Sony RX100 VII digital camera

Sony Cybershot DCS-RX100 VII digital camera

The Sony RX100 VII received a Gold Award in the DPreview.com test!

Sony has loaded the new RX100 VII camera with a huge amount of features and technical know-how. If you have a fond memory of pocket cameras from several years ago, it is definitely worth checking out where they are currently going, these new so-called inch sensor size devices can surprise many people who shoot with system cameras with their performance. If you were to write out all the features in detail, you would have to write a multi-page description full of numbers, in a nutshell, the RX100 VII contains all the modern technology that is generally possible in pocket cameras or system cameras.

• Ultra-fast real-time EyeAF and subject tracking for people and animals, borrowed from the flagship Sony A9 system camera
• 24-200mm film equivalent F2.8-4.5 focal length
• 20 fps continuous shooting with continuous focus and exposure metering, the image is displayed in the viewfinder and on the screen flicker-free at all times
• 7-frame cartoon burst at 90FPS for capturing high-speed action
• Pop-up high-resolution electronic viewfinder
• Oversampled 4K video, combined optical and electronic stabilization
• 3.5mm microphone jack
• High-speed videos with 1000FPS frame rate

The camera's sensor is a new design and enables the real-time tracking and real-time Eye AF features familiar from the Sony A6400 and Sony A9 models. The Sony RX100 VI focuses on a selected subject and switches to eye focus or face detection focus as needed. Real-time here means that the camera focuses continuously on the subject and you don't have to hold the shutter button all the way down.

It's worth coming and trying out the feature on a demo device to see how it works. Several devices promise faster focusing than before, but Sony's modern AF system latches onto the subject like a leech (this is not the manufacturer's official promise, editor's note). Tracking also works during video recording , and eye-detection focusing works on animals as well as people. If before, the basic recommendation for dog enthusiasts was a white tube and a large mirrorless camera from a traditional manufacturer, now you can get the same performance in a package that fits in your pocket.

The fastest continuous shooting speed is now slightly slower than the previous generation, at 20 frames per second. This compromise is made to achieve a continuous image during continuous shooting, so the screen does not stutter or turn black while shooting images during continuous shooting. This makes it much easier to track fast-moving subjects, a feature that has only been possible in Sony's flagship a9 model. The images that are recorded are noticeable by the subtle lines at the edges of the viewfinder image and the memory card fills up with sharp images without you noticing.

The RX100 VI also includes a second burst mode, a shorter 7-frame burst can be taken at 90 fps, meaning a series of seven images are exposed in a fraction of a second at full quality. Speeds of 60fps and 30fps are also available. The number of frames may seem small, but this significantly increases the likelihood of capturing just the right moment, whether it's a dog's performance on an agility course or a bird landing on a mirror-clear lake.

4K video recording & microphone connection for professional production

For the first time in this size range, Sony now has a 3.5mm microphone jack, which is a big change for many. Proper professional-quality sound is the easiest way to improve the technical level of a video, speech is clearer, you can use effective windscreens, and camera operation sounds are not heard as a crackle on the soundtrack.

The camera's 4K video is recorded using the entire pixel count of the sensor, which is used to create a 4K video file. This results in sharper images and less noise and softness than 4K video recorded without taking the sensor's pixels into account. The RX100 VII's 4K video also supports the Hybrid Log Gamma video format, which allows compatible display devices to display HDR videos correctly without post-processing. When recording HLG video, it is possible to see the preview image corrected, meaning it is displayed directly on the TV correctly, including the brightest tones, deepest colors and darkest shadows. For thermal reasons, the maximum video length is five minutes at a time, but video recording can be started again after this, and five minutes is a relatively long time for one shot, unless it is a personal interview or the like.

Video image stabilization works as a combination of optical image stabilization and electronic stabilization. This powerful Active Mode stabilizer slightly blurs the image but allows for good-looking and smooth video material, for example when shooting while walking. Those who create a lot of social media content will also appreciate the ability to shoot vertical video. The image file is automatically marked as a vertical image, so it appears on a mobile phone in portrait mode without black bars and filling the entire screen.

FullHD video can be shot at 120P frame rate, which is great for stylish slow motion. The camera also has a wild Super Slow slow motion shooting with settings of 250, 500 and 1000 frames per second. Thanks to the interval feature, great timelapse videos can be made directly with the camera. So you can shoot the actual video in decent 4K quality and with an external microphone, and with the slow motion feature and timelapse you can also get b-stock illustration videos with the same device. Quick editing on a computer and the video is ready. This with a single camera that fits in your pocket, previously the same features would have had to be carried in a backpack.

The camera uses an NP-BX1 battery and can take approximately 260 shots on a single charge. The battery can be charged directly in the camera, for example via a power bank.

Features:

• Sensor: New 1' 13.2x8.8mm stacked-CMOS, 20 megapixels, sensitivity: ISO 100-12800 (80-25600), phase-detection AF points
• Optics: 24-200mm cine equivalent zoom (9-72mm), optical image stabilization
• Aperture: F2.8-4.5
• Burst: 20fps with autofocus and exposure metering while retaining viewfinder image, 90fps Single Burst (7 frames)
• Video recording: 4K 30p, FullHD max. 120P, 1000 FPS high-speed video
• HLG HDR videos, wide gamut recording formats S-Gamut3.Cine / S-Log3, S-Gamut3 / S-Log3
• Viewfinder: pop-up OLED viewfinder, resolution 2.4M dots
• Flash: yes, internal pop-up
• Display: 3' swivel touchscreen
• Memory card slot: SDHC/SDXC, UHS-I compatible (alternatively Memorystick Pro HG-Duo)
• Connections: HDMI micro, Micro USB, WiFi, Bluetooth
• Size: 101.6 x 58.1 x 42.8mm
• Weight: 302g

Sales package includes: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII camera, battery (NP-BX1), USB charger, USB cable, wrist strap