The Sony RX100 Mark VII is a premium compact camera with advanced features and excellent image quality. It boasts a 1-inch sensor with 20.1 megapixels, a fast 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 lens, and a 357-point autofocus system. It’s a great choice for photographers who want a small and portable camera that can deliver professional-level results.
One of the standout features of the RX100 Mark VII is its autofocus system. It uses advanced algorithms to track subjects and maintain focus, making it perfect for capturing fast-moving action. The camera also has a burst shooting mode of up to 90 frames per second, which is impressive for a compact camera.
In terms of video, the RX100 Mark VII can shoot 4K video at up to 30 frames per second, as well as Full HD at up to 120 frames per second for slow-motion footage. It also has advanced video features like S-Log3 and HDR support, making it a great choice for videographers as well as photographers.
The camera’s build quality is also excellent, with a durable metal body that feels solid in the hand. It has a pop-up electronic viewfinder for composing shots in bright light, as well as a tilting LCD screen for shooting at awkward angles.
Here are some of the key features of the Sony RX100 Mark VII:
- 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with 20.1-megapixel resolution.
- Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 lens.
- Fast hybrid autofocus system with 357 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points.
- Real-time tracking and real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals.
- Continuous shooting up to 90 fps with autofocus and auto-exposure tracking.
- 4K video recording up to 30 fps with full pixel readout and no pixel binning.
- Full HD slow-motion video up to 120 fps.
- Built-in pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots.
- Tilting LCD screen with a 921k-dot resolution.
- High-quality 4K HDR, S-Log3, and HLG video output via HDMI.
- Dust and moisture-resistant design.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for easy sharing and remote control via smartphone or tablet.
- In-camera charging via USB port.
- Compact and portable design, weighing only 302g.
- Battery life of approximately 260 shots per charge.
A small camera with a big sensor:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII features a 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with 20.1 megapixels resolution. The sensor is larger than those found in most compact cameras, which allows for better low-light performance and improved image quality overall.
The Exmor RS CMOS sensor is a stacked sensor, which means that the processing circuitry is located underneath the sensor’s photodiodes. This design allows for faster readout speeds, which in turn allows for faster autofocus performance and burst shooting rates of up to 90 frames per second.
Additionally, the sensor features a DRAM chip, which acts as a temporary buffer for the data being captured by the sensor. This allows the camera to capture and process more data at a faster rate, which is especially useful when shooting high-speed bursts or 4K video.
The sensor also features a back-illuminated design, which means that the wiring and circuitry on the sensor are placed behind the photodiodes rather than in front of them. This results in improved light-gathering efficiency and reduced noise, especially in low-light situations.
Overall, the sensor in the Sony RX100 Mark VII is one of its key strengths, allowing for excellent image quality, fast performance, and advanced features like real-time tracking autofocus and 4K video recording.
Who needs to buy this camera:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII is a high-end compact camera that is well-suited for a variety of users, including:
- Enthusiast photographers who want a small, portable camera with advanced features and excellent image quality.
- Travel photographers need a lightweight and versatile camera for capturing a wide range of subjects and scenes.
- Vloggers and content creators need a camera with fast autofocus, 4K video recording, and a flip-up screen for easy self-shooting.
- Professional photographers who need a second camera for backup or as a lightweight alternative to their main camera system.
- Street photographers want a discreet and portable camera that can capture candid moments with ease.
- Wildlife photographers need a camera with fast autofocus and a long zoom range for capturing distant subjects.
- Sports photographers need a camera with fast autofocus and burst shooting for capturing fast-moving action.
Overall, the Sony RX100 Mark VII is a versatile and capable camera that can meet the needs of a wide range of photographers and videographers, particularly those who value portability and advanced features in a compact package.
ISO:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII has an ISO range of 125-12,800, which can be extended up to ISO 80-25,600. This allows the camera to perform well in a wide range of lighting conditions, from bright daylight to low-light situations. The camera’s advanced sensor and image processing technology help to keep noise levels low, even at higher ISO settings. Additionally, the camera features a variety of manual and automatic shooting modes, including a dedicated Night Scene mode, which can help to produce better results in challenging low-light situations. Overall, the RX100 Mark VII is well-suited for shooting in a wide range of lighting conditions, thanks to its versatile ISO range and advanced sensor technology.
LCD:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII features a 3-inch tilting LCD screen with a resolution of 921,600 pixels. The screen is touch-sensitive, allowing you to quickly and easily select focus points, adjust settings, and review your images and videos.
The LCD screen can tilt up 180 degrees for easy framing of selfies or vlogging, and it can tilt down 90 degrees for shooting from low angles. Additionally, the LCD screen has an anti-reflective coating that helps reduce glare and improve visibility in bright light conditions.
The Sony RX100 Mark VII also features a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) that can be useful when shooting in bright sunlight or when you want to get a more accurate preview of your images. The EVF has a resolution of 2.36 million dots and offers 0.59x magnification, making it easy to see and compose your shots.
Autofocus:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII features a Fast Hybrid autofocus system with 357 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection autofocus points. This advanced autofocus system allows the camera to quickly and accurately track moving subjects, making it well-suited for capturing action and sports.
The camera also features real-time tracking and real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals, which uses advanced algorithms to keep moving subjects in focus even as they move around the frame. This makes it easier to capture sharp, in-focus shots of subjects like pets or wildlife.
Additionally, the camera has a variety of autofocus modes, including Wide, Zone, Center, Flexible Spot, and Expand Flexible Spot, allowing you to choose the mode that best suits your subject and shooting situation.
The autofocus system also works in conjunction with the camera’s high-speed shooting capabilities, allowing you to capture fast-moving action with ease. The camera can shoot at up to 90 frames per second with autofocus and auto-exposure tracking, allowing you to capture split-second moments with precision and clarity.
Audio Sensor:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII features a built-in stereo microphone and a 3.5mm microphone jack for external microphones. This allows for improved audio quality when recording video or capturing audio in general.
The camera also features a variety of audio recording options, including an Auto Level option that automatically adjusts the microphone sensitivity based on the sound levels in the scene. Additionally, the camera has a Wind Noise Reduction option that helps to minimize wind noise when recording in windy conditions.
For more advanced audio recording needs, the camera supports external microphones that can be connected via the 3.5mm microphone jack. This allows for greater flexibility and control over the audio recording, as well as the ability to use higher-quality microphones for improved sound quality.
Formats:
JPG and/or Raw.
Video:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII offers a wide range of video formats and resolutions to suit a variety of needs and shooting situations.
Here are the available video formats and resolutions:
- XAVC S: This is a high-quality video format that uses the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for efficient compression. It supports 4K resolution at up to 30 frames per second (fps) and Full HD (1080p) resolution at up to 120 fps. The bitrate for XAVC S is up to 100 Mbps.
- AVCHD: This is another high-quality video format that uses the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec. It supports Full HD (1080p) resolution at up to 60 fps. The bitrate for AVCHD is up to 28 Mbps.
- MP4: This is a widely supported video format that uses the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for efficient compression. It supports 4K resolution at up to 30 fps and Full HD (1080p) resolution at up to 60 fps. The bitrate for MP4 is up to 50 Mbps.
- HFR: This is a high-frame-rate mode that allows you to capture slow-motion footage. It supports Full HD (1080p) resolution at up to 960 fps.
In addition to the above video formats and resolutions, the Sony RX100 Mark VII also offers a variety of shooting modes and settings that can be customized to suit your needs. For example, you can adjust the exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance to get the look and feel that you want for your video footage.
Overall, the Sony RX100 Mark VII is a versatile camera that offers a wide range of video formats and resolutions, making it well-suited for a variety of video shooting situations, from high-quality 4K video to slow-motion footage.
Audio:
AAC LC, AC3, Dolby Digital 2 channel, Linear Stereo PCM.
Shutter:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII features a versatile shutter system that allows for a range of shutter speeds and shooting modes, giving you greater control over your images and videos.
The camera offers both mechanical and electronic shutters, with a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second and a maximum electronic shutter speed of 1/32000th of a second. This allows you to freeze fast-moving action and capture sharp images even in bright light conditions.
Additionally, the camera offers a variety of shooting modes that can help you achieve specific effects with your shutter. For example, the camera has a Bulb mode that allows you to keep the shutter open for an extended period of time, making it ideal for long-exposure photography. The camera also has a High Frame Rate (HFR) mode that allows you to capture fast-moving action with a fast shutter speed, resulting in smooth, blur-free images.
The Sony RX100 Mark VII also offers a variety of customizable settings related to the shutter, such as continuous shooting mode, exposure bracketing, and self-timer options. This allows you to fine-tune your shooting experience and achieve the results that you want.
Flash:
The Sony RX100 Mark VII features a built-in pop-up flash that can be useful in low-light situations or when you need to fill in shadows. The flash has a guide number of approximately 6.3 meters at ISO 100, which means it is capable of illuminating subjects that are several meters away.
The flash can be used in a variety of shooting modes, including Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Exposure modes. Additionally, the camera has a variety of flash settings that can be customized to suit your needs, such as flash compensation, red-eye reduction, and slow sync.
In addition to the built-in flash, the Sony RX100 Mark VII also supports external flash units that can be connected via the Multi Interface Shoe. This allows you to use more powerful flash units or to position the flash off-camera for more creative lighting effects.
Isn’t that a bit expensive?
The price of the Sony RX100 Mark VII varies depending on the region and the retailer, but as of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, the camera had a retail price of around $1,299 USD. However, prices can fluctuate over time and may vary based on availability, promotions, and other factors. It’s always a good idea to check with authorized retailers or Sony’s official website for the most up-to-date pricing information.
