Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T5 — 2005 ultra-slim compact with sliding lens cover, 5.1MP CCD
The Cyber-shot DSC-T5 launched in 2005 as part of Sony's ultra-slim T-series, a line built around a sliding lens cover and metal body thin enough to disappear into a shirt pocket, aimed at style-conscious buyers who still wanted a genuine optical zoom.
It combines a 5.1-megapixel 1/2.4-inch Super HAD CCD sensor with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lens covering roughly 38-114mm equivalent at f/3.5-4.4. A 2.5-inch hybrid TFT LCD with 230,400 dots handles framing, and stills and MPEG-1 video clips record to Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick Pro Duo cards.
What set the T5 apart from bulkier compacts of 2005 was its sliding-cover design, which protected the lens without a separate cap and let the whole camera power on in under a second, though the slim body meant a smaller grip and shorter battery life than chunkier rivals.
Used T5 units are bought largely for their pocketable retro design, so it is worth checking the sliding lens cover mechanism still moves smoothly, the LCD has no scratches from years of pocket wear, and the InfoLithium battery still holds a usable charge.