Sony refreshes 2012 camera line up

Sony has unveiled a raft of new digital cameras for 2012 including models with boosted optical zoom lenses, better low light performance and faster auto focus features.

At the beefy end of the compact range, Sony's 18-megapixel Cybershot DSC-HX30V offers a 20 times optical zoom lens and built-in Wi-Fi for syncing photos directly to a PC or via Sony's PlayMemories cloud storage service. There's also a version without Wi-Fi dubbed the DSC-HX20V.

Larger still is the Cybershot DSC-HX200V30X with an astoundingly zoomy 30X optical lens (that's 810mm lens equivalent). Armed with a bunch of fully manual controls for the hands on photographer, the HX200V has a tiltable 3-inch screen and can shoot 1080p video at a smooth 60 frames a second.

At the other end of the spectrum, the dinky TX range has two new entries. The rugged, freeze proof and waterproof to 5 meters Cyber-shot DSC-TX20 is armed with a 16-megapixel sensor, the TX-20 manages 4X optical zoom and displays the results on a built-in 3-inch screen which is touch sensitive.

The 0.53-inch-deep Cyber-shot DSC-TX66 has a built-in lens cover that slides down to power on the camera, and it packs the new 18-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor with faster autofocus speeds. A 3.3-inch-diagonal OLED touchscreen allows you to access most of the camera's settings.

The 18-megapixel DSC-TX66 is fitted with a 5X optical zoom in a half-inch thick package, sporting a 3.3-inch OLED touch screen and faster autofocus, as featured on the rest of the cameras in Sony's updated range.

Set to appear some time in May, the Cybershot DSC-WX150 continues Sony's megazoom theme, with a 10X optical zoom for the 18-megapixel CMOS sensor crammed into a camera around the size of Canon's competing Ixus range. Like many of the other cameras, the WX150 uses Sony's new backlit Exmor R CMOS sensor with considerably better low light performance.

The WX150 has a 3-inch screen while an even smaller brother, the WX100, has a slightly smaller 2.7-inch screen. Sony claim the 108gr WX100 is the smallest and lightest camera with a 10x optical zoom lens.

The Sony range of cameras are due to roll out from April through to May. More details are available on Sony's updated 2012 camera range web pages.