18.2MP | 26-130mm (5X) Zoom | $348/£317/€338

This is the sixth in a series of short underwater/rugged camera reviews on DPReview. We'll be publishing a roundup of the class shortly, which will compare them directly.

Where most rugged cameras seem like something you'd throw in the glove compartment of your 1-ton truck, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 has a thinner, more stylish appearance. It has an ultra-slim metal body that should be familiar to anyone who has seen a Sony T-series camera in the last few years (non-waterproof models are no longer manufactured), complete with a sliding lens cover and large touchscreen display.

The TX30 has most of the traits of other high-end rugged cameras, with one big exception: it has no GPS.

Specification Highlights

  • 18.2 effective megapixel 'Exmor R' BSI-CMOS sensor
  • F3.5-4.8, 26-130mm equivalent 'Carl Zeiss' zoom lens (5X)
  • Optical image stabilization
  • Waterproof to 10m, shockproof from 1.5m, freezeproof to -10C, dustproof
  • 3.3 inch widescreen touch-enabled OLED display with 1229K dots
  • Built-in LED lamp for close-up macro shooting
  • 1080/60i movie mode with stereo sound
  • Dual Record allows user to shoot video and take stills simultaneously

The two standout features here are the touchscreen display and Dual Recording feature. We'll dip into those a bit more later in the review.

The Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 has one of the longer zoom lenses in the rugged camera group, with a range of 26-130mm (5X).

As with most of its peers, the lens has a 'slow' maximum aperture range of F3.5-4.8.
Around the lens are a pair of LED illuminators, which can be used to brighten up your subject in the camera's Magnifying Glass Plus mode.

This mode allows you to be 1cm away from your subject.

Is this ultra-thin rugged camera able to keep up with its bulkier competitors? Keep reading to find out.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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