Sony DSC-TX30/B 18 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.3-Inch OLED

The black Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Digital Camera from Sony is a "tough" point-and-shoot camera with an 18.2MP CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom lens and the capability to be waterproof to 33' (10 m), shock-proof to a drop of 5' (1.5 m), freeze-proof to 14ºF (-10ºC) and dust-proof. The 18.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor in combination with the camera's BIONZ image processor captures low-noise, high definition photos and Full HD 1080i videos with fast performance speeds, including continuous shooting of up to 10 frames per second at full resolution.

FEATURE :

• 18.2MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor.
• Steady Shot Optical Image Stabilization.
• Carl Zeiss VarioTessar 5x Zoom Lens.
• Water, Shock, Freeze, and Dustproof.
• 3.3" Xtra Fine 1,229kDot OLED Monitor Color.

SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :

1) GREAT UNDERWATER CAMERA BETTER THEN MOST WATERPROOF CAMERAS - I bought this for Vacation as an exclusive underwater camera hoping it would give good quality underwater pictures. For everyday I use a DSLR Canon 7D with many L lenses. I am impressed with this little camera.

The underwater pictures are very good considering how small this camera is. You can't change settings underwater although you can use the zoom underwater. The pictures are good quality considering the size and keeping in mind it is a tiny point and shoot. I "sometimes" got lens HAZE/Glare like most underwater cameras do out of water (not all the time but sometimes depending on the lighting and what I was shooting). Indoors the picture quality decreases unless you have good lighting, when you are desperate for lighting the flash works fine. You can also adjust ISO and EV to further help with lighting situations. There is an AF Illuminator which helps to focus in pitch dark. You do have the option to turn this great feature off or on. This camera is very good for snap shots, digital family photo books, documenting, website sales/auction photos, traveling around water and underwater. I haven't compared it to iphone 5 photos but the quality is definitely much better then iphone 4 photos.

I have one major complaint with this camera... the screen is ALL scratched up, thank goodness it still responses when touching it. This happened while snorkeling underwater, the camera was attached to my wrist. Maybe it floated across some coral or something. The front screen should be better protected then it is. Maybe a piece of magnetic plastic sheet over the screen would work underwater? I don't know.

As stated in the directions the cover can get jammed with sand if not careful. Yes that is true... using it underwater did get some sand in it but I was able to clear it out. Don't force it close it if it gets sand in the cover, just rinse it and try to loosen the sand first to get it out.

The rechargeable battery doesn't last as long as I would like, especially if you are constantly shooting so if you are taking it on a trip, boat or at the beach i highly suggest you get a "Portable" Travel USB External Battery Charger for it (these work well for charging anything USB with rechargeable batteries on the go) so when you are on a boat or at the beach and there is no where to charge it.... you can charge it again before the next Dive or Snorkel right on the spot. You don't want your camera to die right in the middle of those important shoots.

So you don't lose it in the water don't forget to buy the floating strap that Sony makes. The matching orange floating strap looks very nice with the orange camera and you could slip the camera in the strap sideways when not in use, which helps protect the camera in your bag or purse.
here it is Sony STPFSA High Grade Handycam Camcorder.

All in all the camera suit my needs but I still debate rather the money I paid for it justifies. I guess it does since I got some AWESOME underwater pictures of my family with ocean and freshwater life. We swam with friendly Dolphins, Manatees, Stingrays and Tropical Fish at different locations. It was a vacation we will never forget so the pictures were very important to us to come out good underwater. The camera works well in Sea water and freshwater down to 33ft deep. I will upload some pictures and video of the picture quality so you can compare.

Hope this helps

By mom of 4 on June 28, 2013

Additional Accessories

ICOLOR Pink Butterfly Design Digital Camera Case Bag Pouch Coin Purse with Strap For Sony Samsung Nikon Canon Kodak

Ivation 20MP Underwater Shockproof Digital Camera and Video Camera w/Dual Full-Color LCD Displays - Fully Waterproof & Submersible Up to 10 Feet (Red)

Ivation Underwater Shockproof Digital 20MP Camera & Camcorder w/Dual Full-Color LCD Displays

• Waterproof up to 10 Feet; Dustproof & Shockproof.
• Captures 20MP Photos and 640 x 480 (VGA resolution) Videos;
• Dual Full-Color LCD Displays:  2.7" Rear-Facing & 1.8" Front-Facing (Selfie).
• 4x Digital Zoom & Built-In Flash.
• Economical: Runs on 2 AAA Batteries.
• Accepts microSD cards up to 32GB.

Equally at Home on the Road or in the Water

The Ivation Waterproof Camera is built tough for your active lifestyle. 

It's waterproof – submersible up to 10 feet – dustproof, and 

shockproof. It's the perfect travel 

companion, ready to capture all your adventures and fun selfies 

– even under water. Rugged, compact, and lightweight, it goes 

anywhere and can handle every challenging journey, from the 

bumpiest, dustiest desert road tour to underwater selfies amid 

the coral reefs. All of this capability, plus a microSD slot that 

accepts cards up to 32GB (not included), 

in a travel-loving 3.9" x 2.48" x 0.93" package!

Dual Full-Color Displays Double the Fun.

The Ivation underwater camera features a rear-facing, 2.7-inch 

full-color LCD display and a secondary, front-facing 1.8-inch 

full-color LCD display – the perfect viewfinder for taking selfies. 

With its built-in 10-second self-timer, you can get yourself along 

with the whole gang in the same frame, and never miss a moment 

of action.

Preserve Memories in Stills and Video

Shoot high-quality photos and video, with or without audio, 

whenever and wherever your travels take you. Snap beautiful still 

images at 20MP (5184 x 3888), 14MP (4320 x 3240) 5MP (2592 x 1944), 

or 3MP (2048 x 1536). Capture smooth digital video at either 

640 x 480 P30 (VGA) or 320 x 240 P30 

(QVGA). Save your images and video onto a microSD card up to 

32GB (not included) or transfer them via the built-in USB port.

Add Artistic Special Effects

Make captured memories even more special by adding artistic 

special effects to your photos. At the press of a button, you can 

easily apply special filters in both the preview and playback modes: 

Normal, B&W, Sepia, Negative, Lomo, Pencil Sketch, Red, Green, 

Blue, and Vivid. The camera also features 4x digital zoom in both 

preview and playback modes.

FEATURE : 

• Rugged, Slim, Compact and Waterproof up to 10 Feet, Dustproof and Shockproof
• Captures 20MP Photos and 640x480 (VGA resolution) Videos; Sports 4x Digital Zoom
• Dual Full-Color LCD Displays: Standard 2.7" Display + Front-Facing (Selfie) 1.8" Display
• 4x Digital Zoom & Built-In Flash
• Runs on Two AAA Batteries - Accepts MicroSD Cards up to 32GB.

SOME OF THE SAMPLE CUSTOMER REVIEW FROM AMAZON :

1) Great buy!! - I wanted a waterproof camera to use on a vacation to Mexico. We knew we would snorkel and such so I wanted something cheaper we could use for that.

This camera turned out to be awesome for us. It is exactly what it says. We took many pictures above and below the water with this and nearly all turned out great.

Understanding a cameras limits on power, we did purchase lithium batteries for it as designed. We took 160 pictures (all in high sunlight so no flash was used) but we still had 3/4 left on the batteries. I never changed them out on our 10 day trip and still have plenty left. 

I have no problem opening the door, i just read the instructions. push the lock while sliding. Opened right up and we were set.

All in all, please let me say this this camera took our 10th anniversary pictures and these were the best of the bunch because we took them in and on the water where we could not take our other camera, and you cant tell the difference between the two when we look at them on the PC.

By Lisa Johnson on July 10, 2015

2) Great waterproof video/picture camera for price - I was looking for a waterproof camera to take on the family vacation that I could reuse (ie. not a disposable). I figured I'd give this one a try since it was only $80, digital, took still pictures and video, and the dual display feature seemed neat. I got this with Prime shipping with enough time to test it out before vacation. Note: the batteries and microSD card do not come with the camera as it states. So if you do purchase this, also get the microSD card. Amazon packaged it with the SanDisk. I got a 32G microSD card for $13. That was cheaper than other vendors I checked out.

I tested it in the pool with my daughter and took video and pictures. I attached a picture, here's the video link https://youtu.be/jnU55pOE6f4. It was pretty good quality for the price paid. I didn't want to pay $$$ for a GoCam or equivalent, so for $80 I'm really happy with my purchase. Other reviewers thought less of the item, but perhaps they just got a bad one. IMO I'm happy I got this for vacation. By the way, my daughter dropped this several times already and it is pretty rugged.

By W. Seaman on July 19, 2015