spring days), and on the second, I had 18 straight hours or rain, about three of those a legitimate downpour.
The camera rode in the front pocket of a pair of zip-off pants for the entire second day, and it and the pants were soaked. The camera worked like a champ, including taking good pictures while rain was blowing sideways.
It does not have the same image quality as a DSLR, but considering that I wouldn't have dared to take a DSLR out of its bag on a day like that, the TX5 allowed me to get dozens of shots I would not otherwise have managed.
I've posted some of the shots on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=49772&id=1627684670), if you want to take a look at the results.
I came across a preview for Sony's new TX5 (http://tinyurl.com/2b3qnc3) online in February and was very intrigued. It's supposed to be shockproof, waterproof, dustproof (basically, trail-proof), all at about 5 oz., battery and memory included.
I got it not long after it was released, and got a chance to see how it performed in the wild last week on a three-night solo through the lower Palmetto Trail in South Carolina.
The first day, I had a heat-index of 90 (got to love these Lowcountry spring days), and on the second, I had 18 straight hours or rain, about three of those a legitimate downpour.
The camera rode in the front pocket of a pair of zip-off pants for the entire second day, and it and the pants were soaked. The camera worked like a champ, including taking good pictures while rain was blowing sideways.
It does not have the same image quality as a DSLR, but considering that I wouldn't have dared to take a DSLR out of its bag on a day like that, the TX5 allowed me to get dozens of shots I would not otherwise have managed.
I've posted some of the shots on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=49772&id=1627684670), if you want to take a look at the results.