Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Review - The Sony RX100 II updates the award-winning RX100 with the addition of Wi-Fi, hotshoe and a vari-angle screen. Can it improve on an already excellent model?

Product Overview

Overall rating:

93%

Sony Cybershot RX100 II

Overall score:93%
Value:90%
Performance:95%
Image Quality:95%
Design:90%
Features:95%

Pros:

  • Large Sensor; Tilt Screen; Build Quality; Supports hot shoe accessories

Cons:

  • No touchscreen; Short zoom range; Expensive

Product:

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Review

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:

£650.00

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Review – First Look

Sony has today announced the RX100 II – a premium compact camera that’s designed to sit beside the RX100 at the top of Sony’s compact Cyber-shot range.

Just like the RX100, the RX100 II employs a large 1in 20.2MP sensor and as such firmly put a premium on image quality. The sensor itself is now back-illuminated to give the camera an improved native ISO range of 100-12,800, which is extendable to an ISO equivalent of 25,600 when the camera’s overlay burst shooting mode is selected.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Review - front view

Focal range

The RX100 II employs the same 28-100mm f/1.8-4.9 lens as the RX100. A new step zoom feature lets users instantly choose from five popular focal lengths (28, 35, 50, 70 and 100mm) using the control ring – an intuitive alternative to zooming in and out when attempting to compose a shot in a hurry.

The Sony RX100 II also features an all-new multi interface shoe and multi terminal expand possibilities for the creative photographer who’d like to attach an electronic viewfinder, stereo flash, or stereo microphone.

At the rear of the camera sits a 3in display that utilises Sony’s impressive ‘White Magic’ imaging technology. The display itself is one of the main areas of improvement over the RX100, as it’s now of the vari-angle variety and as such can be tilted away from the camera’s body.

Sony RX100 II front angle

Connectivity

In addition to being Wi-fi enabled, the RX100 II is the first ever camera from Sony to feature NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. NFC technology is becoming ever more prevalent in compact cameras and it provides an easier way of transfering images – simply touch the RX100 II against any other NFC-enabled device and you’ll be able to transfer images wirelessly

Completing the RX100 II’s impressive specification is Full HD video capture. This is also an upgrade on the RX100 in that it now features the addition of 24p/25p shooting for smooth results that mimic a cinematic feel.

Available in the UK from mid-July, the RX100 II is expected to cost £650, with the production of the RX100 continuing up to Christmas.

Details

Memory Card:SD, SDHC, SDXC
Video:AVCHD (1920 x 1080, 50p/60p), MP4 (1440 x 1080, 25p/30p)
LCD:3in, 1,229k-dot vari-angle TFT LCD
Sensor:1in, 20.2MP BSI Exmor R CMOS
Exposure Modes:Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, PASM, Scene, Movie
Metering System:Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Flash Modes:Auto, On, Off, Slow sync
Connectivity:Wi-fi, NFC, USB 2, HDMI
ISO Range:100 - 12800 (extendable to 25600)
Lens:3.6x optical zoom, 28-100mm in equivalent terms
Weight:281g with battery and card
Shutter Speeds:30 - 1/2000 sec
Power:Li-ion rechargeable, approx 350 shot battery life
Dimensions:101.6 x 58.1 x 38.3mm
File Formats:JPEG, Raw, MP4, AVCHD
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. Sony RX100 II Review – Design
  3. 3. Sony RX100 II Review – Performance
  4. 4. Sony RX100 II Review – Image Quality
  5. 5. Sony RX100 II Review – Verdict
  6. 6. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Review - Sample Image Gallery
  7. 7. Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II Review - First Look
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