Sony RX100 7 - one year later

HRC2016 · Feb 28, 2021

I went to a local park the other day for some birding. I didn't want to bring my m43 gear but I thought I'd bring my Sony RX100.

The last time I used this camera was on a trip in February 2020, my last trip before the pandemic. I bought the camera for this trip and took a ton of pictures with the camera, including at the zoo. It was great to have such a feature-rich compact camera.

It seems as if I forgot how to use the camera. It's not quite like riding a bicycle!

I was happy with the images I got. This isn't my prime birding camera, but it's still a lot of fun and produces some very good images.

Images are SOOC jpg.uploaded from camera to smartphone to DPR. I'm not hiding anything by using post production.

I don't use burst mode. In the last year I've brushed up on my fieldcraft through books and in person observations.

--
Satan loves the shadows - and the highlights.

Guy Parsons · Feb 28, 2021

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganised the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

One question, why f/11 for the first image, was that another user error?

tbcass · Feb 28, 2021

Guy Parsons said:
In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

Guy Parsons · Feb 28, 2021

tbcass said:
Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Click to expand...

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

No, a quick look at what I was complaining about is still the same in the M7.

This might lead me to make a web page about the menus so I can more easily discover what's where on my M6.

tbcass · Feb 28, 2021

Guy Parsons said:
tbcass said:

Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Click to expand...

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

Click to expand...

No, a quick look at what I was complaining about is still the same in the M7.

This might lead me to make a web page about the menus so I can more easily discover what's where on my M6.

I almost never use anything but "My Menu" and the Fn menu once I set my camera up. According to DPR there is a separate stills and video Fn menu;

"The RX100 VII lets you define separate Fn menus for stills and video mode, meaning you don't have to so carefully choose which settings you want semi-fast access to."

--
Tom

D Lynch · Feb 28, 2021

tbcass said:
Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Click to expand...

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

I got my RX100-7 about 5 months ago.

I bought it used. It had strange, strange settings.

I reached out to Elliott here. He has incredible notes on setting up all the RX100 series.

I've used them setting up my old a6000 too.

and my old RX100-2.

When I bought my -7 I bought two books. The important one for me was the Gary Friedman book on the RX100-7.

It seems to me that Sony has menus in several classes for these cameras. Based on my experience with the RX100-2, a6000, and RX100-7

Primitive RX100-2, and previous NEX5

Complicated a6000

and the whole darn library! ( RX100-7)

Using Elliott's notes I stay away from the dreaded menus.

I've set up the FN functions, and the STAR menu in the RX100-7

Thanks Elliott!

Guy Parsons · Feb 28, 2021

tbcass said:
Guy Parsons said:

tbcass said:

Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Click to expand...

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

Click to expand...

No, a quick look at what I was complaining about is still the same in the M7.

This might lead me to make a web page about the menus so I can more easily discover what's where on my M6.

Click to expand...

I almost never use anything but the Fn menu once I set my camera up. According to DPR there is a separate stills and video Fn menu;

"The RX100 VII lets you define separate Fn menus for stills and video mode, meaning you don't have to so carefully choose which settings you want semi-fast access to."

I do use the M6 Fn button a lot and have fiddled with My Menu, but usually I like to explore the basics so I know my way 'round a camera in times of stress.

Just looking at my M6 I have come to this conclusion when you look at the menus in top line form numbering from left to right...

Menu 1 - Stills - 12 pages
Menu 2 - Movies - 10 pages - with page 5 to 10 a mixture of Stills, Movies and Setup items
Menu 3 - Network - 2 pages
Menu 4 - Playback - 3 pages
Menu 5 - Setup - 7 pages
Menu 6 - My Menu - 2 pages

That will form the basis of a web page full list of menu items with explanations of each item, yet to determine the exact form it will take but it will be different to the Wim Arys approach. https://www.wimarys.com/rx100vi-setup-guide-with-tips-and-tricks/ and https://www.wimarys.com/rx100vii-setup-guide-with-tips-and-tricks/

Don't wait up as it will take a long time (a very long time) to beat it into a shape that I like.

HRC2016 · Mar 1, 2021

Guy Parsons said:
In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganised the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

One question, why f/11 for the first image, was that another user error?

Another user error? Tough crowd here!

I wasn't planning to take a picture until I saw the egret change it's position, so all of the settings were whatever was last used in 2020. I think Shutter priority or Manual.

I was surprised to get the camera powered up as fast as it did. Having the power tied to EVF deployment is great.

D Lynch · Mar 1, 2021

HRC2016 said:
Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganised the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

One question, why f/11 for the first image, was that another user error?

Click to expand...

Another user error? Tough crowd here!

I wasn't planning to take a picture until I saw the egret change it's position, so all of the settings were whatever was last used in 2020. I think Shutter priority or Manual.

I was surprised to get the camera powered up as fast as it did. Having the power tied to EVF deployment is great.

You did an amazing job! The photo you took captured the moment.

That's the challenge! Well done.

Guy Parsons · Mar 1, 2021

HRC2016 said:
Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganised the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

One question, why f/11 for the first image, was that another user error?

Click to expand...

Another user error? Tough crowd here!

Heh, heh, well, is it the first user error ever of yours?

HRC2016 said:
I wasn't planning to take a picture until I saw the egret change it's position, so all of the settings were whatever was last used in 2020. I think Shutter priority or Manual.

I tend to use A mode mostly so the front ring usually gets left at last used which is normally in the f/2.8 to f/4.5 range, never f/11 for a 1" sensor. But that's just me.

Early on I did semi careful tests at "200mm" on my M6 and found that wide open was best resolution, as I gradually stopped down it got (pixel peepy) worse and worse.

In not so bright light luckily the lens stabilisation provides 4 stops of stabilisation at "200mm" so something like 1/20 sec still works for me if I'm careful. Crummy stabilisation though at the "24mm" end, more like 2 stops. As a simple rule I try to use 1/30 sec or faster at any focal length.

HRC2016 said:
I was surprised to get the camera powered up as fast as it did. Having the power tied to EVF deployment is great.

I never use the EVF but I do find turn on a bit slow with the lens extension being rather casual, it's a matter of anticipation and pressing the power button before raising the camera. The turn off time (M6) is the frustrating one as sometimes it seems to take a coffee (or lunch) break before it decides to retract the lens and then I can slip in back into the belt pouch.

D Lynch · Mar 1, 2021

Guy Parsons said:
HRC2016 said:

Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganised the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

One question, why f/11 for the first image, was that another user error?

Click to expand...

Another user error? Tough crowd here!

Click to expand...

Heh, heh, well, is it the first user error ever of yours?

Guy Parsons said:

I wasn't planning to take a picture until I saw the egret change it's position, so all of the settings were whatever was last used in 2020. I think Shutter priority or Manual.

Click to expand...

I tend to use A mode mostly so the front ring usually gets left at last used which is normally in the f/2.8 to f/4.5 range, never f/11 for a 1" sensor. But that's just me.

Early on I did semi careful tests at "200mm" on my M6 and found that wide open was best resolution, as I gradually stopped down it got (pixel peepy) worse and worse.

In not so bright light luckily the lens stabilisation provides 4 stops of stabilisation at "200mm" so something like 1/20 sec still works for me if I'm careful. Crummy stabilisation though at the "24mm" end, more like 2 stops. As a simple rule I try to use 1/30 sec or faster at any focal length.

Guy Parsons said:

I was surprised to get the camera powered up as fast as it did. Having the power tied to EVF deployment is great.

Click to expand...

I never use the EVF but I do find turn on a bit slow with the lens extension being rather casual, it's a matter of anticipation and pressing the power button before raising the camera. The turn off time (M6) is the frustrating one as sometimes it seems to take a coffee (or lunch) break before it decides to retract the lens and then I can slip in back into the belt pouch.

I bought the RX100-7 expecting to use the electronic view finder all the time.

I have an RX100-2 and I bought a used accessory view evf finder for it. I don't use it because I don't want to lose it!

I've found that different settings speed up my -7. I get more photos. I bought a Think Tank Mirror 10 bag so that I can carry my phone and sunglasses with my camera. I use AutoISO and set the minimum shutter speed at 1/500... I may change that to 1/1000 And I would set it even faster for birds in flight photos.

I think HRC2016 did a great job getting the image he did!

Digital Nigel · Mar 1, 2021

D Lynch said:
tbcass said:

Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Click to expand...

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

Click to expand...

I got my RX100-7 about 5 months ago.

I bought it used. It had strange, strange settings.

I reached out to Elliott here. He has incredible notes on setting up all the RX100 series.

I've used them setting up my old a6000 too.

and my old RX100-2.

When I bought my -7 I bought two books. The important one for me was the Gary Friedman book on the RX100-7.

It seems to me that Sony has menus in several classes for these cameras. Based on my experience with the RX100-2, a6000, and RX100-7

Primitive RX100-2, and previous NEX5

Complicated a6000

and the whole darn library! ( RX100-7)

It's just down to age.

The menus were chaotic in 2010 with the original NEX cameras. They've improved in a series of steps, the latest being in the new generation cameras with the Bionz XR processor. They now have a different vertical layout, colour and touchscreen access.

So far, that's appeared in the A7SM3 last year and the brand new A1 flagship. Who knows when any RX cameras will get it?

D Lynch · Mar 1, 2021

Digital Nigel said:
D Lynch said:

tbcass said:

Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganized the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

Click to expand...

Apparently the RX100 M7 has resolved that issue with a better organized menu system.

Click to expand...

I got my RX100-7 about 5 months ago.

I bought it used. It had strange, strange settings.

I reached out to Elliott here. He has incredible notes on setting up all the RX100 series.

I've used them setting up my old a6000 too.

and my old RX100-2.

When I bought my -7 I bought two books. The important one for me was the Gary Friedman book on the RX100-7.

It seems to me that Sony has menus in several classes for these cameras. Based on my experience with the RX100-2, a6000, and RX100-7

Primitive RX100-2, and previous NEX5

Complicated a6000

and the whole darn library! ( RX100-7)

Click to expand...

It's just down to age.

The menus were chaotic in 2010 with the original NEX cameras. They've improved in a series of steps, the latest being in the new generation cameras with the Bionz XR processor. They now have a different vertical layout, colour and touchscreen access.

So far, that's appeared in the A7SM3 last year and the brand new A1 flagship. Who knows when any RX cameras will get it?

I agree.

Bought a NEX5 when it came out. The menus drove me nuts! However, I took amazing photos with the tile menu allowing me to see how to take night time street photos. Just amazing results!

I forget what order I bought my cameras...I have an RX100-2 with evf accessory; a6000; and now an RX100-7.

I also kept my D300S, grip and lenses...

I bought and sold at great loss an Olympus OMD M5 system that drove me nuts.

And a Nikon 1V1 system that I should have kept. (traded it for the RX100-2 with primitive menus.)

the feature that really impresses me with the RX100-7 is the focusing speed. It's amazingly fast!

Posters here have really inspired me.

I'm glad I upgraded and bought a (used) RX100-7.

aerorail · Mar 1, 2021

i had a zoom meeting with sony's Kenichiro Yoshida voicing my concerns with the convoluted menus in the camera over the past decade and how the photo community has been so disappointed with sony's non-response to changing it... he responded with hai. then hello kitty appeared on screen....i'm still waiting for a return call...

mike5100 · Mar 2, 2021

Guy Parsons said:
HRC2016 said:

Guy Parsons said:

In my case RX100M6 and not using it enough since last major holiday in 2019. Yes, it still amazes me at how disorganised the Sony menus are with things like some Stills items scattered through what ostensibly is the Movies menu, so it takes some relearning and rediscovery after having rested it for a while.

One question, why f/11 for the first image, was that another user error?

Click to expand...

Another user error? Tough crowd here!

Click to expand...

Heh, heh, well, is it the first user error ever of yours?

Guy Parsons said:

I wasn't planning to take a picture until I saw the egret change it's position, so all of the settings were whatever was last used in 2020. I think Shutter priority or Manual.

Click to expand...

I tend to use A mode mostly so the front ring usually gets left at last used which is normally in the f/2.8 to f/4.5 range, never f/11 for a 1" sensor. But that's just me.

Early on I did semi careful tests at "200mm" on my M6 and found that wide open was best resolution, as I gradually stopped down it got (pixel peepy) worse and worse.

In not so bright light luckily the lens stabilisation provides 4 stops of stabilisation at "200mm" so something like 1/20 sec still works for me if I'm careful. Crummy stabilisation though at the "24mm" end, more like 2 stops. As a simple rule I try to use 1/30 sec or faster at any focal length.

Guy Parsons said:

I was surprised to get the camera powered up as fast as it did. Having the power tied to EVF deployment is great.

Click to expand...

I never use the EVF but I do find turn on a bit slow with the lens extension being rather casual, it's a matter of anticipation and pressing the power button before raising the camera. The turn off time (M6) is the frustrating one as sometimes it seems to take a coffee (or lunch) break before it decides to retract the lens and then I can slip in back into the belt pouch.

wow - I find the camera turn-on and off really rapid. And after a tip on here I have MR set to 200mm lens extension (on the basis that if I need the camera in a hurry it's likely for something moving that is at some distance). I use the camera without any carry bag or pouch just a long lanyard fastened to the wris-strap lanyard. That lets me keep the camera ready for action in my left jacket pocket. And when finished, a press on the EVF and by the time I'm putting the camera in my pocket everything has closed up. I don't think any high IQ camera (or in particular any system camera could be any quicker) .... which can't be said for my RX10 M3 which does indeed seem to display the 'lunch break' lag you describe.

Mike

tbcass · Mar 2, 2021

I've been using Sony since 2008. since 2010 when video was added the menus got more complex. They have been getting better but also with more options. I've been using them so long that I no longer find them a problem, especially with the "My Menu" and Fn menu.

HRC2016 · Mar 2, 2021

I have the Fn button set for the Super Control Panel (or whatever) to change the settings I'm most likely to change: focus and exposure, silent (or not). So. I don't dive into the menu much. Of course that means I'm not that familiar .... and I use three brands so I don't make a lot of changes unless I really really need to.

I appreciate the positive feedback. I wanted to highlight the abilities of this camera and encourage other to use theirs or consider getting one, if it suits their needs and budget. This camera is such a joy.

I have a belt pouch to hold the cameras, cord, two filters, spare OEM battery and jellyfish tripod. That's my traveling bag. But when I go for walks it's just this camera in my jacket pocket.

As for user error, I've been in to photography since I could hold a camera. So I've forgotten the errors but remembered the lessons they taught me.

--
Satan loves the shadows - and the highlights.

tbcass · Mar 3, 2021

Guy Parsons said:
Menu 1 - Stills - 12 pages
Menu 2 - Movies - 10 pages - with page 5 to 10 a mixture of Stills, Movies and Setup items

On my RX10iv and RX100vii all relevant Movie options are on the first 4 pages of menu 2. The only movie related items on the next 6 pages is the ability to set the shutter button as a movie button and zoom speed which relates to both stills and video so I have to say all purely video functions are on pages 1-4.

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Sony RX100 7 - one year later

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