Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI
Recent Videos
20MP 1"-type Stacked CMOS sensor | 24-200mm equiv. F2.8-4.5 lens | 4K video capture
What we like:
- Versatile lens range
- Excellent hybrid AF system
- Oversampled 4K video
- Clever pop-up EVF
What we don't:
- Pricey
- Lens isn't as fast as other RX100 models
- Limited battery life
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI is a travel-friendly camera with a 24-200mm equivalent zoom and a 1"-type 'Stacked CMOS' sensor capable of shooting at 24 fps. It also features impressive video capability and top-notch autofocus but its longer lens lets in less light compared to its predecessor.
The RX100 VI's compact metal body feels pretty well-built and features a tilting LCD and unique pop-up viewfinder. Direct control (at least of the autofocus point) is improved by the addition of the touchscreen, which can also be used as a touchpad when you're shooting through the EVF. The rest of the camera's functions are not touch-enabled though, meaning most control is via button combinations and the smooth-rotating control ring around the lens.
The RX100 VI packs a powerful spec and highly flexible lens into an impressively compact body
Autofocus is excellent, with phase-detection helping the camera track subjects well. Autofocus in video mode is also pretty capable but it's Eye AF, which automatically maintains focuses on your subject's eye, that has impressed us most. Simply holding down the center button lets you be highly confident that your shot will be perfectly focused. A maximum shooting rate of 24 fps with autofocus is impressive, but the reliance on slower UHS-I type memory cards means the buffer takes some time to clear.
The camera's lens seems impressively sharp and consistent. This, combined with the improved color response of Sony's latest JPEG engine, along with some clever processing gives pleasant, punchy images. Raw image quality should be solid, too, since the RX100 VI shares a sensor with the well-reviewed Mark V, though since the lens lets in less light, there's a noise cost in dim lighting.
Video specifications are very impressive, with detailed, oversampled 4K footage taken from the whole width of the sensor. Many of the modes and features come from Sony's more expensive Alpha models but the lack of a built-in ND filter (which is offered by other RX100 models) or a mic input will prove limiting for serious videography.
Overall, the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI packs a powerful spec and highly flexible lens into an impressively compact body. If you can justify the cost, there's no other camera that offers this capability in a pocket-sized package. It's both a good family camera and excellent travel companion.
Studio Test Scene | Specifications Compared
Sample gallery:
