Sony DSC RX100 Hands-on Preview: Digital Photography Review

Sony DSC-RX100 specifications

Price
MSRP	US: $650 EU: €650 UK: £550
Body type
Body type	Large sensor compact
Body material	Aluminum
Sensor
Max resolution	5472 x 3648
Other resolutions	5472 x 3080, 4864 x 3648, 3888 x 2592, 3648 X 3648, 3648 x 2736, 2736 x 1824, 2592 x 1944, 2592 x 1944
Image ratio w:h	1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels	20.2 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	20.9 megapixels
Sensor size	1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm)
Sensor type	CMOS
Color space	sRGB, AdobeRGB
Color filter array	RGB Primary color
Image
ISO	Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600
White balance presets	9
Custom white balance	Yes (1)
Image stabilization	Optical
Uncompressed format	RAW
File format	RAW (ARW2.3 Format) RAW+JPEG JPEG
Image parameters	Contrast: -3 to +3 steps Saturation: -3 to +3 steps Sharpness: -3 to +3 steps
Optics & Focus
Focal length (equiv.)	28–100 mm
Optical zoom	3.6×
Autofocus	Contrast Detect (sensor) Multi-area Center Selective single-point Tracking Single Continuous Face Detection
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes, built -in LED type
Digital zoom	Yes (14x)
Manual focus	Yes
Macro focus range	5 cm (1.97″)
Number of focus points	25
Lens mount	None
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD	Fixed
Screen size	3″
Screen dots	1,228,800
Touch screen	No
Screen type	WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Live view	Yes
Viewfinder type	None
Photography features
Maximum aperture	F1.8 - F4.9
Minimum shutter speed	30 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/2000 sec
Exposure modes	Auto Advanced Auto Program AUTO Shutter priority Aperture priority Manual Memory Recall Tele Zoom Hi Speed 3D Sweep Panorama Sweep Panorama Anti Motion Blur Picture Effect Scene selection
Scene modes	Portrait Anti Motion Blur (6 shot layering) Sports Action Pet Gourmet Macro Landscape Sunset Night Scene Hand-held Twilight Night Portrait Fireworks High Sensitivity
Built-in flash	Yes (Pop-up)
External flash	No
Flash modes	Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Drive modes	Single-frame advance Continuous advance Continuous adv Priority AE Speed Priority Continuous Self-timer Self Portrait Self-timer Continuous Self-timer
Continuous drive	Yes (2.5, 10 fps)
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Metering modes	Multi Center-weighted Spot
Exposure compensation	±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	(3 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV steps)
WB Bracketing	No
Videography features
Format	MPEG-4 AVCHD
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Videography notes	1920 x1080 60p PS: 59.97fps Progressive (appx 28Mbps), 1920 x 1080 60i FX : 59.97fps Interlaced (appx 24Mbps), 1920 x 1080 60i FH : 59.97fps Interlaced (appx 17Mbps), 1440 x 1080 30p :29.97fps Progressive (appx 12Mbps), 640 x 480 30p :29.97fps Progressive (appx 3 Mbps)
Storage
Storage types	SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Connectivity
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes (Micro HDMI)
Wireless	Eye-Fi Connected
Remote control	No
Physical
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	Lithium-Ion NP-BX1 battery and charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	330
Weight (inc. batteries)	240 g (0.53 lb / 8.47 oz)
Dimensions	102 x 59 x 36 mm (4.02 x 2.32 x 1.42″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	No
GPS	None

Comments

Total comments: 539

Regarding max apertures,how quickly do we move from f1.8 to the f4.9 as we move through the focal range ?

I am wondering if there is a very quick fall from the relatively wide aperture to the narrow one.

0 upvotes

It's probably about like the Canon S100 and NIkon p310 that have similar aperture and focal ranges. So it's going to drop pretty evenly and probably each major focal length change costs you a half a stop.

1 upvote

wow！ this one is a real killer!

1 upvote

I like the specs; can't wait to see the full review.

I'm hoping that this is an indicator of things to come; instead of the cynical hypocrisy of the megapixel race, I'd like to see a sensor-size race - let's see who can fit the biggest sensor in the smallest body, with the fastest lens!

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

There are samples on page 6 of the preview (refresh your page if you're not seeing page 6)

Comment edited 31 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Sorry, I managed to edit it before I saw your comment - I meant I'd like to take a look on the "comparometer" in a review....

0 upvotes

We're in the process of shooting those and will add them as soon as we have ACR support.

0 upvotes

20MP? I'll pass!

If sony built this for the enthusiast market, then they missed the mark. Put the same sensor on a 10-12mp camera with much better iso performance, and I'll be talking with my wallet

0 upvotes

Conversely, if it had 10-12mp, there would be people who would complain "Where's the high resolution sensor!?!"

Besides, there's no guarantee that it would have much different ISO performance with 10-12mp. Plus, as it is, it's certainly no slouch.

0 upvotes

The answer is to compare to Nikon 1. Same sensor size ..

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

I think the 20MP sensor does better than the 10 MP sensor, even at high ISO

3 upvotes

Note that this is a BSI sensor, where pixel pitch has a much smaller impact on the overall image quality. From the samples we see, it's about 1 stop noisier than the best APSc sensors. Consider the size of sensor and lens aperture, it actually performs quite a bit above the equivalence line.

2 upvotes

Thanks Gao, that's interesting about the BSI, I didn't know it made that much difference to noise performance but how about Diffraction? Someone claimed it's the same pixel pinch as the 1/2" to 2/3" range sensors, if that's true I don't think Backside (giggle giggle) illumination would help correct the airy disk :(

1 upvote

ARGH! I don't get it why they call this a 1" sensor?

Pythagorean theorem for a sensor 13.2mm x 8.8mm = 15.864mm

15.864mm = 0.624 inches? What am I missing?
I'd be grateful if someone could clear this up for me.

0 upvotes

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=sensor%20sizes

This answers your question - it's based on the naming of archaic television tube sizes....

3 upvotes

Thank you! That article clears everything up. Talk about an out-dated measurement that really should not be used today.

2 upvotes

There is not a single sensor or film format that I can think of that is measured diagonally, I can't understand why everyone always jumps to this measurement method? Perhaps because that is how they measure screen size maybe?

0 upvotes

It's the most practical way to measure a rectangle, it's math, don't worry about it... camera manufacturers obviously don't.

http://www.mathopenref.com/rectanglearea.html

Comment edited 20 seconds after posting

1 upvote

It's not math, what are you talking about? The area of a corresponding imaging circle is just being used because of the tube sizes of television tubes. See dpreview article
above.

0 upvotes

I know THAT's not math! I wasn't talking about... sigh never mind. it's called reading comprehension, don't worry about...

0 upvotes

Yes, as stated in the specifications.

0 upvotes

I always carry a S90 in my pants pocket. Maybe it is time to upgrade?

1 upvote

I was about to buy an S100 - thank goodness I didn't.
I'm just afraid that demand will be so high that it'll be impossible to get my hands on one when it launches.

3 upvotes

Thanks. Seems like we could have been here 5 or 6 years earlier, but better late than never.

0 upvotes

Does it have some form of image stabilization?

1 upvote

Yes, it's got 'Optical Steady-shot'

4 upvotes

Total comments: 539