Sony RX100 review: pocket size, professional features. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 - high-sensor compact Sony cyber shot dsc rx100 photos

What the new compact from the illustrious RX100 series is capable of.

Five years ago, Sony introduced the RX100, a compact camera that fits easily into a trouser pocket and can still take great photos.

The model has been regularly updated, and now the fifth version of the RX100 V is available.

To some extent, the camera has become a hostage to its form factor. Unbeknownst to many enthusiasts and professional photographers, this little camera can shoot at 24 fps and still perform autofocus and exposure compensation between shots.

Comparison of RX100 series cameras

Sony Cyber-shot RX100V Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II
Matrix 1« 1« (13.2×8.8 mm), BSI-CMOS, 20 MP 1« (13.2×8.8 mm), BSI-CMOS, 20 MP 1« (13.2×8.8 mm), BSI-CMOS, 20 MP 1« (13.2×8.8 mm), BSI-CMOS, 20 MP
Lens EGF 24–70 mm, f1.8–f2.8 EGF 24–70 mm, f1.8–f2.8 EGF 24–70 mm, f1.8–f2.8 EGF 28–100 mm, f1.8–f4.9 EGF 28–100 mm, f1.8–f4.9
Format pictures RAW, JPEG (5472×3648) RAW, JPEG (5472×3648) RAW, JPEG (5472×3648) RAW, JPEG (5472×3648) RAW, JPEG (5472×3648)
Format video 3840× [email protected], 1920× [email protected], 1136× [email protected] 3840× [email protected], 1920× [email protected], 1280× [email protected], 1110× [email protected] 1920× [email protected], 1440× [email protected], 1280× [email protected] 1920× [email protected], 1280× [email protected] 1920× [email protected], 1280× [email protected]
ISO range ISO 125-12800 (80-25600) ISO 100-12800 (80-25600) ISO 100-12800 (80-25600) ISO 100-12800 (80-25600) ISO 125-6400 (80-25600)
Range excerpts 1/32000–30 s 1/32000 - 30 s 1/2000–30 s 1/2000–30 s 1/2000–30 s
Screen « LCD, inclined design diagonal - 3 « , resolution - 1,228,800 dots LCD, inclined design diagonal - 3 « , resolution - 1,228,800 dots LCD, inclined design diagonal - 3 « , resolution - 1,228,800 dots LCD, inclined design diagonal - 3 « , resolution - 1,228,800 dots
Viewfinder electronic, resolution - 2.36 million dots, 100% frame coverage, magnification 0.59x electronic, resolution - 1.44 million dots, 100% frame coverage, magnification 0.59x No No
Flash built-in, guide number - 10 m built-in, guide number - 10 m built-in, guide number - 15 m
WiFi built-in Wi-Fi+NFC module built-in Wi-Fi+NFC module built-in Wi-Fi+NFC module built-in Wi-Fi+NFC module eye-fi
Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, Memory Stick Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Interfaces USB/AV, HDMI USB/AV, HDMI USB/AV, HDMI USB/AV, HDMI USB/AV, HDMI
Battery NP-BX1 Lithium Ion 1240 mAh NP-BX1 Lithium Ion 1240 mAh NP-BX1 Lithium Ion 1240 mAh NP-BX1 Lithium Ion 1240 mAh
Dimensions and weight 102×58×41 mm, 299 g 102x58x41 mm, 298 g 102x58x41 mm, 290 g 102x58x38 mm, 281 g 102x58x36 mm, 240 g
Price in Russia 79 990 ₽ 69 990 ₽ 53 990 ₽ 44 990 ₽ 34 990 ₽





09.10.2016 9448 Tests and reviews 0

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 series of popular cameras is now officially led by the fifth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V model, which received a significant performance increase over its predecessor, continuing the trend where each successive update of the Sony RX100 was always much better than the previous one. To understand whether this is so and what is new in the camera with the V index, it is enough to compare the specifications of the new product with the previous model.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV vs. DSC-RX100 V specifications comparison

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100V

Matrix

Number of effective pixels

20.1 MP 20.1 MP

Physical size

1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm) 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm)

Maximum Resolution
 5472 x 3648 pixels (3:2) 5472 x 3648 pixels (3:2)

Type

Exmor R, BSI-CMOS Exmor R, BSI-CMOS

Sensitivity range

 125-12800,
expandable up to 80-25600

125-12800,

Expandable up to 80-25600

Focus system

 25 phase points 315 phase points

Lens

Focal length (equiv.)

24-70 mm 24-100mm

Zoom ratio

2.9x 4.1x

Aperture range

f/1.8 - f/2.8 f/1.8 - f/2.8

Shooting modes

Maximum Burst Speed

16 fps 24 fps

Maximum burst

40 frames 150 frames

Frame format

3:2 (3888 x 2592, 2736 x 1824),
4:3 (4864 x 3648, 3648 x 2736, 2592 x 1944),
16:9 (5472 x 3080, 3648 x 2056, 2720 x 1528),
1:1 (3648 x 3648, 2544 x 2544, 1920 x 1920)

3:2 (3888 x 2592, 2736 x 1824),

4:3 (4864 x 3648, 3648 x 2736, 2592 x 1944),

16:9 (5472 x 3080, 3648 x 2056, 2720 x 1528),

1:1 (3648 x 3648, 2544 x 2544, 1920 x 1920)

exposition

Exposure: mechanical shutter | electronic, with

30 - 1/2000 | 1/32000 30 - 1/2000 | 1/32000

exposure compensation

+/- 3 EV in 1/3-stop increments +/- 3 EV in 1/3-stop increments

Memory and interfaces

Memory cards

SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo

Image formats

JPEG (normal, fine, x.fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG JPEG (fine, superfine), RAW, RAW+JPEG

Interfaces

micro-USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC mini-USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC

Sight tools

LCD screen

3" 1.228M dots Xtra Fine LCD

Viewfinder

built-in electronic, OLED, 2.36M dots

Video recording

Video container

MP4 MP4

Video codecs

MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S

Max. permission

3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160

Max. video frame rate

60 fps (1920 x 1080) 120 fps (1920 x 1080)

Other characteristics

Battery life (CIPA)

280 220

The size

102 x 58 x 41mm 102 x 58 x 41mm

Weight

298 g (with batteries and memory card) 299 g (with batteries and memory card)

Price

$1000/€1150 $1000/€1150

The spec sheet for Sony's new premium compact Cyber-shot RX100 V includes a 1" back-illuminated 20.1MP Exmor RS sensor. The RX100 V offers what Sony calls "professional level AF performance" and will delight amateur photographers with its latest phase-detect focusing system. 315 pixels covering approximately 65% ​​of the frame at a speed of approximately 0.05 seconds The system is adopted from the latest flagship .The speed of continuous shooting is amazing!24 RAW + JPEG fps with autofocus and autoexposure.The latest technology gives a serious increase in performance, which speeds up reading The camera's memory buffer has also been expanded, which means that the Mark V now offers fantastic burst speeds at full resolution with autofocus and auto exposure up to 150 frames in JPEG+RAW burst, that's actually speed at movie frame rate. on the eyes is also available in AF-C mode.

The camera display is not touch sensitive. It is worth waiting, obviously, in the VI modification. It has a resolution of 1229k dots and is 3 inches in size. The monitor tilts 180º up and 45º down. Wi-Fi and NFC are available from wireless modules. The camera has learned to read QR codes to help establish a wireless connection when NFC is not available. In addition to the LCD display, the novelty has a retractable electronic OLED viewfinder with a resolution of 2.36 million dots. The BIONZ X processor is responsible for processing the data. The fully electronic shutter can operate at speeds up to 1/32000 sec. The electronic shutter turns on by itself if you set your shutter speed faster than 1/2000 of a second or if the frame rate exceeds 10 frames per second. It turns out that the mechanical shutter is difficult to work out the frequency of 24 frames per second.

Other specs include the ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm EGF (2.9x optical zoom) f/1.8-2.8 lens, inherited unchanged from its predecessor. ISO sensitivity is still in the range of 125-12800, the battery provides a slightly reduced 220 shots, an on-board slot for SDXC and Memory Stick Pro Duo / Pro-HG Duo cards, Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n and NFC modules, and also USB and HDMI interfaces. The dimensions of the camera have also been preserved, they are 101.6 x 58.1 x 41 mm and weigh 299 grams (with battery and memory card).

4K video is recorded from an area of ​​5028 x 2828 pixels to make the video more detailed. This means that the sampling in each area is 1.3x (1.7x in total). The high readout speed of the sensor reduces the rolling shutter effect. The new camera is getting closer and closer to the global shutter. The camera supports phase-detection autofocus during video recording, but without using the touch screen, which greatly reduces usability. 960fps and all other slow motion modes are now available with double the recording time. The RX100 IV can shoot up to 8 seconds of video at 960 fps. FullHD video is now recorded at 120 frames per second. S-Log2/S-Gamut available.

In terms of design, the Sony RX100 V is no surprise. Because it looks almost identical to its predecessors. Subsequent generations are almost indistinguishable in thickness and weight, the RX100 V is still a good and compact camera. It is surprising how retractable elements work in such a small body, the compactness of the camera is a brilliant creation of Japanese designers.

findings

The Sony RX100 V is a miniature device that continues the evolutionary line of the company and can fit in your pocket. By this criterion, perhaps unparalleled on the market in this miniaturization. And it's a compact with the manners of a professional camera. For those who need a compact camera, nothing is better than the Sony DSC-RX100 V. But for these characteristics, you will have to pay a high price.

Pros of the RX100 IV:

Mini size;

Very efficient and fast autofocus;

Continuous shooting 24 fps;

Lens with very good aperture value and focal length;

Convenient control thanks to knobs, buttons and menus; many options on the menu; screen tilt;

Retractable OLED viewfinder;

Minuses:

Price comparable to amateur DSLRs with a larger sensor;

Uncomfortable grip;

Not touch screen;

No external microphone jack.

The creators paid special attention to video filming. According to their plan, this camera may well become the starting point for the “king of cinema”. However, we note that today something is already missing. She can't shoot 4K video. But 4K is a trend! If you do not take into account this feature, then you can call it an excellent mini-camcorder with optical image stabilization and stereo sound recording.

First, pixel-by-pixel reading of data is implemented. This means that during video recording, the camera reads the image from each of the 20.1 million pixels at a frequency of 60 times per second. As a result, the level of color artifacts and the risk of moire appearing are reduced.

Secondly, it can shoot Full HD-video with a frequency of 60 fps and a bit rate of 50 Mbps in XAVC S format. This will require a fast SDXC memory card. When using an SDHC class 10 card, the bit rate is reduced to 28 Mbps and the recording is in AVCHD format.

Thirdly, for those who like to immediately upload video to the Internet, there is a mode of simultaneous recording in two formats at once - in XAVC S or in AVCHD (with high quality) and in parallel in MP4 for publication on social networks.

Finally, the fourth feature is the ability to broadcast video via an HDMI cable. The camera can be connected to any TV and immediately view the footage.

The Sony RX100 series already contains 5 models and all of them have different prices from 450 to 1000 dollars, which allows us to talk not just about one advanced camera, but about several cameras that complement each other for a different budget of the user.

All cameras look exactly the same at first glance, but in reality all the qualitative differences between them are inside and the table of specifications below will allow you to better understand how the RX100 line has evolved and what their main difference is.

Comparison of all Sony DSC-RX100 cameras

Below you can find a table that summarizes the main characteristics of all models of this wonderful camera.

Comparison table for Sony RX100 camera line
RX100 RX100 II RX100III RX100 IV RX100V
Price $450 $600 $750 $900 $1000
Matrix 20MP
CMOS		 20MP
BSI-CMOS		 20MP
BSI-CMOS		 20MP
stacked BSI-CMOS		 20MP
stacked BSI-CMOS
Lens 28-100mm
F1.8-4.9		 28-100mm
F1.8-4.9		 24-70mm
F1.8-2.8		 24-70mm
F1.8-2.8		 24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
Viewfinder not possible optional,
2.36M points		 1.44M points 2.36M points 2.36M points
Video 1080/60p 1080/60p 1080/60p
reading of the entire sensor		 4K/30p
high speed shooting		 4K/30p
high speed shooting
autofocus contrast,
25 points		 contrast,
25 points		 contrast,
25 points		 contrast,
25 points		 phase,
315 points
Continuous shooting with autofocus 10 fps 10 fps 10 fps 16 fps 24 fps
Screen 3″ 1.23M dots,
fixed		 3″ 1.23M dots,
turning		 3″ 1.23M dots,
turning		 3″ 1.23M dots,
turning		 3″ 1.23M dots,
turning
Excerpt up to 1/2000 s up to 1/2000 s up to 1/2000 s up to 1/32000 s,
electronic		 up to 1/32000 s,
electronic
hot shoe No there is No No No
WiFi No there is there is there is there is
Battery 330 frames 350 frames 320 frames 280 frames 220 frames


Main characteristics:

  • 20MP CMOS sensor 1″
  • Lens 28-100mm F1.8-4.9
  • Video 1080/60p
  • Continuous shooting 10 fps
  • 330 frames per battery charge
  • Fixed screen 3″
  • The thinnest RX100 ever
The revolutionary nature of the camera was in the 1” matrix

The revolutionary nature of the very first RX100 lay precisely in the fact that it had an inch matrix installed and at the same time retained a compact size. Nowadays, we are increasingly seeing this repeat. There were not only 5 cameras in the Sony lineup, but other competitors also began to catch up, for example, Canon with a number of PowerShot G3x\G5x\G7x\G9x cameras and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10\LX15.

The RX100 is now available for about the same price as the Canon G9 X (which is the winner in the category at the time of writing), about 30 thousand rubles, while the cameras still provide a different set of functions. Compared to other models, the first version of the RX100 takes slightly less sharp and slightly noisier photos, autofocus speed in low light is not as clear, and the screen is completely fixed. You can’t put an additional viewfinder either, although there’s no point in doing this, it will cost you a decent amount and it’s easier to buy another model, a little more about it in the next mark II model.

If you can survive the shortcomings mentioned above and you don't often shoot in the evening / night, then you will like this version.


Main characteristics:

  • New Bionz X image processor
  • Multi-functional hot shoe for connecting an external flash or electronic viewfinder (this is the only model that had one)
  • 3″ swivel screen (90 degrees up, 40 degrees down)
  • Built-in Wi-Fi module
The second version has a hot shoe, which was removed in the following models

We remember the second version of the RX100 mainly for the largest number of shots on a single battery charge (350 frames according to CIPA. CIPA is a special testing technique that is the same for all cameras, as a result of which a certain average value of shots is obtained) and the presence of a hot shoe. Frame quality has improved slightly thanks to the new Bionz X processor, which translates into less noise at high ISOs and more detailed evening shots.

The hot shoe is the so-called accessory port, which you can see in the image above for this model. You can connect an external flash or an expensive electronic viewfinder from Sony FDA-EV1MK to this port, which will not only be difficult to find on sale, but it will cost about 30 thousand rubles.

The screen, unlike the first model, has already been made swivel, and Wi-Fi and NFC modules have also been added. The Mark II is the last model with a 28-100mm lens range, so if that's important to you, we recommend you take a closer look at this model. In other cameras, they began to set the range of 24-70 mm.

The second version did not differ much from the first, with small changes and improvements here and there, unlike subsequent models. If you still need a viewfinder, then we recommend looking at older versions, where it is already built into the camera itself.


Main characteristics:

  • New lens with 24-70mm range and F1.8-2.8 aperture
  • Built-in ND filter
  • Built-in electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1.44 million dots (pictured above)
  • New Bionz X processor
  • Better 1080/60p video recording at higher bitrates
  • The screen is 3″ and now it can rotate 180 degrees up for selfies
  • The battery charge is enough for 320 shots
  • Removed hot shoe
  • Improved JPEG photo quality

The RX100 mark III was a very strong improvement over previous cameras. This can be seen even in the list of characteristics, most of which are improvements. Of course, the cost has also increased.

The most noticeable change is the built-in electronic retractable viewfinder, which has taken the place of the flash from the edge of the camera, with the flash itself now located in the middle. Shooting on sunny days just got a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. A quick menu has been added, with which you can quickly change the desired shooting parameter and not delve into the wilds of settings, the convenience of the menu in all Sony cameras is a different story.

The most notable change was the built-in electronic retractable viewfinder.

A new 24-70mm lens with an increased aperture of F1.8-2.8, which has a very positive effect on the sharpness and quality of your photos, and also allows you to reduce ISO by a stop in low light. Unfortunately, the lens was shortened by 30 mm focal length, which will not please everyone. The RAW format has remained essentially unchanged since the second version of the mark II, but the JPG photos have become more detailed and less noisy. The same applies to video recording, the clarity and quality of it has improved due to the reading of the entire sensor as a whole.


Main characteristics:

  • New 20 MP BSI-CMOS sensor
  • Burst speed 16 fps
  • 4K/30p video and slow motion up to 1000/960 fps
  • Electronic shutter up to 1/32000 sec
  • Retractable electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million dots
  • Improved Auto-ISO Mode
  • Faster and more accurate autofocus
  • The battery charge is already enough for 280 frames
The camera has become good for both photo and video shooting at the same time

Sony approached the fourth model RX100 very responsibly, they increased the cost of the camera even more, absolutely nothing has changed in the exterior and body of the camera. But a new processor with a memory chip was installed inside, which significantly increased the buffer capacity and the speed of reading information from the matrix. Many of the features listed above, including focusing speed and focusing accuracy, are made possible by this latest processor.

Of course, all this power consumption and increased power could not but affect the camera's operating time, which was further reduced to 280 frames. Add to this high-speed shooting, a lag-free electronic viewfinder and a good refresh rate. The improved logic of the Auto-ISO mode allows you to adjust the ISO value to your shutter speed.

The quality in JPEG has improved slightly, but you will be pleased with the ability to shoot video in 4K and slow motion up to 1000 frames per second. Thanks to this, the camera has become good for both photo and video shooting at the same time. You do not have to choose what is more important and priority for you.


Like the fourth version, outwardly the RX100 mark V has not changed at all. All the changes affected the filling.

Main characteristics:

  • New processor for even faster performance
  • 24fps continuous shooting with autofocus and autoexposure support
  • Phase focusing system with 315 sensors
  • 4K video recording with minimal rolling shutter (jelly effect)
  • Slow motion video recording time is doubled
  • The battery lasts only 220 shots
Definitely the best and most technologically advanced compact camera to date.

Another novelty, another increase in productivity and another (where without it) increase in cost. More speed, even better 4K video and best-in-class autofocus system. A 4K video file is obtained by taking information from an area of ​​more than 5,000 pixels (5K) and reducing it to the required size, so that clarity and sharpness are noticeably increased.

Speed ​​is the right word for this compact camera. Just imagine - the burst speed is 24 frames per second, this is essentially a video decomposed into photographs in JPEG and even RAW format. Now it will be quite difficult to justify that you missed a good shot due to the slow operation of the camera 🙂

Definitely the best and most technologically advanced compact camera at the moment. And quite expensive as well. Unfortunately, the changes, as in the fourth version, did not affect the interface. With all the chips and buns that have been stuffed into this camera, it has become even more confusing and difficult to understand. External control buttons also did not appear. All this leads to the fact that you use a camera for a thousand dollars (in Russia it is even more expensive) as an ordinary compact. Very powerful compact.

Results and conclusions

So, having considered all five models, listing their main advantages and disadvantages, let's summarize and finish our comparison of all compact cameras in the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 model line.


  • The RX100 is a budget option, even five years after the camera was released, with a good zoom range and sensor.
  • The RX100 II is great for travel with the same zoom range, built-in Wi-Fi and the longest single battery life.
  • RX100 III - mainly for those who shoot more photos than videos. A faster lens will allow you to blur the background more and reduce noise. If you want to shoot a video, you can do it completely calmly and with excellent quality, but you will not have 4K resolution.
  • The RX100 IV is ideal for both photography and video. Excellent autofocus, electronic shutter speed up to 1\32000 s, 16 frames per second - all in order to catch the very right moment. In terms of video, 4K video shooting and high-speed shooting are added to create slow motion.
  • The RX100 V is the best of the best if you need it. 24 fps RAW photography, 315 focus points, 4K high-speed video recording - a real compact monster in your pocket. The only disappointing thing is the cost and meager operating time - only 220 frames.

The correct answer to the image from the RX100 mark IV is that it is in the middle between the III and V models.

Would you buy yourself an RX100? If so, which of the five? Write to us in the comments below.

Attempts to combine all the best qualities of DSLRs and mirrorless interchangeable lenses in a pocket camera with a fixed lens have already been, and more than once. But all of them, in one way or another, did not meet the expectations of consumers. Users were not satisfied with either the size and weight, or the size of the matrix or optics, and sometimes such cameras were simply uncomfortable and of poor quality.

Recently, many enthusiasts note, attempts to create an ideal soap dish are becoming more and more fruitful. Manufacturers make their cameras more advanced and versatile. For example, Canon's PowerShot S110, Olympus XZ-2 IHS, and Panasonic LX7 models combine a large sensor, high-quality optics, and a compact camera size. At the same time, Canon introduced its PowerShot G1 X, equipped with a slightly smaller sensor than an APS-C type sensor, however, the G1 X is a bit large for a soap dish.

The RX100 is Sony's attempt to find the right balance between all the demands that users have for mirrorless cameras. The compact has a 20.2 megapixel (1-inch) sensor, a bright f1.8 lens, good physical control, and it all fits into a very small pocket size. We have studied the camera from Sony in detail, and today we present to your attention a complete review of this camera. Perhaps the Cyber-shot RX100 will really become the very camera that will perfectly combine the most sought-after qualities of a camera? Let's check and compare its performance with similar cameras - Panasonic Lumix LX7 and Canon PowerShot G1 X.

Before starting the review of the camera, we bring to your attention materials that may interest you:

(tab=Introduction)

External design Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is thinner, smaller and lighter than the Panasonic Lumix LX7 and Canon PowerShot G1 X. It resembles the PowerShot S110 in terms of size and appearance. The top and bottom of the camera are flat, the sides of the RX100 are slightly rounded, many of the controls are in the same place as in the PowerShot S110 model, the programmable lens ring and the rear control dial remain in the same place.

RX100 parameters correspond to the dimensions of 102 x 58 x 36 mm, the camera weighs 240 g, together with a memory card and battery. Compare its dimensions with the values ​​of S110 and you will understand how tiny and at the same time functional model Cyber-shot RX100, S110 parameters: 99 x 59 x 27 mm, weight 198g. The RX100 is 20 percent heavier and slightly thicker than the S110, but the camera uses a 1/1.7in sensor that takes up about a third of the surface.

If you put the RX100 next to the Lumix LX7, its proportions look even more impressive. The LX7 has the same sensor size, but the camera is significantly larger and heavier than the RX100, measuring 111 x 67 x 46 and weighing 298g. The LX7 has a brighter lens than the RX100 and has wider coverage and lens hotshoe capability, but there is a fundamental difference in the size of these cameras. Size in cameras of this type is no less important factor than quality. The soap dish should be compact enough so that you can always take it with you.

The PowerShot G1 X is also significantly larger and heavier than the RX100, more specifically, it weighs twice the weight of a Sony camera. If we talk about the PowerShot G1 X, then it has a 1.5in matrix, a swivel screen, an optical viewfinder and a hot shoe. But then again, compactness in this category of cameras is a more important criterion.

The RX100 has a high-quality aluminum body, the camera is reliable, despite its low weight. Compared to the compacts LX7 and G1 X, the lens is very thin, protruding only 11mm from the camera, which is one of the factors that makes the RX100 pocketable and convenient. The control ring is located on the front panel, so the camera fits well in the hand, and everything you need is rationally placed, the lens is equipped with an integrated lens cap, which is another plus for portability.

On the top panel is the shutter button, surrounded by the zoom lever, the zoom lever sticks out a little in relation to the front panel, but this makes it more convenient - one touch, and the zoom works quickly. The only button protruding from the top panel is the on/off button, next to it is a pop-up flash and two small slots for a stereo microphone.

To the right of the screen on the rear panel are the control buttons, in the RX100 the control panel looks quite typical. There is a wheel with four buttons that are responsible for the following features: functions, menus, help and a play button. The dedicated video recording button is slightly concave into the edge of the multi-function switch, which on the one hand makes it easy to find, and on the other, prevents accidental pressing.

The memory card and battery cover is attached close to the tripod mount, so it is not accessible when the camera is attached to a tripod. The RX100 is compatible with SD, SDHC, SDXC, and of course various Memory Stick formats. Unlike the Lumix LX7, it doesn't have built-in memory, so if you forget your memory card, you won't be able to take even a few shots. Also, not far from the tripod mount is a mini HDMI connector. The USB port has a more traditional location, at the top of the right side of the camera.

The RX100 is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, powerful enough to take about 330 shots on a single charge under standard conditions. Although the Sony website states that the battery type is "InfoLITHIUM" capable of showing the remaining battery life, there is no data on the battery itself to confirm this, and the battery is shown on the display with four segments that indicate the charge level.

The battery is charged in the camera, either using the supplied wall charger or by connecting the camera to a computer using the USB cable. While charging, the small orange LED in the center of the on/off button lights up. The charger will charge the camera faster than when connected via a computer.
The Sony RX100 has a built-in flash that has a maximum range of 17.1 meters when shooting wide angle. This is very loudly said, but be careful in understanding these numbers. The same indicator for the Lumix LX7 is 8.5 meters, and for the PowerShot G1 X it is 7 meters. The problem with these notations is that they don't take ISO sensitivity settings into account, they display the values ​​when the ISO is automatically set. Considering the RX100's maximum auto-ISO value is 3200 ISO, while the LX7 and G1 X have a maximum ISO of 1600, the distances are inaccurate. Lowering the RX100's ISO to 1600 brings the distance down to 12 meters, but that's still pretty impressive.

These are all just numbers, the best way to test the effectiveness of a flash is to try how it works. Unlike the built-in flash on the LX7 and G1 X, the flash on the RX100 pops up automatically when set to auto. In addition to auto mode, you can set it to act as a fill light. The camera has two slow sync modes.

Display in Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The Sony RX100 has a 3-inch LCD display with VGA resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio. The RX100 is the first model to use "Whitemagic" display technology, thanks to which the screen resolution has been increased from 921600 to 1228800 pixels.

The display on the RX100 can be set to "Sunny weather" mode, which increases the brightness of the screen, making it much easier to work with the screen in sunny weather. Normally when you turn up the brightness of an LCD, the contrast drops, but in this case, this doesn't happen thanks to the Whitemagic mode, resulting in a bright screen that works really well outdoors in bright sunlight. We can congratulate Sony on the fact that they partially managed to solve the problem with the visibility of the screen in sunny weather.

Lens and image stabilization in the Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The Sony RX100 has a 3.6x optical zoom lens with an equivalent range of 28 - 100mm. The maximum aperture is f1.8 - 4.9. The lens performs well at 28mm wide-angle, as does the PowerShot G1 X. If you need a wider angle, look to the Lumix LX7 or the PowerShot S110, these cameras start at 24mm. This lens range provides a good balance that is ideal for landscape and interior photography as well as portrait photography.

Sony RX100 wide angle variant. 10.4-37.1mm by 10.4mm (equivalent to 28mm) Sony RX100 telescopic variant. 10.4-37.1mm by 37.1mm (equivalent to 100mm)

The lens is the most important component in a compact camera, after the sensor. But the most important thing in the specification is not the zoom, but the aperture. A wide aperture is essential for shooting in low light, and combined with a large sensor, such a lens will allow you to shoot with a shallow depth of field, which was very difficult to achieve in previous cameras. In this case, another problem may arise, it lies in the fact that when approaching, the aperture becomes smaller, and it will be more difficult to focus on close objects. With a shallow depth of field, it becomes more and more difficult to focus on nearby objects. How to deal with this RX100?

In order to test the RX100's shallow depth of field performance, we ran some experiments with this camera. We also intend to compare the performance of the compact with the Lumix LX7, which has a smaller sensor but a brighter lens, and the PowerShot G1 X, which has a large, almost APS-C sensor, but a less bright lens.

Below are pictures for comparison. We tested the macro and depth of field capabilities of the three models presented. For the first shots, the lens was set to wide angle at maximum aperture, as close to the subject as possible. In a close position to the object, you can take not only a more detailed shot, but the depth of field becomes much smaller. From the examples below, you can see that the Lumix LX7 makes it possible to get very close to the subject, the flower almost touching the lens - and as a result, the foliage in the background is very beautifully blurred. The Cyber-shot RX100 also did a great job, but in this case, we were able to get 5cm closer than with the LX7. And as you can see, macro isn't the PowerShot G1 X's strong suit.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 24-90mm, f1.4 at 24mm Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 28-100mm at 28mm, f1.8 Canon PowerShot G1 X. 28-112mm, at 28mm, f2.8

The pictures below were taken at the maximum focal length and maximum aperture. All three cameras were able to blur the background to some extent, but again the Lumix LX7 showed the best result.

Well, now let's see how the cameras work, taking a normal portrait. The photographs below were taken at the maximum focal length and maximum aperture. As you can see, there really isn't much in it. The Panasonic and Canon images are more out of focus, the Sony one is sharper but also darker.

In all but macro shots, all cameras performed very similarly, with the LX7 outperforming the rest at close range due to its combination of focal length and bright aperture. I think these results may surprise many.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 24-90mm F2.3 at 90mm Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 28-100mm F4.9 at 100mm Canon PowerShot G1 X.28-112mm F5.8 at 112mm

The Sony RX100 has Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization. Often SteadyShot on Sony compacts is enabled by default, and there is simply no way to turn it off, but turning off stabilization is possible in the RX100. You can do this and take pictures on a tripod. Unlike the intelligent stabilization in the PowerShot G1 X, SteadyShot cannot automatically detect the scene and adjust to it.

To test the stabilization in the RX100, another experiment was carried out. We reduced the focal length of the lens to a position equal to 100mm. Then, we took several shots in shutter priority mode with a slow shutter speed, both with SteadyShot on and off. As you can see from the photos below, the stabilization on the RX100 is really impressive because if you compare the two photos, the difference is huge.
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 Image Stabilization SteadyShot On/Off

10.4-37.1mm 37.1mm at ISO 100 1/15 SteadyShot off 10.4-37.1mm 37.1mm at ISO 100 1/15 SteadyShot included

Shooting modes in the Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The scope of various shooting modes in the RX100 may seem overwhelming to someone who has never worked with Sony cameras before. The RX100 includes many, if not all, modes that a camera of this brand is capable of. However, you should start with the basic exposure modes before delving into more unusual things.
The RX100 gives you full manual and semi-automatic exposure control. There are two automatic modes: "Intelligent Auto" and "Enhanced Auto". The first examines the scene in order to then choose the best exposure value. "Advanced Auto Mode" combines scene recognition and multi-shoot composition for superior results. This mode will give you the best results in low light conditions.

The RX100 includes a variety of modes designed for optimal performance in low light conditions. It's no wonder the RX100 has a manual twilight mode and a mode for motion blur reduction that come standard on all Cyber-shot models. Next up is the Auto HDR mode, which automatically shoots three frames to optimally capture the dark and light areas of the frame and merge them into one optimal frame. Another interesting mode is "Multi-frame", with which you can shoot in low light conditions and get good quality photos.

Below are examples of images taken in rarer Auto HDR. Many compacts and DSLRs provide automatic exposure adjustment and the ability to combine images in-camera to produce HDR images. This is a real bonus for those who don't have the time, experience or inclination to create HDR composites using software. HDR photos taken with the RX100 are not perfect. But they have a better combination of light/shadow than they could if it was a single shot and not a composite.

You can set the Auto HDR mode to automatically determine the exposure and take three shots, or set it manually by shooting in 1EV increments. The RX100 will take three frames and then merge them into one.

HDR off

HDR+1 HDR+2 HDR+3

HDR+4 HDR+5 HDR+6

The RX100 also has interesting scene modes. There are 13 common scene modes available for you to select the optimal exposure, focus, flash and settings for specific subjects and specific shooting conditions.

And of course, the Sony camera has a very interesting Sweep Panorama mode. In this case, the soap box creates photos of 12416 x1, 856 or 5536 x2160, depending on whether the picture was taken in portrait or landscape. Sony's Sweep Panorama is the first 360-degree pan function, other manufacturers just "borrowed" this idea from Sony, but so far, the original version remains the best. The camera produces flawless panoramic scenery and all you have to do is press the shutter button and turn around while the camera is shooting. There are some errors in the picture, but when panning, they are always there and can be avoided. Below is an example of a 360 degree shot taken with the RX100.

Sony RX100 in Sweep Panorama


4.7-17.7mm by 4.7mm Sweep Panorama, image size 5536 x 2160 pixels

The RX100 includes effects and filters previously used in other Sony models. Photos taken with the use of filters are very unusual, and sometimes even very original. You can shoot simple monochrome images as well as vivid original photos.

warm colors Pasteurization Retro

Black and white shot HDR Illustration

Control Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The RX100 will be ready to shoot within two seconds of pressing the on/off button, which isn't lightning fast, but it's a normal start time for a compact camera, albeit slower than the Lumix LX7. In this case, the speed depends on the position of the aperture ring.

In PASM exposure modes, the ring is used to control aperture or shutter speed, depending on the mode. As you might expect, in aperture priority mode, it's aperture, shutter priority is shutter speed. It would be nice to be able to set up the wheel control in such a way that it can be used for exposure compensation.

Setting up the RX100 is no big deal. The function buttons are small customizable shortcut menus with up to seven positions of your own choice of settings - exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, white balance, DRO / Auto HDR images, effects are added by default, but they can be changed, you can also add two more, on one's own. This makes the RX100 the first compact to offer a quick menu.

The menu system in the RX100 is well organized into tabs for shooting settings, video settings, camera settings, playback, memory card, date/time and other settings. There are five pages of shooting options, but the page format is not very convenient, but it means that you can see all the available settings without having to scroll. And as the experience of other soap dishes has shown, scrolling is very long and inconvenient. There is also an Fn button that gives you full menu access.

As for the shortcomings, there is no complete manual for the RX100 camera, neither in electronic form nor in printed form. To find out more information about this camera, you need to search for it yourself on the Internet, on the company's website. You can download the full manual in PDF format here.


Focusing in the Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The Cyber-Shot RX100 has four focus modes for stills and video shooting: One-Shot AF, Continuous AF, Manual Focus and Focus Tracking. Autofocus mode provides three focus areas. The tracking focus mode can be activated in any focus mode by pressing the center button on the wheel.

Autofocus performance on the RX100 is good, though not fast enough, especially when shooting in low light. Under optimal conditions, there are short delays before the lights come on and you hear a confirmation beep. And although autofocus can work in low light conditions, it is always difficult to achieve good performance, and not only for point-and-shoot cameras, but also for professional cameras.

The camera provides you with manual focus. Sony cameras are distinguished by the possibility of the so-called focus peaking (a sound is made when it comes into focus), of course, this is not the most suitable option for a compact, but many amateur photographers would be happy to find this feature in their camera. Generally speaking, manual focus for a soapbox is always a problem, and anything that can make it easier is welcome by photographers.

The RX100 has a feature that can be roughly called "Face Priority", the essence of this mode is based on face recognition. That is, the camera focuses on the face. The mode is activated from the main menu and works independently of the exposure mode, so you can use it in PASM exposure mode as well as auto exposure. It also works in video mode, although its capabilities, in this case, will be a little limited. In practice, we have shown that the face detection mode only works when a person is in close proximity to the camera. However, it is a useful additional tool that never hurts.


Burst shooting in Sony Cyber-shot RX100

In continuous shooting, the RX100 can shoot up to 10 fps, focus and exposure is determined by the first frame. To test the continuous shooting of the RX100, the 8GB memory card was formatted and the camera was ready to go. The high resolution JPEG mode was set and the shutter speed was set to 1/500. With speed prioritized, the camera delivered 12 fps in 1.1 seconds, much faster than the promised 10 fps.

After the first 12 frames, the RX100 does not stop (like the Lumix LX7 for example), shooting continues, but the speed slows down by about 2.5 frames per second after the buffer is full. If you take your finger off the shutter button, the screen will turn off and then back on in less than four seconds.

Replacing the memory card does not significantly affect the speed of continuous shooting. If every fraction of a second is precious to you, then it is better to use a UHS-1 type card.


Matrix in Sony Cyber-shot RX100

The Cyber-shot RX100 is equipped with a 1-inch Exmor CMOS sensor measuring 13.2x8.8mm. It's exactly the same size as the Nikon 1's sensor and has the same aspect ratio. The maximum image size in is 5472 x 3648.

The sensor in the RX100 is smaller than the Micro Four Thirds format used by Olympus and Panasonic and is much smaller than the APS-C sensor used in many SLR cameras. Don't forget the Canon G1 X's 18.7x14mm sensor, which is also larger than the Cyber-shot.


Comparison of matrix sizes, Sony RX100 marked in red

Images can be saved in JPEG or RAW format. The average JPEG file size is 3 to 6 MB. The sensitivity range is in the range from 80 to 6400ISO. With Multi-frame NR enabled, the RX100 can shoot at 12800 and 25600 ISO.

Next, we'll run some experiments showing the image quality of pictures taken with the Sony RX100. Let's check the performance of the camera and the noise level in its photos. After a detailed study of the Cyber-shot RX100 and comparing it with other cameras, conclusions will be drawn and the final verdict will be announced.

(tab=Capture video)

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 in video mode

The RX100 can shoot Full HD at resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 megapixels. at 50 or 60 frames per second. You have the option to choose between several types of encoding. In the first case, you get a 1080p50/60 image, which weighs about 28Mbps, in the second case, it's 1080i50/60, which weighs 17Mbps, and 1080i50/60, which weighs 24Mbps. Also, you have the opportunity to shoot in MP4 format - 1440x1080 at 12 Mbps and VGA (640 x 480) at 30 and 25 frames per second.

During video recording, digital zoom cannot be turned off. Even if digital zoom is turned off in advance, when switching to video mode - either using the mode selector or pressing the video record button, digital zoom will turn on automatically. This can create some inconvenience when using the camera, when the optical zoom reaches its limit, after a short pause, the digital zoom is activated. Why not just stop zooming when the end of the optical zoom is reached? Easier said than done, as the zoom continues for a few more fractions of a second after the key is released.

Full PASM exposure control is available when recording video. You can select the desired mode on the video menu tab. Once recording has started, you can change the exposure setting in any of the modes. The aperture ring switches between shutter speed and aperture control, depending on the exposure mode. Sony did the smart thing by turning off the audible click when switching between shutter and aperture priorities.

During movie shooting, additional stabilization can be set. The camera provides additional stabilization, focused on smoothing out the movement of the camera that occurs while walking. You can do without it, using the usual optical SteadyShot stabilization, or turn it off altogether for the duration of the movie.
Also with the help of RX100 you can take pictures while recording video, the so-called freeze frames. Freeze frame can be done in all modes except 1080p50/60 mode. Footage is recorded in 16:9 aspect ratio at a maximum resolution of 17 megapixels, but the resolution can be reduced to 4.2. The RX100 has a built-in stereo microphone and noise reduction filter, but like the Lumix LX7, the camera does not have a jack for an external microphone.

You can use all of the RX100's focus modes while shooting movies while being. Tracking autofocus can be activated before or during recording.

Video taken with the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 example #1: outside, overcast without using a tripod.

All sample video clips were filmed in best 1080p50 mode. Stabilization has been activated. In Super Quality mode, the RX100 produces excellent video with an average data rate of 28Mbps, the same as the Lumix LX7. Noise due to zooming is almost inaudible, and extraneous noises are also completely inaudible.

Video shot with Sony Cyber-shot RX100 example #2: outdoors, sunny, tripod used


Stabilization has been disabled because the image is taken with a tripod. Again, we see very good quality. The matrix handles bright reflections on the water well, although some flaws still remain. Auto exposure handles brightness changes. While recording this video, the zoom lever was pressed. In this video, you can see how the optical zoom switches to digital after a pause, and how much the quality of the video suffers from this. Remember that switching to digital zoom cannot be disabled, so zoom in carefully if you don't want to lose the quality of your video.

Video shot with Sony Cyber-shot RX100 example #3: indoors, low light, no tripod

When shooting video in low light, the quality of the RX100 looks very good, although there is still some noise. The camera reacts to changes in light, but autofocus continues to work well.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 Video Example #4: Continuous AF

This video checks out the RX100's continuous autofocus. Throughout the video, zooming was performed from a cup of coffee, to a general plan of the bar, and back. As you can see, the autofocus performance of the RX100 is amazing. The camera quickly and accurately changes focus, depending on the scene in the clip.

Video shot with Sony Cyber-shot RX100 example #5: Face detection

The video was filmed in face recognition mode. The RX100 does a pretty good job of this. However, the problem is that the camera only accurately focuses on the subject when the young people are not about a meter away from the camera.

(tab=Performance)

Quality comparison of Sony RX100 with Panasonic LX7 and Canon G1 X

To compare the actual performance of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100, Panasonic Lumix LX7, and Canon PowerShot G1 X compact cameras, several shots were taken within a few minutes of each other, using the best qualities of each. Photos are taken in JPEG format.

The zoom on the cameras was adjusted in such a way that visually, all shots looked the same.

The cameras were set to aperture priority mode, image stabilization was disabled, as the shooting was carried out using a tripod, the rest of the settings were set to default. ISO sensitivity was manually set to ISO 80 on the Cyber-Shot RX100 and Lumix LX7 and ISO 100 on the PowerShot G1 X.

The image above was taken with a Sony Cyber-shot RX100. The camera was set to aperture priority mode, with an aperture of f5.6 and an ISO speed of 80.

The aperture was set to f5.6, since it is with this value that we will get the best result. The best result for the PowerShot G1 X was also obtained at f5.6 and 100 ISO. For the Panasonic Lumix LX7, the best shot was taken at f4 and ISO 80.

In the first photo, the RX100 shows a very good result. The image is perfectly detailed, and it is not noisy. The texture of the grass on the hill is clearly visible, but again, we do not observe graininess. When compared with photos from other cameras, their results are worse.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. f4, ISO 80 Canon PowerShot G1 X. f5.6, ISO 100 Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. f5.6, ISO 80
In the second photo we see a good detail shot from the RX100. Even a lantern is visible on the lighthouse, which is not in the photographs of cameras from other manufacturers. The photo from G1 shows noise, and the lighthouse column looks like a white spot. The image taken by the LX7 seems less sharp.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. f4, ISO 80 Canon PowerShot G1 X. f5.6, ISO 100 Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. f5.6, ISO 80
The third shot also seems to be of very high quality, but here a little noise is visible on the window, although the structure of the wall is conveyed well.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. f4, ISO 80 Canon PowerShot G1 X. f5.6, ISO 100 Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. f5.6, ISO 80
The fourth photo is well detailed, there is no graininess, the edges are sharp, the contrast of the photo is good.

Overall, there is little difference in results between the Panasonic Lumix LX7 and RX100. In places, the photos from Panasonic seemed less clear to me. But this is due to the fact that in the RX100 the matrix has a wider resolution, so the detail of the photos is better. There was no noise in the pictures from the LX7.

The same can be said about the photos taken by Canon, the only thing is that the PowerShot G1 is more aggressive in processing and makes the images more contrast, thereby increasing the graininess.

Photo noise comparison between Sony RX100, Panasonic LX7 and Canon G1 X

To compare the noise levels in the photos of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100, Panasonic Lumix LX7, and Canon PowerShot G1 X, several shots were taken with them, with a difference of several minutes. The best quality settings of each compact in the format were used.

The focal length on the Cyber-shot RX100 and PowerShot G1 X was set to the equivalent of 28mm, the focal length on the Lumix LX7 was set to just over 28mm. The compacts were set in aperture priority mode, the ISO sensitivity was adjusted manually.

With a sufficiently large sensor, we expect to see fairly high-quality, noisy images. What came out of it, now let's see.
Images at ISO 80 are very good, detailed, crisp, and free of noise.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 80 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.80 ISO Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 80 ISO
At 100 ISO, the situation starts to change a little, but there is still not much noise in the photos from the RX100 and G1 cameras.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 100 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.100 ISO Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 100 ISO
At ISO 200, structure starts to show more, but there is not much of it yet. The image taken from the Sony compact shows the best result.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 200 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.200 ISO Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 200 ISO
When ISO goes up to 400, texture is noticeable in photos from all manufacturers. The noise level in the RX100 is minimal, which cannot be said about the other two cameras.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 400 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.400 ISO Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 400 ISO

The ISO is set to 800 and we can see the text in the Sony RX100 shot getting grainier, overall the camera performed well up to this point.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. 800 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.800 ISO Sony Cyber ​​Shot RX100. 800 ISO
At ISO 1600, the noise increases, the text is no longer readable. The picture becomes very grainy.

Panasonic Lumix LX7.1600 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.1600 ISO Sony Cyber-shot RX100.1600 ISO
At ISO 3200 we see that the image tone and texture become uneven. An image taken with a Panasonic camera already looks absolutely terrible.

Panasonic Lumix LX7 3200 ISO Canon PowerShot G1 X.3200 ISO Sony Cyber-shot RX100.3200 ISO
ISO6400, the text is already completely incomprehensible, the photo is very grainy. A photo taken with the G1 seems to be the softest and least noisy. By the way, it was this camera that showed a consistently good result in the last few photos.

Panasonic Lumix LX7. ISO 6400 Canon PowerShot G1 X.6400 ISO Sony Cyber-shot RX100.6400 ISO
Overall, this is a great result for the RX100. The level of noise in the photos, starting from the value of ISO1600, began to appear, but up to ISO6400, it was quite tolerable.

Compared to the Panasonic Lumix LX7 and PowerShot G1X cameras, the G1X produced quieter, clearer and sharper images without sacrificing quality. The LX7 did a much worse job. But let me remind you that all the cameras were placed in tough, the same conditions, and perhaps if the Lumix LX7 was manually adjusted by an experienced photographer, then the photos would be an order of magnitude better.

The Cyber-shot RX100 has a "Multi-Frame" noise reduction feature that allows you to manually adjust the ISO sensitivity. And below are the results of this function with various ISO sensitivity values.

Sony RX100 (JPEG, default). 200 ISO Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). 200 ISO

Sony RX100 (JPEG, default). 400 ISO Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). 400 ISO

As you can see, the shots taken up to ISO 400 with the Multi-Frame mode are absolutely not noisy, even a little blurry and not detailed. And with such ISO values ​​​​it is better not to use the “Multi-Frame” mode.

Sony RX100 (JPEG, default). 800 ISO Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). 800 ISO

Sony RX100 (JPEG, default). 1600 ISO Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). 1600 ISO

Sony RX100 (JPEG, default). 3200 ISO Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). 3200 ISO

Sony RX100 (JPEG, default). ISO 6400 Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). ISO 6400

Starting with ISO800, the effectiveness and necessity of the regime is obvious. Regular JPG shots look noisier, while photos taken with Multi-Frame enabled don't suffer from too much noise. Although on the other hand they are the same, more blurry, and still not clear.

Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). 12800 ISO Sony RX100 (Multi-Frame). ISO 25600

With "Multi-Frame" enabled, you can shoot at ISO 12800 and 25600, unless you enable this mode you won't have that option. Although the photos obtained at such ISO are not at all sharp and quite noisy. Although it is possible in other shooting conditions, they will be very handy.

(tab=Image examples)

Sample images taken with the Sony RX100

The following shots were taken with the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 in automatic mode (unless otherwise specified). The RX100 has been set to its better settings. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization has been disabled.

Landscape: 9.61MB, auto, 1/320, f5.6, ISO 80, 10.4-37.1mm at 10.4mm in (28mm equivalent)


Indoor shooting: 5.54MB, auto, 1/100, f5, ISO 400, 10.4-37.1mm at 10.4mm (28mm equiv.)


Indoor shooting: 6.36MB, auto mode, 1/125, f5.6, ISO 800, 10.4-37.1mm at 37.1mm (100mm equivalent)


Indoor shooting: 5.63MB, auto, 1/100, f2, ISO 1600, 10.4-37.1mm 10.4mm in (28mm equivalent)


Sweep Panorama: 6.29MB, 1/500, f5.6, 125 ISO, 10.4-37.1mm 10.4mm in (28mm equivalent), image size 5536 x 2160

(tab=Conclusions)

Conclusion

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is one of the most interesting compact cameras to come out in recent times. The camera was able to combine all the qualities that photography enthusiasts have dreamed of for so long. The RX100 combines a high-resolution sensor, high-quality optics with a sufficiently large range, as well as compactness and ease of use.


Of course, like any other camera, the RX100 has its drawbacks. The camera lens is quite bright at f1.8, but when the aperture is increased to F4.9, it becomes dimmer if the subject is taken at a distance of about 100 meters. As a result, the RX100 will take good portrait shots, but at longer distances, the performance will be worse. In addition, the compact still cannot compete with DSLRs in terms of control. Sony is working in this direction, and judging by the NEX models, positive changes are observed, so it remains only to wait.

In general, the RX100 is not only a great achievement, but also a breakthrough in the world of photo technology. Sony has done a great job of upgrading its compacts, incorporating the latest innovative technologies into the RX100 to meet the needs of even the most demanding enthusiasts.

Comparison with Panasonic Lumix LX7

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is likely to be a strong competitor for the Lumix LX7, with a larger sensor and a very impressive feature set in a more compact package. And as we have already said, the dimensions in cameras of this format are the most important parameter. The RX100 will easily fit into your shirt pocket, which is not the case with the Lumix LX7.

Compactness is an important factor, but not the only one. The RX100 has a significantly larger sensor than the Lumix LX7 and boasts a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, which means that with the RX100 you will get photos that are larger than those of the LX7, and in the future this will give great benefits when cropping photos.

The RX100 lens has a large aperture of f1.8-4.9, while the LX7, at the telescopic end, has half the aperture of f1.8-2.3. Because of this, the LX7 can use lower ISOs under the same conditions and with the same shutter speed. The closer the focus distance, the more depth of field a Panasonic camera can achieve.

The Cyber-shot RX100 is more expensive than the Lumix LX7. In essence, you pay for the combination of a large matrix in a compact package. Of course, there are people who are willing to pay for this, but if compactness is not your main criterion, then the Lumix LX7 could suit you perfectly. The camera has a bright lens, a hot shoe mount for an external flash, and a port for an additional viewfinder. And despite the small sensor, the LX7 has a beautiful, bright lens that will help you create equally high-quality images with good color depth.


Comparison with Canon PowerShot G1 X

The Canon PowerShot G1 X and the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 are large-sensor fixed-lens compacts, but how similar are they? G1 X is the first soap dish with a large 14.3 megapixel sensor, close in size, with an APS-C type sensor.

The camera has a 920k-dot swivel LCD display and a built-in optical viewfinder. The camera gives the user more physical control, here you will find a large number of convenient and functional buttons. An external flash can be connected to the G1 X via the hot shoe.

The PowerShot G1 X f2.8 lens isn't as bright as the RX100 and the camera can't focus closer than 20cm at wide angle, and at 85cm at telephoto you'll have a harder time achieving the desired depth of field. Thus, the advantage of a large sensor is negated due to the limited performance capabilities of the lens.

In terms of interesting shooting modes and filters, the G1 X can't give you as much choice as the RX100. Another weak point of the G1 X is burst shooting, which is only 1.9 fps, while in the RX100 it is 10 fps. In terms of video, the G1 X shoots at 1080p24 and stores the video files in the same folder as the photos, while the RX100 stores them in nested folders that aren't easy to access.

Ultimately, the G1 X's large sensor and its ability to take quality photos made it quite popular with many photographers.


Sony Cyber-shot RX100 final verdict

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is without a doubt one of the most interesting compact cameras released in recent years. Its uniqueness can be summarized in a few words - a large matrix in a small package. This magical combination has been the dream of many photography enthusiasts for a very long time, but with the release of new models such as the PowerShot S100, Lumix LX5 and Olympus XZ-1, it has not fully come true.

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