Sony RX100
Announced June 6, 2012
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 pairs a large 1-inch sensor with a compact, pocketable body to deliver class-leading image quality that rivals entry-level DSLRs. While it offers advanced manual controls and excellent performance, the camera lacks a dedicated grip and carries a premium price tag compared to other point-and-shoots.
Weighted from 31 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent image quality and detail from a large sensor
- Highly compact and pocketable design
- Extensive manual controls and customization options
- Fast autofocus and responsive performance
- Bright lens with versatile aperture
Cons
- Slippery body design lacks a front grip
- Premium price point
- Inconvenient in-camera USB charging
- Variable aperture that stops down at telephoto zoom
- Absence of a built-in viewfinder
- Launch price $649.99 (USD)
- Sensor 20.2MP 1-inch CMOS
- Burst 10 fps electronic
Expert Reviews
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- DPReview 78/100
The RX100 is probably the most capable compact camera on the market today, combining the image quality benefits of a mid-sized sensor with the proportions of a conventional compact.
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[I]t's clear what the Sony RX100's larger sensor area gets you in terms of resolution. It's soft, but still quite good by comparison.
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Its unique proposition can be summed up in four words – large sensor, small body. That magical combination is what enthusiast photographers have been wishing for for a long time.
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Sony’s Cyber-shot RX100 is a worthy entry in the field of high-end compacts.
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The summary judgement for me is that the new Sony RX100 is hands-down the most appealing pocket-sized digital camera yet. Capable of producing DSLR grade images, it’s hard to find much to fault with this small pocket wonder.
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Not only does the camera handle very well, but its image quality in the areas of resolved detail, dynamic range and colour rendition is class-leading.
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It's got some quirks for sure, but I've never seen a camera this small that gives you that kind of image quality, that quality of lens, and that kind of video camera capability as well.
- The Verge 8.7/10
Sony’s RX100 is nothing short of the best all-around compact camera I’ve ever seen.
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This is an ideal second camera for professionals. And it’s a great primary camera for any amateur who wants to take professional-looking photos without having to carry a camera bag.
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The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is a premium compact camera with high image quality to match.
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The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is the first truly pocketable camera to offer a DSLR experience, and in that regard it could almost be seen as something of a bargain [...]
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The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 packs a relatively huge 1-inch image sensor into a point-and-shoot body, delivering close-to-SLR-quality images from a camera you can fit in your back pocket. It's expensive, but worth it.
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For those looking for a back-up camera for when the DSLR is too bulky or inconvenient, Sony has produced a truly great camera that should also appeal to anybody wanting to trade up from a mobile phone or budget compact camera.
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For serious DSLR owners, a high-quality pocket-sized compact is often high on their wish list. We’ve seen some strong contenders in recent years, but nothing that offers quite the complete package that the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 provides.
- CNET 8.1/10
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100’s compact, elegant design, generally excellent photo quality, bright, fast lens, and speedy performance make a great package if you don’t mind spending a little more money.
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There really isn't anything of substance that one can moan about with this camera. It's exceeded and taken expectations of a compact camera with a compact camera sensor to a higher level.
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If you can stomach the steep purchase price for a point and shoot camera, there’s really no way to go wrong with the RX100. I give it a very high recommendation.
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There are some odd interface issues that I eventually became used to, and the lens certainly isn’t perfect. However, while it has its quirks, the Sony RX100 is definitely the finest compact camera I have ever used.
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The best pocket digital compact of the year..actually…EVER!
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is lovely to look at, to hold and to handle.
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The Sony RX100 is sure to find an audience with pros and enthusiasts looking for a compact camera with a big sensor and pro controls.
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If you're a newbie photographer, $600 is asking a lot, but you're also probably going to get the best images you've ever taken in your entire life. Better than your iPhone, better than your $250 point and shoot.
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Buy the RX100 instead. It’s smaller, and for your purposes, will yield photos that are just as beautiful with less tinkering.
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Quality: the pictures I shot with the RX100 simply jumped off the screen with excellent definition and accurate colour. A top performer, no doubt thanks to Herr Zeiss’s precision.
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This camera is definitely worth the price if you're looking for something as a backup to a DSLR because it takes really good pictures that are just like a DSLR [...]
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[O]n the whole, the RX100 gets it right – it is undoubtedly the best compact camera available today, especially from the point of view of image quality. And I still feel as though it hasn’t shown its full potential yet, hampered by the lack of RAW support.
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For consumers who already have a DSLR, certainly if you haven't bought any fast primes for your NEX or EOS yet, the RX100 is definitely a viable replacement for a DSLR with kit zoom. At $650 it has zero competition which isn't bulkier and more hassle.
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Sony RX 100 is undoubtedly among the best compact cameras available. The picture quality is really good. It will certainly help you capture or record the happy moments of your life and cherish them forever.
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The Sony RX100 will have other manufacturers playing catch-up for years, and even though its successors are now out, the Sony RX100 still remains my #1 overall point and shoot camera pick because of its robust feature set and lower price than its successors.
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The Sony RX100 sets a new high watermark for enthusiast level compact cameras as far as I'm concerned.
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So for a black and white street photography camera, heck yes, I can highly recommend this.
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