ISO comparison
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX200V's 18-megapixel resolution doesn't really bring anything to the table for regular snapshots. If you view photos at 100 percent (these are 100 percent crops of our test scene) you'll see noise and subjects look soft and painterly, especially once you get above ISO 200. Despite having a resolution you might find on a larger digital SLR, the photos do not compare.
That said, at reduced sizes -- 60 or 70 percent or smaller -- photos do look very good up to ISO 800. If most of your shots end up on Facebook or get turned into photobooks or 8.5x11 prints or smaller, you'll probably be pretty happy with what this tiny camera turns out.
Macro
Color
Zoom range
Clear Image Zoom
Lens distortion
Background Defocus
Backlight Correction HDR
Picture Effects
The TX200V has a Picture Effects mode with nine options, all rendered at full resolution and visible live while you're shooting.
From top to bottom, left to right: Superior Auto (Backlight Correction HDR), HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Camera, Pop Color, Partial Color (green), Soft High-key, Watercolor, and Illustration. The last two are available in playback as well, should you want to turn a regular shot into a painting.