Add this to a 1-inch, back-illuminated 20.1MP Exmor CMOS sensor with Fast Hybrid AF and you have a seriously powerful combination. For $400 less, the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 offers … The screen’s main failing is that it’s not especially bright, so unlike the TZ200’s it’s not very usable in direct sunlight. Dvir Barkay is an award winning nature photographer born in Israel and currently based out of Philadelphia, PA. To see more of Dvir's work, please visit his website. With its large 20.1-megapixel stacked 1-inch imaging sensor, the RX100 VI captures more detailed images and video than any smartphone. Compared to the bright 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens of the three previous RX 100 models, the aperture range of the new lens allows in a lot less light, and this has some distinct limitations when shooting under dim lighting conditions. Here, with the RX100 VI, you’ve really got some fantastic features. With the longer focal length comes the tradeoff of a slower aperture range of f/2.8-4.5 compared to the f/1.8-2.8 of the Mark V. Even this is a bit misleading as the f/2.8 aperture is only available at 24mm and by 40mm it is already f/4. Overall, the RX100 VI’s ergonomics are quite poor. The first problem is that £1150 price tag. The Sony RX100 VI is a spectacularly capable travel camera, combining a flexible zoom range with impressive autofocus. At the very least you’ll need a wrist strap to save the camera when it inevitably slips from your grasp, and I’d strongly advise adding the stick-on, Still, the RX100 VI is about as feature packed as compact cameras come – it’s essentially a pocket-sized Sony Alpha. The button layout is also inadequate compares poorly to Sony’s own mirrorless camera bodies. Wi-Fi and NFC Capability 8. The deep feature set makes it even more frustrating that the ergonomics are so relatively poor. It’s just that both detail and color quality at such settings drops below the level I would consider consistently usable. Most notable is the need for a much higher ISO to attain a similar shutter speed, and I consistently found myself using ISO values that were beyond ideal when shooting street scenes at dawn and dusk or when taking images indoors. For a point-and-shoot camera, the RX100VI offers quite a lot of customization options, but quite a few design flaws, unfortunately, limit it. One feature missing for those interested in vlogging is a dedicated microphone input, and there’s no way to connect one wirelessly. This is a bit surprising as the control rings of some of Sony’s FE lenses offer an excellent and smooth twisting operation. As usual from Sony, the RX100 VI has an impressive video specification. Even then, I’d certainly recommend buying a spare battery and an external charger to make sure you can get through the day. This results in a truly phenomenal continuous shooting rate of 24 frames per second at full resolution, with a 233-shot JPEG buffer, while continuously adjusting focus and exposure between frames. Strangely enough, Sony has chosen to limit continuous 4K recording to just five-minute clips whereas Full HD recording goes all the way up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. Weight: 301g 10. The RX100VI features one UHS-I type SD card slot rather than the faster UHS-II type slot which significantly inhibits burst mode shooting and the camera’s acclaimed 24-frames-per-second burst mode. This would have been less of a problem if the camera body was textured but the smooth metal finish makes it very hard to have a reassuring hold. Like its predecessors, the camera remains frustratingly difficult to use unless you mainly shoot in Auto mode and care little for making any manual adjustments. There are new 480 and 960 FPS slow-motion, in addition to 240 FPS. I would not call the RX100 a bridge camera, it’s an advanced compact, the RX10 is a bridge camera. With the new RX100 VI, Sony has gone with an 8.3x optical zoom range with a f/2.8-4.5 variable aperture 24-200mm equivalent lens. One SD card slot 9. Making the RX100 VI a much more all-around offering than previous models in the series and a camera aimed squarely at photographers looking for greater versatility. I also faced slower focusing speeds when making images in such scenarios. This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in whi… Offering longer reach and improved performance, the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI from Sony is a pocket-sized powerhouse characterized by an impressive lineup of stills and video capabilities. The RX100 VI does, though, finally give anyone looking for a pocketable, high-quality, long-zoom compact an alternative to the Lumix series. This makes the … Like most extended-range zooms it’s very sharp in the centre wide open, but less good in the corners, and you’ll want to stop it down to f4 or f/5.6 when shooting scenes such as landscapes where there’s detail right across the scene. Save this story for later. Sony has recently started employing touch-sensitivity on the LCD screens of their cameras and the RX100 VI now also offers this functionality. If you don’t want to bother with the size and complexity of DSLR/Mirrorless camera system and can live with the relatively high price, the RX100 VI is an excellent option for those looking for a highly capable bridge camera in a pocket-sized package. However, photographers who like to shoot portraits will gain more from the extra zoom than they’ll lose from the smaller f-number. Still, the RX100 VI is about as feature packed as compact cameras come – it’s essentially a pocket-sized Sony Alpha. This change has created some distinct drawbacks with the camera now much less capable in low light environments, but for those that need a faster aperture lens, the Mark V remains an option. The small NB-BX1 battery is rated for 220 to 240 shots per charge, depending on whether you use the LCD or viewfinder. The clickless lens ring, tiny buttons and lack of any finger grip might frustrate more advanced shooters, although it’s largely fine for simpler shooting. Post author: Erik Derycke Post published: 25 November 2020 Aside from the lens, Sony has recycled pretty much exactly the same design as the RX100 V. This is a mixed blessing. I was extremely impressed by it on the latter, and it continues to work in much the same vein on the RX100 VI. In use, the focusing system felt a lot like using one of Sony’s recent mirrorless camera releases like the A7III. HDR recording, and super-slow motion video at 250fps, 500fps, or 1000fps. It’s an exceptionally well-specified camera with a range of features and performance attributes that handily beat out most of its compact camera rivals. The rotating control is a useful feature to have, and it’s especially helpful for controlling lens zoom, aperture and exposure compensation. The grip adds nothing to the camera’s size, so should be built-in from the start, or at least included in the box. Unsurprisingly, the one area where the focus system struggled was shooting in low-light environments. In such scenarios, the f/4.5 max aperture of the longer end of the focal range proved inefficient at capturing enough light to sustain a robust focusing performance. I highly recommend carrying extra batteries if you intend on taking the camera for a full day’s worth of photography and you are unable to charge mid-day. Price (MSRP): $1,198 That's 99% of my review; the DSC-RX100 Mark VI is an absolutely superb camera. However, and this isn't a fair comparison, coming from a Canon 6D and now a Sony A7 III, the RX100 VI 1 inch sensor can't compete in the low light department. Unfortunately, pushing it down again turns the camera off, which is irritating given that you probably just wanted to use the screen instead. That gives the Mark VI noticeably greater reach than the 24-70mm equivalent lens of its predecessor. These trade-offs certainly limit the RX100 VI’s performance as low light, video-centric camera, but the additional focal range also means that the new model is much better suited for travel and day-to-day photography than any of its predecessors. We may earn a commission if you click a deal and buy an item. From 109mm till 200mm the max aperture is f/4.5. The RX100 VI features the same textured free-rotating programmable control ring around its lens as the Mark V. The dial’s role depends on which shooting mode you’re in, but it can be customized to control a range of different functions. Save this story for later. Sony’s full-frame cameras, including the flagship. The Sony RX100 VA gets the Mark VI's newer BIONZ X processor. The camera can shoot video at 4K resolution with full pixel readout (no pixel binning) at up to 30fps. A significant limitation of the RX100 series is their very short battery life. The RX100 VI is noticeably smaller than its main rival, the Panasonic TZ200 The other catch is the price. The last few years haven’t been kind on point-and-shoot cameras with smartphone cameras now the tool of choice for most casual photographic situations. Thankfully, you can disable this behaviour, but only by trawling through the menus. It’s only 1.8mm deeper than its predecessor, but the same length and width. Owners of previous models will be familiar with the layout and controls of the RX100 VI. bigger or fill screen. Its design is a considerable improvement on previous RX100 generations too, as you no longer have to pull out the eyepiece after popping-up the EVF, or retract it before pushing the finder back down. The below images highlight the sort of sharpness that can be expected along with showing how well the lens handles flare when shooting against the sun. I often found myself having to go up to ISO values higher than 1600 during my time with the camera and the image quality at these settings is often quite poor in comparison to what I am used too from DSLR and Mirrorless offerings. Since its debut in 2012, Sony’s RX100 series has been on a mission to redefine what we can expect from a premium, large-sensor compact camera. But personally, I’d struggle to justify spending £1150 on a point-and-shoot that’s sometimes frustrating to use, no matter how good the results, when the Panasonic TZ100 and TZ200 are just so much better value. In your hand, the RX100 VI feels well-made, and you are immediately struck by just how small and pocketable it is. See our Sony RX100 VA review to find out what new features and performance the processor upgrade provides. Thankfully, the My Menu tab is available and helps solve some of the clutter by allowing you to select and place your favorite menu options under one tab. These issues will rarely affect the experience of a photographer who wishes to let the camera make most of the decisions, but for those that desire greater control over ISO, aperture, shutter speed and other settings, the RX100 VI is functionally limited. Overall, this is an excellent feature that makes shootings family portraits, events or street scenes a lot easier than before. It even did well under conditions that some other cameras find confusing, for instance neutralising the green colour cast that’s found in the shade of foliage on sunny summer days. At this price point, one could buy a mirrorless or DSLR camera with a larger APS-C sensor and a lens or two, which places the RX100 VI in the awkward spot of having to compete with cameras with much larger sensors and more versatile ecosystems. Sensor: 20.1 MP 1-inch type stacked CMOS image sensor 2. There is little doubt that the Sony RX100 VI makes for an excellent addition to the RX100 series. Successive generations have introduced new features to maintain its lead, with the adoption of a tilting screen in the RX100 II, a pop-up viewfinder and large-aperture zoom in the RX100 III, 4K video in the RX100 IV and high-speed shooting on the RX100 V. All of those models remain on sale, which makes sense as the new RX100 VI is a different beast. , are built around a Bionz X processor with front-end LSI, and you’ll find the same combination inside the RX100 VI (albeit in scaled-down form). Despite the new lens, the RX100 VI is the same width and height as the Mark V and only 1.8mm thicker which results in a camera that is ideally suited to a wide range of photographic applications while remaining genuinely pocketable. Under dim lighting or low contrast conditions, focus performance takes quite a big hit, and I noticed quite a lot of hunting in such situations. This is still a lot shorter than the 24-360mm of the slightly larger TZ200, and the RX100 VI is significantly more expensive. If you would like to take away control from the camera and to choose which button changes which function you run into a problem. Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. The VI’s gained a bit of depth over its predecessor, but it still easily fits into the side pocket of most jeans. Akin to its predecessor, the outer metal chassis is relatively thin and susceptible to impacts. While this may disappoint low-light and shallow depth-of-field fans, others may consider the extra reach worth the sacrifice. But you pay for what you get. The button layout on the RX100 VI is also quite troublesome with the rear dial proving especially tricky to operate. Compared to its predecessor, the RX100 VI struggles in low light environments and is camera best suited for daylight photography. As a whole, the Sony RX100 VII only has a few key differences from the RX100 VI. Beyond negatively impacting your focus, the relatively dim aperture also necessitates you to use high ISO values that significantly diminish the overall image quality of the otherwise excellent sensor. It can record 4K 3840 x 2160 footage at 25fps with full pixel readout, which delivers highly detailed footage with no field of view crop. Certainly there's nothing else that can touch it when it comes to performance, while the images from the 20.1 … This performance is unacceptable and significantly hampers the practically of one of the RX100 VI’s most significant selling points. Sony RX100 VII Compared with RX100 VI. You also have to choose between being able to push images from the camera to your phone using the Fn button, or being able to browse the card from your phone – most other brands happily let you do both. The corners can be a bit soft at the wider end of the zoom range, but the overall performance of the lens is excellent. In my side-by-side comparisons, the RX100 VI’s lens is so much sharper at 200mm and f/4.5 than the TZ200’s at 360mm and f/6.3 that in good light, you can get almost the same level of detail from both cameras when shooting distant subjects. The camera feels well made with a slick metal chassis and has an assuring heaviness given its compact size. The big change from the RX100 VI comes with autofocus. The Sony RX100 VI is a high-end compact camera aimed at pros, enthusiasts and vloggers. Sony has somehow managed to fit in a 24-200mm equivalent zoom lens into a camera body that’s only 1.8mm thicker than its predecessor. The RX100 VI comes with the same 3-inch LCD screen as the Mark V. The LCD can be flipped up by 180 degrees to face the subject for selfies and vlogging. Physically, the cameras are almost exactly the same. Sony’s achieved this by making the lens slower – the maximum aperture now runs from f/2.8-4.5, rather than the f/1.8-2.8 of the previous model. The issue is especially noticeable thanks to the RX100’s large buffer size which can take well over a minute to entirely clear. The only focal length setting which offers the f/2.8 aperture is at 24mm. Sony’s full-frame cameras, including the flagship Alpha A9, are built around a Bionz X processor with front-end LSI, and you’ll find the same combination inside the RX100 VI (albeit in scaled-down form). This seems like a restriction intended to keep the camera from overheating, but it’s an unfortunate choice given that vloggers constitute a significant target audience. When it comes to video, the RX100 VII has a lot to offer, including 4K video recording at 30 FPS, at a maximum of 100MB/s/ The overall video quality is outstanding and does well with high-contrast (HDR) scenes as well. This is an excellent review that really highlights the strengths and weaknesses of this camera. In the middle of the zoom range the lens is simply stunning, giving excellent sharpness from corner to corner. In fact, its degree of movement is unusually large: a double-hinged design means it can tilt 90-degrees downwards for overhead shooting, or 180-degrees forward for selfies or vlogging. I don’t find it difficult to adjust aperature/shutter/ISO once you get used to the smaller controls. This is my review of the Sony RX100 VI, a compact camera released back in July 2018 to much fanfare in the photography industry, for its ground-breaking zoom lens, lightning-fast auto focus … This also means that it has many of the same tradeoffs as its predecessors and one of these happens to be part of its innate appeal. Without a proper grip, it almost always feels as though the camera might slip out of your hands. I am also not a big fan of Sony’s placement of the C Custom Button on the bottom right rear of the camera. 1. On the RX100VI, two dials control two-thirds of the exposure triangle; the first is the programmable control ring on the lens while the second is the control wheel on the back of the camera. There is also a range of slow-motion video recording options. Oh, and it takes really good pictures. In fact, if you turn off the various operational beeps and fake shutter sounds and engage the electronic shutter, the camera is completely silent. If you can afford it, and are prepared to put up with its foibles, the Sony RX100 VI is a phenomenally capable pocket travel camera, if not quite as good value as Panasonic’s TZ series. This replaces a great source of frustration on previous RX100 models and gone are the days of endless clicks and multiple button presses when trying to move an AF point. The zoom collar is smooth and effective, but I would have preferred a Slow setting for the Zoom Speed as I found that it could be a bit too quick at times (there is only a Normal and Fast speed under the Zoom Speed setting in the menu). Unfortunately, the dial itself feels relatively cheap with an uneven stiffness when twisted. A good camera should get out of your way and make it easy for you to change all the key settings, but with the RX100 VI, I usually felt like I was fighting against it instead. Unfortunately, continuous 4K recording is limited to just five-minute clips whereas Full HD recording goes all the way up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. Like its predecessors, the RX100 VI is at times a tricky thing to use too. This greatly enhances the focus tracking capabilities of the RX100 VI, and it’s now capable of a genuinely excellent focusing performance that rivals that of some DSLRs. With all the RX100 iterations still available for purchase today, one might be wondering what differences there are between them and what gains one would have by going with the latest model. Sony does not always takes a step forward…. In particular its high-speed focusing and shooting means that you should very rarely miss a shot. PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels, By Dvir Barkay 7 CommentsLast Updated On July 19, 2020. Sony has previously been happy to let Panasonic own the high-zoom travel compact sector with models like the Lumix TZ200, but the RX100 VI plants a size-10 boot in TZ territory. Like other Sony cameras, the RX100 VI features the useful FN button which enables you to access twelve customizable tabs. The RX100 VI shares the same excellent sensor and processor combination as the RX100 V and the RX10 IV. There’s no doubt that the Sony RX100 VI is an astounding technological feat. The small size comes at the cost of not having a grip. zoom lens 3. In this sense, I feel that the RX100 VI doesn’t replace its predecessor as much as it offers a more well-rounded alternative. The slow lens is a liability that almost sinks this camera, but it is really saved by the amazing focal length. There are grip accessories available from Sony and third parties, and I highly recommend getting one for peace of mind. A part of this unavoidable as there are inherent tradeoffs to making such a tiny camera body. Unsurprisingly, the camera’s performance takes a big hit when working in dim lighting conditions, with focus speed and accuracy decreasing noticeably. Sony has previously been happy to let Panasonic own the high-zoom travel compact sector with models like the. That smooth body has its drawbacks, though: as usual for an RX100, it has all the assured handling of a bar of soap. Low-light shooters would probably still do better to stick to the RX100 V and its shorter-but-faster f/1.8-2.8 zoom, while videographers will be disappointed by the lack of a built-on ND filter. You spend too much time comparing the camera to large sensor Mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. High-density Tracking AF clusters focus points around moving subjects for increased accuracy, while Sony’s much-touted Eye AF is also onboard for shooting portraits. The Sony RX100 VII continues to offer 4K Ultra HD video recording at 3840 x 2160 resolution at 30/25/24fps, but now with the added benefits of longer recording time of up to 30 … The display also folds down by as much as 90 degrees, which makes it much easier to frame when shooting straight down. This point-and-shoot is small and lightweight, and it packs an impressive zoom. Quite astonishing is the fact that Sony managed to squeeze the new lens into a body that is only 1.8mm thicker than the Mark V. Naturally, there are some tradeoffs as a result, and the aperture range of the new lens is a noticeably slower f/2.8-4.5 compared to the f/1.8-2.8 of the Mark V’s 24-70mm lens. This makes shooting in Manual Mode on the RX100 VI remarkably cumbersome though this isn’t unexpected on a camera body this small. At least Sony has now added a touchscreen, meaning it’s finally possible to select the focus point quickly when you’re shooting with either the screen or the viewfinder. Before we discuss camera features, let’s do a quick revision of all the feature changes we have seen in the RX100 series of cameras. The RX100 series is very popular among videographers and vloggers, so it’s no surprise that the RX100 VI comes packed with video-centric features. When using either of these modes, the lens ring can automatically change functions to control for either the aperture or shutter speed depending on the mode in use. Low-light shooters would probably still do better to stick to the, As usual from Sony, the RX100 VI has an impressive video specification. Add this to a 1-inch, back-illuminated 20.1MP Exmor CMOS sensor with Fast Hybrid AF and you have a seriously powerful combination. Announced in June 2018, the RX100 VI is yet another iteration of Sony’s RX100 series of pocketable high-end compact cameras. Sony redesigned the camera's sensor so it polls its autofocus points more frequently, and covered it from nearly edge to edge with … This is especially impressive given that the camera can capture 24 frames-per-second in a burst (though I would say it feels more like 20fps). Customization is also very limited compared to Sony’s mirrorless camera bodies which can prove frustrating for a more advanced user. Sony has re-used the same AF system that we’ve seen before on both the short-zoom RX100 V and the RX10 IV bridge camera. It’s when you point the camera at a moving subject that the system really comes into its own. By checking this box I consent to the use of my information, as detailed in the Privacy Policy. The RX100 VII is compatible with Ikelite and Fantasea RX100 VI … I bought RX100 VI.then sold it after 1.5 months. A second significant addition to the RX100VI is the inclusion of the same focusing algorithms found in Sony’s flagship Alpha 9 mirrorless camera. It powers up in about a second, and from then on responds pretty snappily to all of the controls. I find myself loving this camera all day and being frustrated by it all night. It was strained in relatively … Popping-up the viewfinder also turns the camera on, which makes perfect sense. This is still a lot shorter than the 24-360mm of the slightly larger, Aside from the lens, Sony has recycled pretty much exactly the same design as the, Both the flash and viewfinder pop up from the top plate, released by mechanical switches; it’s astonishing Sony has managed to fit them in. On the plus side, Sony has effectively tripled the reach of the lens without making the camera significantly bigger. The RX100 VI introduces broad zoom range with beautiful image quality to a high-performance pocket-sized camera. The RX100 VII is compatible in some RX100 VI housings, but not all. Sure, but the RX100 VI was just wonderful for shooting when I felt like shooting and putting it away when I didn’t without it taking up the real estate that a Sony a7rIV with 70-200 would, for … The RX100 VI is a brilliant camera and more accomplished than the Panasonic TZ200 in several key areas. Sony RX100 VI – Design The RX100 VI’s physical design is both hugely impressive and a little frustrating. Likewise at the telephoto end, the centre is still very sharp, although the corners are a touch soft at maximum aperture. That doesn’t mean you can’t use higher values as the image below illustrates. Compared to the viewfinders on mirrorless cameras, the EVF is very small, but it remains a highly useful feature for framing and shooting in bright lighting conditions. If you're using an ad-blocker you might miss out on seeing the deals. With all the processing power it has on board, you’d expect the RX100 VI to be an exceptionally snappy performer, and in most respects it delivers. All things considered, it is worth the compromises to have so much power in such a small, inconspicuous body. It’s a tiny camera body and part of what gives it such a small profile is the complete absence of a proper grip. Still, you can slip it into … The Sony RX100 VII is a refresh, rather than full-scale upgrade of the popular RX100 series, but does this pocket-powerhouse do enough to tempt you? One area where the RX100 VI has a real edge over the Panasonic TZ200, its biggest rival, is when it comes to composing your images. Overall, if 70mm is long enough at the telephoto end and you often shoot in low light, you might be better off sticking to the RX100 Mark V. A further compromise of the additional focal range is the loss of the built-in Natural Density filter which was a much-loved feature for videographers on previous models. Just how many photographers will need this capability on a pocket compact is a different question. UHD 4K video at 30p and 24p along with 1080p slow-motion capture 7. Since size is often what determines whether someone brings a camera with them or simply uses their phone, it’s worth pointing out that the RX100 is shorter than a Samsung Galaxy S9 — although, it’s a lot thicker. Compared to Canon and Panasonic’s fully-integrated touch interfaces, this just feels lazy; it’s as if the iPhone never happened. On a more positive note, the viewfinder itself is really very good: the 2.36-million-dot OLED is bright and clear, and its 0.59x equivalent magnification matches many mid-range DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. The RX100 VI permits you to customize the function of four buttons as well as that of the rotating programmable control ring. Despite its tiny size, the RX100 VI also has some clear advantages over its Panasonic TZ rivals: it’s quicker, its pop-up viewfinder is larger, and its tilting LCD is extremely useful. When shooting at 24-frames-per-second, the buffer fills up quickly, and you often find yourself waiting a long time for the buffer to fully clear. Where things get genuinely frustrating is when shooting in either Aperture-Priority or Shutter-Priority. The slowdown is mostly due to very long buffer clearing times experienced when shooting with even the fastest UHS-I type cards. This means that Sony RX100 VI provides 4K … Where low-light image quality is essential, a mirrorless APS-C camera with much improved high ISO performance and compatibility with wide aperture lenses, is the best way to go.