Sony RX100 VII
Announced July 25, 2019
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Sony RX100 VII is a remarkably powerful compact camera that packs advanced autofocus and a versatile zoom lens into a pocket-sized body. While it offers impressive performance for video and action, the high price and lack of ergonomic refinements like a deeper grip or built-in ND filter make it a specialized tool rather than a general-purpose replacement for larger cameras.
Weighted from 47 reviewer scores
Pros
- Industry-leading, rapid autofocus with reliable eye-tracking for humans and animals
- Highly versatile zoom lens that maintains sharp image quality throughout its range
- Compact, pocketable design that remains feature-rich for travel and vlogging
- Excellent video capabilities including 4K recording, active stabilization, and a dedicated microphone input
- High-speed continuous shooting up to 20fps with no viewfinder blackout
Cons
- High price point for a compact camera
- Challenging ergonomics with a slippery body and small, fiddly controls
- Limited battery life and susceptibility to overheating during extended 4K recording
- Lacks a built-in ND filter and hot shoe for mounting external accessories
- Complex, outdated menu system with limited touchscreen functionality
- Launch price $1,200 (USD)
- Sensor 20.1MP 1-inch Stacked BSI CMOS
- Video 4K 29.97p
- Burst 90 fps electronic
What the Reviewers Say
All 47 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 85/100
The RX100 VII is the most capable pocket camera currently on the market.
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Ultimately though if you’re after a do-it-all pocket travel camera that’s also great for video and action, the RX100 VII is hard to beat.
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A phenomenally capable pocket camera for those who can afford it and live with its flaws and operating frustrations.
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[...] I'm really liking this camera, especially with my little tripod handle, and having a lot of fun with it.
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For the video use, I would look for as a complement to my photo work, which I would stick with the camera I have, the Sony RX100VII was perfect. If I wanted to travel extraordinarily light or had to leave my bulky camera back at home for a hike/climb, this would do the job.
- The Verge 7.5/10
The RX100 Mark VII, like its predecessors, is without a doubt an incredibly powerful camera for its size. But its price is also incredibly high, which makes it a bit of a niche item, and people within that niche tend to be pretty discerning.
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The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII has a lot to offer and improves on the RX100 VI, making this an excellent camera.
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The Sony RX100 camera series continue to evolve with the launch of the Mark VII, which focuses on faster, more usable burst shooting, improved auto-focusing and the long overdue addition of a Mic port.
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Sony proves once again that it has some amazing technology in its arsenal that be packed down into the tiniest of bodies. If you’ve got the cash to spend and you want the best possible camera for your pocket, this is without doubt the one to go for.
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On paper, the RX100 VII is amazing. Its size is amazing, its 24-200mm lens is pretty amazing, its high-speed shooting is amazing and its latest-gen AF system is amazing.
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The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII point-and-shoot is a modest update to the RX100 VI, offering better autofocus and video stabilization for a bit more money.
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Given the strong performance and huge popularity of previous models it was likely that any changes Sony made here would only make it a better performer – and that's pretty much the case.
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You will love this because it is the best RX camera ever. If you're a serious photographer who already has a Sony camera and you want something you can almost fit in your pocket, this is a really good choice.
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It's small and compact packs and lock features in it perfect travel camera, which is why I'm in Windsor.
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This is probably one of my favorite autofocus systems on any camera it's available at the time I'm filming.
- Photo Review 8.8/10
The latest iteration of Sony’s popular RX100 series features a redesigned sensor, upgrades autofocusing system, faster response times and a microphone port.
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The RX100 VII is about as perfect as small-scale, high-end compact cameras get. If you can afford one - as this has never been a budget series.
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If you’ve got the cash to splurge on a camera like the RX100 VII, then it’s almost certain you won’t be disappointed with the results it’s capable of delivering.
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The best compact on the market? [...] Certainly, it’s one of the most powerful.
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If you need a tiny camera with a huge zoom range, incredible autofocus system, killer high speed shooting, and 4K video, guys, this camera's for you.
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[T]his really is the best option overall if you have to just boil it all down, in my opinion.
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I had a great time reviewing this camera, and am a little sad to see it go. It’s nice to have so much power in such a compact package, and the huge zoom lens is incredibly versatile, especially when you’re trying to travel light.
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To sum up Sony RX100 VII is by far the most technologically advanced compact camera ever. It is relatively expensive but I can say that the performance and the feature set can justify that price.
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[T]his is for now the best vlogging camera you can get, not perfect but you.
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[T]he Sony RX100 VII is a fantastic camera.
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The RX100/7 works faster than just about any other camera and the pictures are always sharp and clear.
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[T]his is one of the most capable cameras I've ever used.
- Pokde.Net 7.8/10
The Sony RX100 VII is a great compact camera can offer you more than any smartphone cameras out there.
- Ubergizmo 8.2/10
The Sony RX100 VII is the ultimate evolution of a successful line of product which has been praised by many creative users.
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The RX100 VII is a delight of a camera and an easy recommendation to make. There’s nothing that compares in this size category in terms of the range of features, autofocus capabilities, video prowess and performance as a general all-rounder.
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I absolutely love this camera. I've been having so much fun with it.
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[T]his is absolutely one of the best cameras of the year.
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[T]his camera's amazing, and it should be amazing for the $1,200 price tag, and that really begs the question, is this camera worth buying for twelve hundred bucks? And if you are looking for a single camera, no, do not buy the Sony RX100 VII.
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All in, the RX100 VII is a great but pretty expensive compact camera at $1,649.
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I really enjoy shooting on the RX100 Mark VII and I highly recommend you pick one up if you are a content creator and you like taking your camera to places in which taking an interchangeable lens camera is either not allowed or not practical.
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When you buy the Sony RX100 VII compact camera today, you’re choosing a device that has been on the market for about seven years.
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Ultimately, it’s very impressive how much Sony have been able to add to this camera over the last model while still keeping the design nice and sleek and very much a pocketable camera. As compact cameras go, this is a tough one to beat.
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I think the strength of this camera is that you get a lot of capability and the capacity to capture high-quality images in a really compact body.
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The Sony RX100 VII continues the impressive lineage of the RX100 series. This is a camera with so many potential applications that I’m not even sure who wouldn’t love to use it.
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Now you're going to be getting better image stabilization, some cool features such as your super fast 90 frames per second burst modes, and pretty good tracking in autofocus as well, which will make it a quite attractive camera for the masses as well as content creators.
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I find the Sony RX100 VII to be similar to the Canon G7X Mark II that I have in a lot of ways.
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The seventh iteration of Sony’s RX100 series is a capable carry-anywhere camera.
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This is definitely a compact camera with pro level features, some of which aren’t even there in a few Alpha series cameras. The camera easily fits in your pocket and you can carry it around with you all the time.
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They've got 20 megapixel sensors in them, I think. If you can pick up one of these at a great price, buy it used from somewhere like MPB or Wex Photographic, I think you'll be absolutely thrilled to bits with it.
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So if you are in a situation where you want to grab a picture really quickly, the Sony RX100 VII is your ideal camera for that.
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[D]efinitely consider buying this if you want the best pocket vlog camera.
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[T]his camera is pretty incredible. I really do like what Sony has done here as this is a great camera for film, photography, vlogging, and live streaming if you want to use this camera for streaming.
