Reading mode: Light Dark

RX100 VI vs HX99 for a new travel compact zoom?

Go to last post
E

EasyClick

Well-known member
Messages
165
Reaction score
1
Location
London, UK
My RX100 has died on me a couple of days ago after 7 years of reliable use. It travelled with me pretty much everywhere as a backup or when it was impractical to bring my full frame A7 gear. So I’m now researching a replacement. I like Sony cameras but have no particular brand fidelity when it comes to compact zooms.

Though I’ve narrowed down to 2 options which I can afford:

- RX100 mk VI

- HX99

Has anyone had experience with both cameras? What about zoom quality vs range? Would 200mm on the mk VI be better than 720mm on the HX99 for the same subject?

Any advices and thoughts would be very helpful.

thanks!
 
Last edited:
I used to say, Travel = Two Cameras. Anything can break.

Now, I do very well with my cell phone camera: bright f2.0, wide 25mm, 19mp, 1/2.3" sensor

So, the rx100m6 or m7, combined with a bright cell phone is darn good, extremely portable pair.

IF, after a while with the m6 or m7, you find you really miss the brighter lens of earlier rx100's, you could fix yours, or look for a good used rx100m3.

I could fix my broken rx100m3 (needs a lens motor), but it simply doesn't occur to me.

.................................

Extra Reach of rx100m6 or m7. (when considering longer reach options).

SZ Smart Zoom, an in-camera OPTICAL CROP (no upscaling) EXACTLY like a post crop, gives you extra reach (while shooting, thus you can see what's there/happening, easier to time your shot if motion is involved)

at 10mp Image Size SZ extends OPTICAL reach from 200mm to 280mm. Jpeg Only.

poorly explained by Sony, disparaged by many, they offer

"Occasional, Good Enough, Effortless' extra reach

Loading…

www.dpreview.com
 
RX100m6 and m7 are great pocket cameras. I've had both. Phenomenal for street shots. But they are NOT safari cameras. Minimum for safari is a6XXX with 70-300 or 70-350 lens. And you'll still crop many shots as I did with the 70-300 four years back--best to keep distance from the hippos.
 
EasyClick said:
My RX100 has died on me a couple of days ago after 7 years of reliable use. It travelled with me pretty much everywhere as a backup or when it was impractical to bring my full frame A7 gear. So I’m now researching a replacement. I like Sony cameras but have no particular brand fidelity when it comes to compact zooms.

Though I’ve narrowed down to 2 options which I can afford:

- RX100 mk VI

- HX99

Has anyone had experience with both cameras? What about zoom quality vs range? Would 200mm on the mk VI be better than 720mm on the HX99 for the same subject?

Any advices and thoughts would be very helpful.

thanks!
Click to expand...
Which camera did you buy EaskClick? How did it compare to the original RX100?
 
sybersitizen said:
ulises66 said:
Look the Huawei Mate 40 Pro +, it has a 240mm optical range. And probably better image quality.

https://www.dxomark.com/huawei-mate-40-pro-plus-camera-review-king-of-camera/
Click to expand...
From that link:

Tele 2: 8 MP sensor, 240 mm-equivalent f/4.4-aperture lens, PDAF, OIS

The HX99 (and HX90V and HX80) have a 720mm equivalent optical range on a 20MP sensor. Those cameras will eat the phone for breakfast in terms of long telephoto work.
Click to expand...
I get it, but I don't use such long focal lengths. If I had that need I would choose the Sony RX10 IV (24-600 mm), it is a larger camera but with much better image quality.
 
Last edited:
ulises66 said:
sybersitizen said:
ulises66 said:
Look the Huawei Mate 40 Pro +, it has a 240mm optical range. And probably better image quality.

https://www.dxomark.com/huawei-mate-40-pro-plus-camera-review-king-of-camera/
Click to expand...
From that link:

Tele 2: 8 MP sensor, 240 mm-equivalent f/4.4-aperture lens, PDAF, OIS

The HX99 (and HX90V and HX80) have a 720mm equivalent optical range on a 20MP sensor. Those cameras will eat the phone for breakfast in terms of long telephoto work.
Click to expand...
I get it, but I don't use such long focal lengths. If I had that need I would choose the Sony RX10 IV (24-600 mm), it is a larger camera but with much better image quality.
Click to expand...
That's far, far larger and heavier than the HX models, or the RX100 models, or a phone. The OP is looking for a compact travel camera, and he must be thinking about a pretty long range zoom since he includes the HX99 in his choices:
Member said:
Member said:
Member said:
EasyClick said:
... I’ve narrowed down to 2 options which I can afford:

- RX100 mk VI

- HX99
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
sybersitizen said:
That's far, far larger and heavier than the HX models, or the RX100 models, or a phone. The OP is looking for a compact travel camera, and he must be thinking about a pretty long range zoom since he includes the HX99 in his choices:
sybersitizen said:
sybersitizen said:
sybersitizen said:
EasyClick said:
... I’ve narrowed down to 2 options which I can afford:

- RX100 mk VI

- HX99
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
The OP is not very clear on it because the difference in focal range between those two cameras is huge.
 
Last edited:
Smartdas said:
EasyClick said:
My RX100 has died on me a couple of days ago after 7 years of reliable use. It travelled with me pretty much everywhere as a backup or when it was impractical to bring my full frame A7 gear. So I’m now researching a replacement. I like Sony cameras but have no particular brand fidelity when it comes to compact zooms.

Though I’ve narrowed down to 2 options which I can afford:

- RX100 mk VI

- HX99

Has anyone had experience with both cameras? What about zoom quality vs range? Would 200mm on the mk VI be better than 720mm on the HX99 for the same subject?

Any advices and thoughts would be very helpful.

thanks!
Click to expand...
Which camera did you buy EaskClick? How did it compare to the original RX100?
Click to expand...
I actually did! I purchased the RX100 mk VI second hand on ebay for around £500. These days, I'm not buying anything new unless the tax deduction makes it cheaper than second hand.

Prior to that, I did purchase the HX90V as well. I tested and travelled with it for a couple of days. It's a brilliant camera, the handling and functionality is as great as the MK VI but it was just a little lacklustre in picture quality. I needed picture quality I can use in my post production image editing work. If all I wanted was good fun playing with the zoom I'd buy it again! I love the 720mm lens. But I sold it shortly before getting the mk VI.

Regarding the mk VI vs mk I. Well the mk VI, is a much more versatile cakmera. I retain picture quality but with a viewfinder, flipscreen and additional zoom range. The only thing I miss is the brighter focal length of 1.8 from the mk I. I think you got more bokeh in specific circumstances. But I'll trade bokeh for versatility for now. One shortcoming is the zoom felt more like a 35mm than a 200mm. I can't explain it, when I look through the viewfinder then looking away, it didn't feel like a binocular. I think it's just the screen area of the vewfinder vs your eyes. Trying to find an excuse to get the h90v/hx99...
 
Last edited:
aerorail said:
ya tink he bought a camera one year later????
Click to expand...
Well I did! It took me a while after trying a few options and waiting for the right price, I settled with a second hand RX100 mk VI in August 2020. Very happy with it. My old leather case for the mk I actually fits the mk VI. The little camera paid itself off by helping me on several jobs.
 
Last edited:
Markr041 said:
The HX99 can shoot 4K that is very detailed (oversampling from the full sensor), so it raises hope it would make for a good video camera. But, unfortunately, no.

Besides the fact that the HX99 is substantially inferior to the RX100 VI or VII (the better successor) in low light because of sensor size and the slower lens, for video:

1. Without an ND filter, you simply cannot shoot in bright light without either violating the 180 rule, thus using high shutter speeds that result in jerky motion, and/or small apertures that result in diffraction softness. You can easily add an external ND filter to the RX100 VI or VII. Or add a PL filter, which is useful for stills as well.

2. There are no Picture profiles. This means you cannot take advantage of the full dynamic range of the sensor that you can with HLG or Slog. Using these profiles really makes a difference for dealing with high-contrast scenes (without them you have 5-6 stops, with them maybe 11 stops).

Here is an example of a 4K video shot with the RX100 VII (RX100 VI would be similar) that I can assure you would almost be impossible to shoot using the HX99 - it uses an ND filter and HLG3 to capture scenes with bright sunlight, glaring white snow reflecting the light and high contrast, along with smooth motion (1/60th shutter for 30 fps):
Click to expand...
Except for the long zoom. Nothing beats taking a video with your phone in this range. The stabilizer and dynamic range is so much better on a new Iphone.
 
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.

New camera will be from either Panasonic Lumix or a Canon Powershot G series or an Olympus TG-6 with the integrated GPS for geotagging files automatically.
 
calson said:
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.

New camera will be from either Panasonic Lumix or a Canon Powershot G series or an Olympus TG-6 with the integrated GPS for geotagging files automatically.
Click to expand...
You sound bitter. Why did you not like the RX100V? Simply saying you didn't like it without specifics isn't useful. As a counterpoint I have owned the original RX100M1 since 2012 and think it's great.

--
Tom
 
Last edited:
calson said:
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.
Click to expand...
I have updated the firmware on my RX100V to 2.00. I also have updated other RX cameras, and other Sony HX and Alpha mirrorless models. I do wish that Sony would simplify the firmware update process by allowing one to load firmware to a SD card and then install in the camera, but I suspect that they don’t allow that because of the potential for malicious code to be placed in the camera. In any case, I have been able to update the firmware.
 
CaliforniaDave said:
calson said:
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.
Click to expand...
I have updated the firmware on my RX100V to 2.00. I also have updated other RX cameras, and other Sony HX and Alpha mirrorless models. I do wish that Sony would simplify the firmware update process by allowing one to load firmware to a SD card and then install in the camera, but I suspect that they don’t allow that because of the potential for malicious code to be placed in the camera.
Click to expand...
Why would Sony care if malicious stuff gets on a camera that you own? More likely they don't want any non-Sony modification of the firmware, even if it would benefit the user.

Shortly after someone successfully developed a way to change the behavior of Sony cameras in a way that benefitted the user, Sony eliminated the user-installed app capability in all future models. Coincidence?
CaliforniaDave said:
In any case, I have been able to update the firmware.
Click to expand...
 
CaliforniaDave said:
calson said:
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.
Click to expand...
I have updated the firmware on my RX100V to 2.00. I also have updated other RX cameras, and other Sony HX and Alpha mirrorless models. I do wish that Sony would simplify the firmware update process by allowing one to load firmware to a SD card and then install in the camera, but I suspect that they don’t allow that because of the potential for malicious code to be placed in the camera. In any case, I have been able to update the firmware.
Click to expand...
Calson's post borders on being the "T" word.
 
sybersitizen said:
Shortly after someone successfully developed a way to change the behavior of Sony cameras in a way that benefitted the user, Sony eliminated the user-installed app capability in all future models. Coincidence?
Click to expand...
I suspect Sony is afraid that 3rd party firmware will screw things up and the camera owner will want Sony to fix it which would be a PIA for them to say no. Sony's philosophy of a closed system is similar to Apple's.

--
Tom
 
Last edited:
tbcass said:
sybersitizen said:
Shortly after someone successfully developed a way to change the behavior of Sony cameras in a way that benefitted the user, Sony eliminated the user-installed app capability in all future models. Coincidence?
Click to expand...
I suspect Sony is afraid that 3rd party firmware will screw things up and the camera owner will want Sony to fix it which would be a PIA for them to say no.
Click to expand...
It's very easy for Sony to say no: Make it a condition of the warranty that it's void if the camera is modified. It might even already be a condition.
tbcass said:
Sony's philosophy of a closed system is similar to Apple's.
Click to expand...
That's right. They close it because they can.
 
Last edited:
sybersitizen said:
sybersitizen said:
I suspect Sony is afraid that 3rd party firmware will screw things up and the camera owner will want Sony to fix it which would be a PIA for them to say no.
Click to expand...
It's very easy for Sony to say no: Make it a condition of the warranty that it's void if the camera is modified. It might even already be a condition.
Click to expand...
Yes but that won't stop the phone calls to customer service.
 
tbcass said:
sybersitizen said:
tbcass said:
sybersitizen said:
Shortly after someone successfully developed a way to change the behavior of Sony cameras in a way that benefitted the user, Sony eliminated the user-installed app capability in all future models. Coincidence?
Click to expand...
I suspect Sony is afraid that 3rd party firmware will screw things up and the camera owner will want Sony to fix it which would be a PIA for them to say no.
Click to expand...
It's very easy for Sony to say no: Make it a condition of the warranty that it's void if the camera is modified. It might even already be a condition.
tbcass said:
Sony's philosophy of a closed system is similar to Apple's.
Click to expand...
That's right. They close it because they can.
Click to expand...
Yes but that won't stop the phone calls to customer service.
Click to expand...
Not convincing in the case of Sony. How many calls to customer service can there be for these reasons? People who are savvy enough to apply unauthorized changes to firmware are savvy enough to know they're doing it without warranty coverage.

I'm sure there are far more calls about how to operate a camera, or calls about repairs concerning accidental physical damage (also not covered under warranty).

Eliminating any possibility of non-Sony firmware changes was just a vanity move. Sony shouldn't care at all what we do to our own cameras because the warranties state what is not covered. Look at that bottom paragraph.

211ed8f4a4bb48a89e049cfece489b35.jpg
 
Last edited:
sybersitizen said:
CaliforniaDave said:
calson said:
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.
Click to expand...
I have updated the firmware on my RX100V to 2.00. I also have updated other RX cameras, and other Sony HX and Alpha mirrorless models. I do wish that Sony would simplify the firmware update process by allowing one to load firmware to a SD card and then install in the camera, but I suspect that they don’t allow that because of the potential for malicious code to be placed in the camera.
Click to expand...
Why would Sony care if malicious stuff gets on a camera that you own? More likely they don't want any non-Sony modification of the firmware, even if it would benefit the user.

Shortly after someone successfully developed a way to change the behavior of Sony cameras in a way that benefitted the user, Sony eliminated the user-installed app capability in all future models. Coincidence?
sybersitizen said:
In any case, I have been able to update the firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I was considering the North Korean hack of corporate Sony of some years ago, because of a movie release that NK didn’t like. It was a giant $$$ mess for Sony.

Others have pointed out reasons why Sony might not want third party code added to their cameras.

I used the Sony in camera apps some years ago, but was not too disappointed to see them go. The ones I purchased always seemed “added on” to me, and were not well integrated into the normal operation of the camera. I realize that other users might not have felt the same way. The time lapse app for example was poor compared to Panasonic’s well integrated in the menu time lapse feature that could generate good quality time lapse videos in camera as well as providing the option to save all of the original frames for external processing.
 
CaliforniaDave said:
sybersitizen said:
CaliforniaDave said:
calson said:
I bought the Sony RX100 V in November of 2019 and I would not buy another Sony P&S camera and plan to sell the one I have as soon as possible. Not being able to upgrade the firmware is the last straw in what has been a disappointing camera, even for a point and shoot one.
Click to expand...
I have updated the firmware on my RX100V to 2.00. I also have updated other RX cameras, and other Sony HX and Alpha mirrorless models. I do wish that Sony would simplify the firmware update process by allowing one to load firmware to a SD card and then install in the camera, but I suspect that they don’t allow that because of the potential for malicious code to be placed in the camera.
Click to expand...
Why would Sony care if malicious stuff gets on a camera that you own? More likely they don't want any non-Sony modification of the firmware, even if it would benefit the user.

Shortly after someone successfully developed a way to change the behavior of Sony cameras in a way that benefitted the user, Sony eliminated the user-installed app capability in all future models. Coincidence?
CaliforniaDave said:
In any case, I have been able to update the firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I was considering the North Korean hack of corporate Sony of some years ago, because of a movie release that NK didn’t like. It was a giant $$$ mess for Sony.
Click to expand...
People attacking a company's IT infrastructure has nothing to do with people changing firmware on a camera.

Whenever a third party publishes a camera firmware hack, the way it gets attention is on user forums. Camera owners who are willing to experiment try it, and they tell the community about the result. If the result is something bad, that gets publicized and most of the potential later adopters - if any - would avoid it.

Here is how a respected third party open source firmware operation works:

https://magiclantern.fm/about.html
CaliforniaDave said:
Others have pointed out reasons why Sony might not want third party code added to their cameras.
Click to expand...
Sure, we all have opinions. But none of the other reasons resonate with me like the reason I propose: vanity that prevents acknowledgement that others out there can do something better with Sony cameras than Sony has done.
CaliforniaDave said:
I used the Sony in camera apps some years ago, but was not too disappointed to see them go. The ones I purchased always seemed “added on” to me, and were not well integrated into the normal operation of the camera. I realize that other users might not have felt the same way. The time lapse app for example was poor compared to Panasonic’s well integrated in the menu time lapse feature that could generate good quality time lapse videos in camera as well as providing the option to save all of the original frames for external processing.
Click to expand...
So you can add poor programming and user dissatisfaction as possible reasons for Sony abandoning in-camera apps. But an alternative that better serves users would have been for Sony to improve the programming and the user satisfaction, and perhaps allow and even encourage third party developers to create apps that could be better than Sony's, in the same way that developers write plug-ins for popular software. Eliminating the user-installed camera app capability instead was a cop-out that doesn't help users in any way.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
  • User review User review
New Version for ---- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
2
Replies
35
Views
36
Ab S
Ab S
Maxmolly7
  • User review User review
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV is a great Travel Camera
Replies
1
Views
2
mackey1001
M
rad_fish
  • For sale For sale
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV - SOLD!!
Replies
0
Views
1
rad_fish
rad_fish
R
Need help deciding a pocket zoom camera for Bird Photography - Canon SX740 HS vs Sony HX99
2
Replies
21
Views
89
Bob A L
B
E
Elliott's Saved Setup Text: 2021, 2022, 2023
Replies
16
Views
149
marlyd
M

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top