Sony RX100 Purchasing Information: Which Top-Finish Compact Digital camera Is Proper for You?

The RX100 II is a directly improve to the unique digital camera. It makes use of the similar classic design and lens. Sony added a sizzling shoe, so you’ll use an exterior flash or accent EVF, and put a hinge at the LCD for low-angle and selfie capturing. However it is nonetheless now not a slightly display.

It is the first RX style with an Exmor R sensor, Sony’s branding for Bottom Illumination (BSI) tech. The sensor design rearranges layers of silicon, with the web consequence being a couple of one-stop benefit over an identical non-BSI chips when running in dim gentle.

The RX100 II does not seem to be in manufacturing as of early 2020—maximum picture speciality outlets are bought out and mark it as discontinued, even though it’s nonetheless indexed as a present product on Sony’s internet website. As with the unique RX100, we do not counsel purchasing one these days, until you get a deal on a used reproduction.

A extra fashionable take is the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III. It is a little extra ($750), however gives a brighter 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom, subsidized by way of a more moderen symbol sensor and processor. It additionally has a tilting LCD with contact toughen, and 4K recording.

The RX100 III earned Editors’ Selection marks in 2014, and continues to be a sensible choice for lots of photographers. Its lens, a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom with very good solution and an built-in ND clear out, is a huge explanation why. The pop-up EVF, which lowers into the frame when now not in use, is the opposite.

The sensor is equal to the RX100 II, however the lens does not lose as a lot gentle when zoomed in. It gives a quick 10fps burst seize fee with locked focal point, lots for many pictures. Video experts will lament the loss of 4K—1080p is the most productive it does—however take into accout its age.

It sells for $750 these days, a modest drop from its $800 debut, If you need 4K video, take into consideration the Panasonic LX10 instead. It sells for $700 and provides a an identical 24-72mm f/1.4-2.8 zoom lens, a tilting contact LCD, and 4K—it does disregard an EVF, even though.

The fourth-generation RX100 IV is an iteration of the RX100 III. For an additional $150 you get 4K video, a sharper EVF, and a bit of sooner autofocus device for 16fps capturing. The opposite sides—the lens, frame design, and interface—are all of the identical.

In spite of a $900 value, the RX100 IV nonetheless does not be offering a slightly display. It stands proud as a peculiar omission, particularly taking into account the complicated tech at the back of the IV’s symbol sensor. It is the first RX100 style with a stacked sensor design. It places the processing and reminiscence that power the sensor into the unit, netting sooner readout pace.

The stacked design provides the RX100 IV one in every of it is large differentiating options. It provides HFR (Top Body Charge) video, as much as 960fps, for playback at speeds as sluggish as one 40th of real-time. It is a characteristic that is carried directly to each and every RX digital camera that has adopted.

It’s possible you’ll leave out the contact display, in fact. Take into accounts the Canon G7 X Mark III ($750) or G5 X Mark II ($900) as choices. Each be offering stacked-sensor tech, in conjunction with tilting contact LCDs, and the G5 X has an EVF. They do not do excessive slow-motion video, even though—that is a characteristic this is nonetheless unique to Sony’s choices.

The RX100 V used to be the primary that Sony discontinued, and used to be instantly changed by way of the RX100 VA, which, regardless of bucking the Roman numeral naming scheme, is formally pronounced as “Ar Ex One Hundred 5 A.”

The V and VA are bodily equivalent. You get a tilting LCD—nonetheless no contact toughen right here—and the similar upgraded 2,359k-dot pop-up EVF because the IV. The sensor is up to date—it provides on-sensor segment detection for a rapid 24fps with focal point at each and every shot.

You’ll nonetheless in finding the V at the used marketplace. You will not leave out a lot by way of choosing it—the VA helps to keep the similar sensor, however upgrades the picture processor. It shoots somewhat sooner and its JPG colours and menus had been progressed to check the output of the VI and VII.

The VA sells for round $900, about $100 greater than the IV. If you have got the price range, my recommendation is to spend the additional cash and get the VA. At this value, the aforementioned Canon G7 X Mark III and G5 X Mark II are the most powerful choice choices.

You would assume the RX100 VI’s contact display would web headlines—Sony used to be past due including the characteristic, but it surely in the end seems right here. The lens is in truth the large alternate, and it is one thing that makes the VI style very other from the III, IV, V, and VA.

The RX100 VI greater than doubles the zoom energy, with 24-200mm protection. It isn’t the primary lengthy zoom now we have observed with a 1-inch sensor, however the f/2.8-4.5 lens captures extra gentle than competition. However it isn’t as excellent in low gentle as fashions with the 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens—understand that at f/1.8, a digital camera captures greater than two times the sunshine as at f/2.8.

The lens is other, however the sensor and processor are the similar from the VA. The digital camera shoots at 24fps with segment detection focal point, gives HFR slow-motion video, and as we discussed, has a tilting contact display. The EVF is fairly upgraded—it rises out of the frame with a unmarried button push, getting rid of the want to lock the eyecup into place manually as with previous fashions.

The VI sells for round $1,200, which is some huge cash. Panasonic gives up two choice choices at lesser asking costs. The ZS100 has a 25-250mm f/2.8-5.9 zoom and sells for round $500; the ZS200 has an extended 24-360mm f/3.3-6.4 lens and is going for round $800. Every sacrifices optical high quality in addition to are compatible and end to get to their cheaper price issues.

The most recent RX100 VII has so much in not unusual with the VI—the similar frame (with the addition of a mic enter), lens, for $100 extra. Inside of? It is all other. The sensor is a brand new stacked design with a sooner readout pace.

It “most effective” shoots at 20fps, however does so with the similar Actual-Time Monitoring autofocus device utilized by the professional-grade a9, and with wider segment detection protection than the VI. You lose somewhat little bit of pace, however there don’t seem to be many pictures you’ll be able to get at 24fps that you will not at 20fps. It provides a 90fps mode, a primary for any RX, however it’s restricted to seven pictures with a unmarried level of focal point.

As with the a9, the autofocus seamlessly switches between eye detection, face detection, and common matter monitoring. The focal point device additionally contains eye detection for people and pets.

Vloggers will recognize the mic enter, however will probably be disenchanted by way of the loss of 60fps seize at 4K. The video enjoys greater stabilization, a mixture of optical and virtual, which delivered effects on the subject of gimbal high quality in a check video proven off by way of Sony.

The 1-inch sensor dimension is not limited to pocket cameras. Sony additionally has a bridge-style circle of relatives, the RX10. It isn’t just about as complicated—there is the RX10 and RX10 II, with 24-200mm f/2.8 lenses. The RX10 shoots video at 1080p, the place the second one model provides 4K toughen.

The RX10 III and RX10 IV use a brand new lens, a 24-600mm f/2.4-4 zoom. The RX10 III gives distinction focal point and 14fps seize, whilst the RX10 IV options segment detection focal point (very similar to the RX100 VA and VI). For extra recommendation on purchasing a bridge digital camera, learn our record of most sensible choices.