![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cfb_7C386e_RX100_1_1.jpg\")
<\/img><\/p>\nSony
\nenters what it calls the \u2018expert’ compact camera market with its flagship Cybershot, the RX100, proudly stating that it is the company’s best Cyber-shot to date. On paper
\nand in the hand, the camera appears to be an amalgamation of different
\nclass-leading compact cameras; its pocket size and simple design brings to
\nmind Canon’s PowerShot S100, the fixed 28-100mm f\/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss lens is akin to
\nthe Zuiko lens on the Olympus XZ-1, while the imaging sensor is 4x larger
\nthan a standard 1\/2.3in compact at 1in (13.2×8.8mm) equals a Nikon 1 system
\ncamera.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/img><\/p>\n
With
\na sensor much larger than a regular compact camera, the RX100 should be able to
\nprovide a high resolution and improved low-light performance as the larger photosites receive
\nmore light (which Sony claims are 3.6x the size of its own 18.2-million-pixel
\nCyber-shot HX20V camera with 1\/2.3in sensor).
\nThe sensor is a CMOS type with a 20.2-million-pixel resolution and the ISO
\nrange is 80-6400, which can be expanded to ISO 25,600 in the multi-frame noise
\nreduction (NR) mode. 1080 HD video files at 50p, raw and JPEG images are
\nprocessed using the same Bionz processor found in the Sony NEX-7.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Other
\nkey features include a 10-frames-per-second burst high-speed shooting mode,
\navailable in a 1 second burst for full-resolution files. The camera makes use
\nof these high speeds for multi-frame shooting modes, such as HDR which claims up
\nto \u00b16EV range, and certain picture effects, such as Rich Tone Monochrome.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The
As
The
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A
In
An
Dominating
Like
Many
Sony
\u00a0
Images<\/strong><\/p>\n
I
\u00a0
At
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 packs a 20.2-million pixel 1in CMOS sensor into a truly compact body and may just be the camera that bridges the size and quality gap between compacts and CSCs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":328,"featured_media":12818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"product-category":[],"class_list":["post-12817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-photo-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nlens<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\npreviously mentioned, the Carl Zeiss lens covers an effective 28-100mm range,
\nwith f\/1.8-4.9 maximum aperture and minimum f\/11. At the 50mm focal length, the
\nmaximum aperture is f\/3.2. This focal range is ideal for general use.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf8_7C6c58_detail_web.jpg\")
<\/img><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nsensor size gives a 2.7x focal length magnification factor, so the lens is a true 10.4-37.1mm and, likewise, the aperture is multiplied by 2.7 to give an
\nindication of the equivalent full-frame depth of field. This means the maximum
\nf\/1.8 aperture approximates to f\/4.9 in a camera such as the Sony
\nAlpha 900, whereas the f\/1.8 aperture in the Olympus XZ-1 is equivalent to
\naround f\/8. The lens’s 3.6x zoom can be doubled by using clear image zoom,
\nwhich also features in the latest Alpha cameras like the Alpha 57.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf3_7Cc2e4_28mm_1_web.jpg\")
<\/img> 28mm<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf5_7C7393_100mm_1_web.jpg\")
<\/img> 100mm<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nphysically larger sensor is appealing but it requires a larger lens,
\nwhich is usually the key trade-off between size and image quality. Indeed, when
\nheld next to the Canon PowerShot S100, the RX100 lens has a lot more glass.
\nHowever, this has not affected the overall bulk of the
\ncamera as much as one would expect, and the RX100 has only a marginally bigger
\nbody. The lens comprises 7 elements in 6 groups, including one aspherical
\ntype and one optical image stabilisation (OIS) element. Each element features
\nthe company’s \u2018T’ coating, while circular aperture blades are designed to give
\npleasant out of focus areas (bokeh). A downside to larger sensors is often the
\nminimum focus depth, but here it is an impressive 5cm at the widest focal
\nlength, or 55cm at the tele-end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nuse<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nimmediate impression of the RX100 is how well it is made. Its design is simple and elegant with a smooth all-black exterior small enough to slip comfortably into a trouser
\npocket. The only textured part is the rubber thumb grip on the rear. The tough
\naluminum body is going to last, and from the couple of days I have used the
\ncamera it is resistant to scratches and markings.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf6_7Cec5b_100mm_2_web.jpg\")
<\/img> 100mm<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nthe rear is a 3.0in VGA LCD screen equipped with Sony’s Trublack
\ntechnology. The resolution of the screen is a whopping 1.229-million-dots,
\nwhich includes a white pixel for every red, green and blue one (RGB). We have
\nbeen impressed by this type of setup in Ricoh’s GR Digital IV. Sony claims this
\nsetup increases contrast and that the screen is 2.5x brighter than the HX20V,
\nyet consumes 35% less power than a standard RBG screen. Indeed with a new
\nNP-BX1 battery, which Sony expects to bring into some of its future compact
\ncameras, the battery life is claimed to provide up to 330 shots, which is good
\nfor a compact camera.\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf4_7Cba66_28mm_2_web.jpg\")
<\/img> 28mm<\/p>\n
\nthe Canon PowerShot S100, the lens features a control ring, which can be used to
\ncontrol aperture or any of a number of key exposure controls including white balance and ISO, as well as manually focusing. With the
\ncamera in manual exposure mode, the lens control ring can work with the control
\nwheel on the rear of the camera to adjust shutter speed and aperture, which
\nhandily means the user does not have to press another button to switch between the two.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nof the buttons can be customised, and up to 7 different controls can be
\nindividually added to the menu accessed via the function button. Furthermore,
\nthe \u2018memory’ menu, accessed via its dedicated position on the shooting dial,
\nstores up to 3 exposure setups for quick access to regularly used
\nsettings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nAlpha users will be immediately familiar with the in-depth menu and the level
\nof control available on the RX100. Neat areas of handling include the peaking
\ncontrol, designed to indicate the point of focus and overexposed
\nhighlights.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf1_7C47f4_macro_5cm_web.jpg\")
<\/img><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nhave taken several images with the RX100, and early impressions are very
\npositive. For a camera of its size, the high resolution of the sensor
\nproduces unrivalled file sizes and also a high level of detail. Colours in JPEG
\nfiles are bright and punchy without being overly saturated or \u2018unreal’, while
\nthere is plenty of detail in highlight and shadow areas, indicating the
\ncamera’s dynamic range is rather good. The fixed Carl Zeiss lens appears to be
\ncrisp over most of the frame, with minor drop off at the edges at the
\nwide focal length. We will comment in more detail on the image quality when the
\ncamera receives a full test in the coming weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2012\/06\/11134_7C000001cf7_7Ca03d_colours_web.jpg\")
<\/img><\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\nthe time of writing, the estimated price of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is around
\n\u00a3550.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"