Doing some back of the napkin math, the sensor size of the iPhone 14 Pro is 71.54mm^2, and the sensor size of the RX100 VII is 13.2 x 8.8 mm= 116.16mm^2, which is a lot less of a difference than the iPhone 12 Pro (23.9mm^2) was. Sony would have me go out and spend over $1000 for this difference in image quality, which seems absurd. Am I alone in thinking like this, or is the RX100 VII and cameras like it obsolete?
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Does the iPhone 14 Pro make cameras like the Sony RX100 VII obsolete?
- Thread starter pcstone1
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Redhenry
Senior Member
From the 14 Pro reviews I’ve read, it seems that the image quality from the main camera is a big jump forward. I’m not one of those obsessive pixel-peepers who bang on about phones only being good enough for casual snaps - I think the market for compact cameras really is on the way out. I no longer use my RX100 and the only reason I still have it is that there’s a small crack in the body so it’s not worth much. Even my iPhone 13 Pro, whose ‘tele’ camera has a very modest sensor, can provide me with the results I want. I don’t print larger than A4 and generally look at pictures on my iPad so I am happy with the pictures from the 13 Pro. Yesterday, in the town of Beverley, near my home, I took the picture below with the ‘tele’ camera, with enough digital zoom to make the equivalent of about 180mm. Just a heif file straight out of camera, with a b/w conversion in Snapseed. Given my modest demands, this is fine for me.
I think you have a great point.. at any normal viewing size, the iPhone 13 Pro was doing great already in making photos that significantly decreased the need for cameras in the 1” sensor size range. Heck, I have a favorite photo I’ve taken on my office wall, on a canvas, that I used an iPhone X to take. Anyone who looks at it can never tell it was taken with a cell phone! Below is one of the photos I took with my iPhone 14 pro this past weekend:
View attachment 3d2e908a949d432bbca608ee74e54bda.jpg
View attachment 3d2e908a949d432bbca608ee74e54bda.jpg
Redhenry
Senior Member
Well, that nicely proves the point, doesn’t it? You can clearly see the detail in the distant railings on the right. I’m glad this thread is tucked away in the IOS forum, otherwise we’d have people telling us that our pictures were over sharpened, full of artefacts and not nearly as good as those from a squillion megapixel FF camera!
I’m sure Jostian or someone will be along soon to tell us the details are smeared and it’s over sharpened. 
Great shots and worthy of hanging on the wall. I waited a few days sitting on the fence to order my 14 Pro so it won’t be here until the 30th. Sold my last ILC camera last month and doubt I ever own another.
Great shots and worthy of hanging on the wall. I waited a few days sitting on the fence to order my 14 Pro so it won’t be here until the 30th. Sold my last ILC camera last month and doubt I ever own another.WoodWorks
Senior Member
I hear they're working on a vaccine for ADS (Apple Derangement Syndrome), but there's no telling how effective it may be when it's finally released. ;-)I’m sure Jostian or someone will be along soon to tell us the details are smeared and it’s over sharpened.
And I'm getting to where you are as far as unloading my full-frame camera gear. I won't be selling my Sony A7RIV anytime soon, but I may put a few of the lenses that I've accumulated over the years up on eBay soon.
In case you're interested, I posted a little one-shot comparison between a 60 megapixel Sony raw file and a 48 megapixel iPhone 14 Pro ProRAW image in this thread the other day. It may give you some idea of what to expect when your 14 Pro finally shows up.
I am not Jostian and I am a long time Apple user but I still see the smeared details lol, but I agree the need for P&S is deminishing. There is still good reasons for FF and APS-C especially for long zoom though. Keeping my A6100 18-200mm OOS.
I’m sure Jostian or someone will be along soon to tell us the details are smeared and it’s over sharpened.
I just got the new 14 Pro Max and have high hopes for this camera, especially the ultra-wide, but haven't got a chance to really test it yet.
At least for now, I'll be keeping my Panasonic ZS200 for the manual control and discreet attributes (no 6.7" glowing screen). The 1" sensor cameras are good for concerts where "Professional" cameras aren't allowed;-)
But for typical out-and-about everyday photography, I imagine the iPhone will do great.
These are a few shots taken over the last couple of weeks that I wouldn't have been able to do with the iphone.
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Robbie
Explorer, Dad, Husband, and Picture Taker
www.flickr.com/rvaughn
www.robvaughnphoto.com
At least for now, I'll be keeping my Panasonic ZS200 for the manual control and discreet attributes (no 6.7" glowing screen). The 1" sensor cameras are good for concerts where "Professional" cameras aren't allowed;-)
But for typical out-and-about everyday photography, I imagine the iPhone will do great.
These are a few shots taken over the last couple of weeks that I wouldn't have been able to do with the iphone.
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Robbie
Explorer, Dad, Husband, and Picture Taker
www.flickr.com/rvaughn
www.robvaughnphoto.com
You got it! The first 2 are Jimmy Eat World in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. IMO, Clarity is about the most perfect album ever made
The other ones are Surfbort and The Descendents.
The rest of the J.E.W. photos...
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA73iS
Hello, came across this thread as I’m looking to either upgrade my phone to an iPhone 14 pro or buy the Sony RX100 before a trip to India later this year. Leaning toward upgrading my phone but would really appreciate opinions/recommendations. Thanks!
Redhenry
Senior Member
Hello again,
I’m still very pleased with my 13 Pro and have no reason to upgrade it (yet). Re the 14 Pro, I can only recommend that you read Ken Rockwell’s review of the 14 Pro Max (much the same as 14 Pro but larger). If you’re not a regular on Ken’s website, he would be the first to tell you that he likes the colour turned up to what he refers to as “insane” but he’s great fun and talks a lot of sense. This link should take you to the review.
iPhone 14 Pro Max Camera Review & Sample Images by Ken Rockwell
iPhone 14 Pro Max Camera Review & Sample Images by Ken Rockwell
www.kenrockwell.com
If you're buying one of the newer 24-200mm RX100's, the iPhone cannot offer that zoom level, and beyond 50-60mm, the RX100 would be so much better. However if you're mostly going to use the wide lens (the main 24mm one) the iPhone 14 Pro will give you much better results.
Not to mention that you wont have to edit your images on the iPhone, the RX100 really does need editing to get the best out of it.
Go for the iPhone. I have both, about to get rid of the rx100.
Not to mention that you wont have to edit your images on the iPhone, the RX100 really does need editing to get the best out of it.
Go for the iPhone. I have both, about to get rid of the rx100.
Fujiuseruk
Senior Member
I recognise this oneFrom the 14 Pro reviews I’ve read, it seems that the image quality from the main camera is a big jump forward. I’m not one of those obsessive pixel-peepers who bang on about phones only being good enough for casual snaps - I think the market for compact cameras really is on the way out. I no longer use my RX100 and the only reason I still have it is that there’s a small crack in the body so it’s not worth much. Even my iPhone 13 Pro, whose ‘tele’ camera has a very modest sensor, can provide me with the results I want. I don’t print larger than A4 and generally look at pictures on my iPad so I am happy with the pictures from the 13 Pro. Yesterday, in the town of Beverley, near my home, I took the picture below with the ‘tele’ camera, with enough digital zoom to make the equivalent of about 180mm. Just a heif file straight out of camera, with a b/w conversion in Snapseed. Given my modest demands, this is fine for me.
Yes I’ve found I no longer use or even consider buying a dedicated compact camera .
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It’s all about the zoom
Steven Wandy
Veteran Member
We went recently to Israel/Jordan with my iPhone 14 (non-Pro), my wife's iPhone 13 and my RX100mk5. Loved not taking my larger camera along. This was our third trip with taking only my RX and my iPhone along.
If you are into looking at your photos on a computer/tablet/iPhone and not planning on making any huge prints and you don't plan on doing any crazy amount of editing, the iPhone 14 PRO (I wish I had gotten the PRO for the additional lens, will rectify that when the 15PRO is released in September) will be fine. I do feel the RAW files from the RX100 do stand up better to post-processing than the iPhone files - granted my iPhone 14 can't shoot Apple's ProRAW which in iPhone forums people seem to love, on photographic sites the opinions are mixed from what I have read over the past few years.
I am still one of those people who feel I will miss something by not taking a "real camera" on a trip, but after our last three trips, (France riverboat through the wine country, northern Spain and the Israel/Jordan) is starting to convince me otherwise.
If you are into looking at your photos on a computer/tablet/iPhone and not planning on making any huge prints and you don't plan on doing any crazy amount of editing, the iPhone 14 PRO (I wish I had gotten the PRO for the additional lens, will rectify that when the 15PRO is released in September) will be fine. I do feel the RAW files from the RX100 do stand up better to post-processing than the iPhone files - granted my iPhone 14 can't shoot Apple's ProRAW which in iPhone forums people seem to love, on photographic sites the opinions are mixed from what I have read over the past few years.
I am still one of those people who feel I will miss something by not taking a "real camera" on a trip, but after our last three trips, (France riverboat through the wine country, northern Spain and the Israel/Jordan) is starting to convince me otherwise.
Cyril Catt
Veteran Member
I found my iPhone 13ProMax so convenient that I only bother with a small Casio EX-ZR850 (to get better tele reach) when travelling: and because it allows me to use a ClearViewer attachment to provide eye level framing of shots, so annoyingly missing from many small cameras and camera phones.
Either way, portable imaging devices have come a long way since I got my first camera in 1945!
My Mk1 made in Japan RX100 gave up last week after I tried to fix a fault, suspecting cracked circuitry. Spent most of its long life in my glove box but gave great service as a travel camera and underwater in a housing. Was always possible to retrieve from the car when those special unexpected family photo ops arose capturing great detail that the phone would not get and sadly some of those people no longer around so opportunities gone forever but the sharp photos remain. My SLR rarely leaves my house now. My mid range Samsung phone was with me for 95% of photos that presented themselves so I think a pro level phone will be the next logical step. A new GoPro fills the underwater slot for me now and as a frequent sea swimmer it will get more outings than the RX100 in a housing ever got as I can tuck it into my swimsuit with its floating grip. I'll wait till October or November to see how the latest pixel pro stands up to latest Samsung or Apple pro. I keep stuff for years if they do what I need of them so don't mind the outlay but at same time if pixel matches iphone it will get my money.
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graybalanced
Veteran Member
I tell most people that compacts are dead and they should just use their phone. This is given what most people do with their photos, which is not a lot. In a lot of cases, what people do with their photos is shoot, post, forget. (And not print.)
But I still use dedicated cameras, including an RX100, for specific reasons. My nice full frame ILC comes out when I want to “construct” a photo like a long exposure night shot, and because its mission has narrowed I probably won’t add to the two lenses I already own.
For general use, my RX100 stays in my bag or pocket at home or on travels, and I really love it. For several reasons related to “getting the shot” faster in situations where I want to shoot before the shot is gone. One reason, ergonomics. I hate trying to swipe a phone cam touch screen into just the right shooting mode and just the right settings, especially in bright light. On the RX100, if I am shooting from a vehicle for example and need to lock a high shutter speed to freeze action, just turn the top dial to S, set the speed, and it’s done. The physical controls make those changes faster, it makes exposure compensation faster, etc.
Another ergonomic reason is I find phones slippery (yes, my phone is in a case), and I have to watch out for my finger getting into the shot when I am stupidly holding a corner where the lens is. The RX100 is not the grippiest camera around, but I still prefer to hold it instead of a phone.
A big one…I have found that I really like shooting at high (overhead) and low (waist-level) angles. I love classic waist level shooting when I want to be a less conspicuous shooter. Both these angles are easily enabled by the articulated viewfinder of the RX100. I just swing it up for waist level, or down to shoot over other people or obstacles. When I pull out my phone to take a picture, I feel restricted because it must be kept at a position where I can see the screen that can’t move.
The RX100 also has an optical viewfinder, which is useful in these bright summer days.
I do think the RX100 is expensive, but realistically, even though the design is over half a decade old at this point, the market is shrinking so much that they probably won’t make money if they lower the price. The high price is why I went for the VA, not the VII, to save a few hundred dollars, but also because I wanted a fast wide end more than I wanted a long end.
But if you’re already going to spend $800-1200 on a phone, it’s a hard decision to spend another $1000+ on an RX100 based on an aging design. It is because I spent for the RX that I can keep my phone under $500.
But I still use dedicated cameras, including an RX100, for specific reasons. My nice full frame ILC comes out when I want to “construct” a photo like a long exposure night shot, and because its mission has narrowed I probably won’t add to the two lenses I already own.
For general use, my RX100 stays in my bag or pocket at home or on travels, and I really love it. For several reasons related to “getting the shot” faster in situations where I want to shoot before the shot is gone. One reason, ergonomics. I hate trying to swipe a phone cam touch screen into just the right shooting mode and just the right settings, especially in bright light. On the RX100, if I am shooting from a vehicle for example and need to lock a high shutter speed to freeze action, just turn the top dial to S, set the speed, and it’s done. The physical controls make those changes faster, it makes exposure compensation faster, etc.
Another ergonomic reason is I find phones slippery (yes, my phone is in a case), and I have to watch out for my finger getting into the shot when I am stupidly holding a corner where the lens is. The RX100 is not the grippiest camera around, but I still prefer to hold it instead of a phone.
A big one…I have found that I really like shooting at high (overhead) and low (waist-level) angles. I love classic waist level shooting when I want to be a less conspicuous shooter. Both these angles are easily enabled by the articulated viewfinder of the RX100. I just swing it up for waist level, or down to shoot over other people or obstacles. When I pull out my phone to take a picture, I feel restricted because it must be kept at a position where I can see the screen that can’t move.
The RX100 also has an optical viewfinder, which is useful in these bright summer days.
I do think the RX100 is expensive, but realistically, even though the design is over half a decade old at this point, the market is shrinking so much that they probably won’t make money if they lower the price. The high price is why I went for the VA, not the VII, to save a few hundred dollars, but also because I wanted a fast wide end more than I wanted a long end.
But if you’re already going to spend $800-1200 on a phone, it’s a hard decision to spend another $1000+ on an RX100 based on an aging design. It is because I spent for the RX that I can keep my phone under $500.
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