Is the Sony RX100 VII the Best Camcorder Under $2,000?

What is a camcorder? Well, a defining feature is a power zoom. I don't know of any camcorder without a power zoom. And the Sony RX100 VII has one (so do many small hybrids, of course).

The RX100 VII has many features useful for video: 4K, extended power zoom from 24-300 using CIZ (clear image zoom), external mic input, and of course amazing AF, with different manual settings with tracking. The log profiles, HLG in particular, provide high dynamic range with terrific handling of highlights.

Here is a 4K video (HLG) that exploits most of the features - power zoom, focus tracking, and external audio (binaural setup) in a high dynamic range setting:

For examples of using the power zoom and focus tracking, see 0:45-1:04 and 1:35-1:48, where roller skaters are shot - these skaters have completely unpredictable movements but they are followed in focus , zooming and panning.

In my experience, the worst stress test of dynamic range is having someone with a white shirt in the bright sun. The camera handles this perfectly without dimming the whole scene. Here is a frame grab with the white shirt:

And if there is doubt about CIZ, which extends the zoom to 300mm, here is a frame grab where it was used (there are many examples in the video):

The closest competitor to the RX100 VIII is Sony's AX700 camcorder - it has the 1" sensor and many similar features. It has three advantages over the RX100 VII: a zoom that extends out to 348mm, built-in ND filters, and a hot shoe.

But it has disadvantages - at the wide end the lens is only 29mm, while the RX100 VII goes wide at 24mm - that 6mm difference at the wide end is visually quite different. And you can add an external wide-angle adapter for the RX100 VII to go down to 18mm. Similarly, you can add ND filters to the RX100 VII. The hybrid AF of the AX700 is inferior to that of the RX100 VII (older technology). Finally, the AX700 is much larger and its form factor would bar its use in many churches and museums around the world, which explicitly prohibit camcorders. And it is $600 more expensive.

I wish the RX100 VII had 4K 60p, a cold shoe and a faster lens, but otherwise I do not see it lacking in any important way as a camcorder. And it is pocketable. The Sony ZV-1 is a good alternative, but its zoom is very limited at 24-105 (with CIZ), although the lens is faster.

Note: after a day, YouTube has still not converted the video to 4K for streaming. It will do so. The 4K resolution of the RX100 VII, like many Sony cameras, samples from the full sensor so the 4K resolution is among the best.