Sony DSC-RX100 20 MP Digital Camera

Sony’s pocketable advanced compact has a new sensor

This tiny 20.9-MP camera with a metal body features an oversized 13.2 x 8.8 mm sensor to allow for large pixels for fine image quality, a 3″ (1.23-million-dot) LCD and an aspherical 28-100 mm f/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss lens.

In spite of its shirtpocket size, the RX100 is definitely full-featured with most of the photo and video modes, functions and overrides you’d expect in a Sony DSLR including Sweep Panorama, Multi-Frame NR for fine high ISO quality, and Auto HDR.

Basic Specifications

DSC-RX100 offers reliable programmed modes, customizable buttons, fast autofocus performance and good image quality packed in a sleek chassis which may appeal to enthusiasts and beginners alike.

 State of the art pocket camera

The Cyber-shot RX100′s 20.2MP sensor is coupled with the BIONZ image processor, so it captures in RAW at ISOs up to 25,600. There’s a control ring around the lens as well as a wheel in the back, making full manual control simpler. Bursts top out at 10 fps at full resolution, and the 3.6X Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens opens to f/1.8 at its widest 28mm (equivalent) focal length and reaches a respectable f/4.9 at 100mm. At 50mm, the maximum aperture is a decent f/2.8.

Of course, it records video, too. The RX100 captures at up to 1920x1080p60.

This is one small shooter that I can’t wait to test.

Pros

• Bright F1.8 optics
• sleek, attractive design, and portable
• customizable control ring and function buttons
• fast auto-focus performance
• Raw and JPEG capture modes
• Impressive flash mechanism
• Superb Vario-Sonnar T* lens
• DSLR-style feature set
• Many special-effects filters
• 10-fps drive speed
• 1080p video in AVCHD or MP4

Cons

• Slow F4.9 aperture at the telephoto
• Lack of dedicated button for pop-up flash
• External controls are small

Video Preview

As good of a landscape camera as you’ll get in a compact camera. Interchangeable-lens models are generally better-suited to the task.

Sample Photos

No photos this good have ever come from a camera this small.

Ever wonder why you’ve never been able to get great background blur and truly shallow depth of field with a compact camera, even an advanced one? It is probably because the sensor in most compacts just isn’t large enough. With the new RX-100, Sony has paired a Zeiss T*lens that shoots a fast f/1.8 at its widest angles with a new, larger 1-inch-type image sensor. The result? Actual shallow focus from a compact.

It’s a great little camera, especially in its iauto+ mode.

Official Video

If you’re thinking about this camera, you probably don’t need to hesitate

Compared to the average point and shoot 1/2.3″ sensor size, the RX100 boasts a large, specially developed 1″ Exmor CMOS sensor to capture more light from your scene and reproduce every stunning detail with greater fidelity. Original dual noise reduction and column A/D conversion further decrease noise to ensure smooth, clear reproduction – even in low-light settings.

Extremely sophisticated in-camera software and superb Carl Zeiss lens

Beneath the sleek design is an impressive 1.0-inch 20.2MP sensor for outstanding image quality, and an incredibly fast Zeiss f/1.8 lens for low-light shooting and greater control over selective-focus applications.

Possibly the Best Pocket Camera of All Time