Is the Sony RX100 VI the spiritual successor to the KM A2?

- Fast wide to mid-tele zoom? Check. 24-200/2.8-4.5
- Tilting LCD screen? Check
- High res EVF? Check
- Full manual controls and RAW? Check

The RX100 VI looks great, but has a few letdowns - no grip (compared to the excellent ergonomics of the A2), poor battery life at 240 shots per charge, no hotshoe, no mechanical zoom ring, and it's stupendously expensive at $1200 compared to current compact cameras (but very similar, inflation adjusted, to the original $900 MSRP of the A2).

On the other hand, image quality is probably better than most DSLRs from the A2 era, its built-in flash can be tilted for bounce light, and it obviously has many other advantages as expected from a current camera compared to a 14 year old one.

I want one, but I'll wait for the price to drop.

It has many specs that sound similar, but

No hot shoe.
Doesn't take filters.
I'll pass

ParangMehta wrote:

It has many specs that sound similar, but

Yes, it's not exactly the same category, but it's very impressive to see how much progress the camera industry made since then. Based on tests of current 1" sensor cameras I think it's safe to say that the RX100-6 would have better image quality than Nikon and Canon flagship DSLRs from the KM A2 era (much higher resolution, much better dynamic range and comparable in other image quality areas). And it does this at about 1/10th of the weight (!) compared to these cameras with lenses of similar focal length range and maximum aperture. The Sony's maximum frame rate is 24 fps, 3 times faster than these sport DSLRs. And last but not least - AF technology on the Sony is based on that of the A9, so I wouldn't be surprised if it outperforms these DSLRs.

References:

• DXOMark image quality comparison
• DPReview feature comparison

.....They'll never truly be the spritual successor to Konica and especially Minolta.

Every Minolta camera I've ever owned and shot with excelled on human factors.  In many ways, Minolta was the major innovator of the film camera industry in terms of designing cameras to be comfortable to use.  Among their most notable accomplishments, they were the first camera maker to develop the sens-switch that used the low level current conductivity of our skin to instantly power-up and power down the meters of their cameras to preserve battery life

In many ways, Sony is exactly the opposite - maxing out the specs and ultimate measurable performance of their cameras, at the expense of making them comfortable to use.

I would say no: the ergonomics of the A2 are way above the RX100 VI.

IMHO, the RX10 series is the successor to the KM Ax range of cameras: DSLR like body and control combined with a wide range high quality lens.

I would say not .

As the KM A2 and A200 were bridge cameras , with the ergonomics and controls that go with that , the Sony RX10 versions 1 and 2 are the nearest progression from it .

The RX100 range of cameras are point and shoot camera styles , like the RX1 .

There a world apart from any point and shot that Minolta did , but that's 12 years later , and a ton more money !

Very good quality kit , but on ergonomics alone there a different camera altogether .

I agree that the ergonomics of the RX10 IV are closer to the A2, but there are areas where the RX100 VI is actually closer to the A2:

• Price (almost the same as A2 launch price when calculating inflation). The RX10 IV is $500 more expensive.
• Zoom range. 24-200mm (RX100 VI) and 28-200mm (A2). The RX10 IV has a much more ambitious lens - 24-600mm
• Weight. The A2 was not a pocket camera by any means, but it was definitely less heavy than any DSLR (at 639g). The RX10 IV weighs almost twice as much (1095g) and is a non-option to anyone looking for a carry everywhere camera.

I had a Minolta A2 and loved it for its manual zoom and excellent ergonomics. I have snce followed the KM to Sony path via the A700 (a virtual Minolta) to A77 and ended up with tha RX100m3 and an RX 10m4 I can't see me buying any more cameras! The rx100 is perfect in my pocket when I know I won't need 600mm zoom, the RX10 is perfect when I do!

Though Sony ergonomics are not as good as Minolta, the only thing I really miss is the manual zoom. Same as I mourn the loss of manual car window winders! Simple, effective and never failed to work!

Spiritual successor ? In a word..   NO