[Closed] Sony RX100 camera

I have a mk1 and think it’s brilliant, normally means I leave the full sir kit behind, or perhaps just take a long lens and the rx100.

I know each version has pluses and minuses I have never been convinced changing mine makes sense, esp as the mk1 should be cheapest

I have a MK VI which takes amazingly good photos but as long as a longer zoom isn’t a big issue a MK IV or V is probably much better VFM

If you want to use it with a view finder then the MK3 upwards has a very neat built in and retractable EVF. If you don't need the EVF then the MK1 and MK2 will be much cheaper and just as good.

The RX100 is an example of neat packaging but that's most of its appeal. The Fuji X100 is only slightly bigger but still pocetable, has a much bigger sensor, better colours and dynamic range.

The Fuji X100 is much bigger and has a fixed focal length lens.

I had an RX100 Mk1 that I used as a backup camera when my main camera failed on a holiday. However, the lack of viewfinder was a problem so when I got back I looked at the Mk3 and Mk4 which were similar except that the Mk4 has a MUCH better viewfinder.

One minor niggle is that you can't plug in an external mic for vlogging purposes.

I have a mk1, which I acquired recently.

I've also got a canon 70d and Panasonic g80 and a Samsung galaxy s7 which although a couple of years old is a well respected phone camera. I did a little test the other night while taking some pics for an ad on here... Took pics with all the cameras (with very decent lenses on the 70d and g80)...

I shot all three cameras in raw and converted in lightroom. The pics from the Sony were great! They weren't as good as the pics from the 70d and g80 but they were very close, whereas the S7 was noticeably lacking compared to any of them... Though still impressive. Anyway, main differences I saw were-

* a slight softness to the detail which couldn't be recovered by sharpening, which I guess is a side effect of the dinky zoom lens
* Areas out of focus didn't look quite so nice on the Sony as the other two.

The Sony cost me a bit over a hundred quid and is dinky... The others much more expensive with lenses too.

I've not tried the other versions of the rx100, but I'd say it's really hard to look beyond a cheap MK1 unless you want evf (a bit pointless imo on this type of camera).

ok it seems like a cheap mk1 or a 4 then.
We will start looking in earnest. Thanks for your help.

@cp - That's impressive, and very interesting considering that phone isn't new

I was looking at RX100s on the basis that I don't use my SLR anymore. But my iPhone XS has such a good camera and it's always in my pocket that I figured I'd rarely carry it

If/when you do get one, be sure to buy the additional stick on grip. I have one on my Mk1 and it solves the main complaint of them which is that they're a bit slippery to use...

in Summary what I was trying to say is that as impressive as the S7 is, there is still a noticeable jump in quality to the RX100 & DSLRs/mirrorless, whereas between RX100 and DSLR/mirrorless there is much much less of a jump, in fact the differences are only really from pixel peeping at 100% zoom in Lightroom.

I'll still keep the DSLR or mirrorless as well as the sony because they are better in ways other than absolute sharpness at the focused centrepoint - Bokeh, the way highlights are handled, zoom range with specific lenses, macro capability, handling etc... are all better than the RX100 but then you can't fit all that in your pocket and the RX100 mk1 is an incredible all-rounder compromise.

I have a MkIV which is good (much as others have written above), the only downside is that the battery life is short, and it doesn't seem to hold charge very long even when not being used.
Ideally if I could find a reasonably high quality modern digital version of an Olympus XA or XA2 I'd buy one as mine were great.

Very happy with my mark 1

The mark 3 gets a faster lens and viewfinder. Which are worth having. But you loose reach

I think it partly depends on how careful you are. Mine goes into situations where ot might get damaged so cheapness rules

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Ideally if I could find a reasonably high quality modern digital version of an Olympus XA or XA2 I’d buy one as mine were great.

The Ricoh GR-2 (-3 coming soon) might be a step in that direction ... ?

It's worth pointing out that the MK1 doesn't have wifi, so you'll need to plug it into a computer to transfer images. Given how good basic photo editing is on phones these days, it's worth getting a camera with wifi for easy transferring if you don't want to plug it in all the time.

I've had the Mk2 & MK3. I've found I don't use the viewfinder on the MK3 much (probably from not coming from a photographic background), although it is sometimes useful. The MK3 can have apps of sorts, making things like timelapses much easier, and the built in ND filter is great, but if I lost it I'd be happy with a MK2 if it's a good amount cheaper.

I've found myself using it less, as my Samsung S8 takes such consistently good photos and is easier to carry around and take a quick photo, and the phone is a lot smarter so deals with some tricky lighting situations better. It is great going back to RX100 though, it takes a great picture and captures some things that a phone will never be able to.

I've got a IV. I actually use the viewfinder quite a lot, but probs as it's my second camera to a Sony A77ii DSLR. It's a great little camera to have with you at all times, that will recover a way bigger dynamic range than a phone. The mk iv has a built in ND filter, not sure about it's predecessors. The VI doesn't

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Have a MK1 and delighted with it.

Think it was £269 at Wilkinson's Cameras a couple of years ago.

I'd like a viewfinder and
if I need to play about with settings it can be a pain, not the most intuitive controls. Still use the Nikon SLR's when I'm getting all creative, but apart from that it's spot on.

Mk1 here and very satisfied. It's an amazing camera for the money (if you buy the Mk1 - think I paid £240) and size. Mine goes in the smallest LowePro Apex I can fit it in, then I clip that on my backpack chest strap for bike rides or trekking. Mint camera when you need something genuinely tiny.

https://www.johnlewis.com/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-rx100-compact-camera-hd-1080p-20-2mp-3-6x-optical-zoom-3-lcd-screen-black/p231683057?sku=231683057&s_kwcid=2dx92700024307778115&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_Meyp-6S4AIVRud3Ch0dpwcJEAQYAiABEgI-AfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

2 year warranty and £50 cashback that ends in a couple of days

The Fuji X100 is much bigger and has a fixed focal length lens.

Yes but it's a significantly better camera in terms of image quality than the Sony and it's still pocketable. The fixed lens is neither here nor there in real world use where the benefit of zooming could just as easily be achieved through cropping and the discipline of using a fixed focal length lens will vastly improve the results.

The Sony's party piece is its size but that's about it. If you're just going to be taking snaps it's probably a better choice.

I've a Mk1 (was a present), it's much, much better than the point and shoot compacts and the camera on my iPhone but I don't think it's as good as the Canon G11 it replaced. I've not found a way to save a custom profile other than the primary setting for example. As @Rusty Spanner says, the controls aren't the most intuitive and doing something like moving the focus point around is a right faff.

I had a mk1, which failed (not reading the SD card) - £260 fix.
Ebayed it and bought a Sony HX90, which I much prefer, but I'm not a serious photographer.

the discipline of using a fixed focal length lens will vastly improve the results

i don't get this, can you explain?

I actually just popped on here to ask about best bang for buck s/h compact digital cameras - I bought the missus has a Canon s95 a while back & it's been great - has been everywhere with us, I don't really need the extra flexibility of an SLR so a compact with a better lens / sensor really would be perfect - don't need changeable lenses either.

I've seen good reviews for the G5X but it's still quite expensive s/h - have seen a few of the original G1X going for not much over a hundred quid - is that a good option or are some of the Fuji X100 a better bet - they seem to get great reviews but not sure the difference between the models & if any are worth spending more on?

Cheers
John

Sorry @Geetee1972, but you're wrong. If you want the look of a 70mm, then you just aren't going to get that with a 28mm prime (or whatever the Fuji has), even if you take into consideration the respective crop factors of the different sensor sizes.

i don’t get this, can you explain?

Sure - with a fixed focal length lens you are forced to think more about your composition. Zoom lenses can make you lazy. There's nothing wrong at all with taking 'snaps', so if that's all you wanted to do then I think the RX100 is a fine choice. But if you wanted to explore making images that go beyond just being snaps then learning the discipline of shooting with a fixed focal length is a great way to do that.

f you want the look of a 70mm, then you just aren’t going to get that with a 28mm prime

The 'look' you' referring to is compresion but that is the result of perspective, i.e. where you are in relation to the subject matter and that is more the product of the size of the sensor than the focal length. Think about all those landscapes shot on an iPhone with a 4mm focal length lens. I've never managed to either understand, or more importantly see, the 'compressive effects' of focal length beyond the basic result of perspective.

i don’t get this, can you explain?

It’s the photography equivalent of claiming a rigid singlespeed makes you a better rider.

Nope, sorry GeeTee, whether you see it or not, there is a difference in shooting at different focal lengths and more importantly, some people like shooting with zoom lenses. Doesn’t make them better or worse, and it certainly doesn’t make them any less of a photographer. Plenty of pros use zoom lenses because quite often it isn’t practical to move yourself closer or further away.

Jam bo, pretty much spot on.

Nope, sorry GeeTee, whether you see it or not, there is a difference in shooting at different focal lengths and more importantly, some people like shooting with zoom lenses.

OK, if you say so.

Doesn’t make them better or worse, and it certainly doesn’t make them any less of a photographer.

Well I never said anything to the contrary.

It’s the photography equivalent of claiming a rigid singlespeed makes you a better rider.

Ironcically there's a lot of truth in that.

If looking at the mkIII price bracket you should also look at the Canon GX7 mkII, it has a much less 'geeky' interface than the Sony - I've seen several posts from people that have switched because of the interface on the Sony.

Good shout on the GX7 mk2. It was very close between that and the RX100 mk3 when I got mine. Can’t remember why I decided against it now. Probably be able to get one for a pretty good price now because there’s a mk3 on the way soon

"Doesn’t make them better or worse, and it certainly doesn’t make them any less of a photographer."

Well I never said anything to the contrary.

There’s nothing wrong at all with taking ‘snaps’, so if that’s all you wanted to do then I think the RX100 is a fine choice.

Greg, I love your pics but you don't half type some shite.

Can anyone recommend a decent repairer in North/West Yorks for one of these? I foolishly allowed someone to use it and a load of crap has lodged under the power switch...

PS Ampthill - what is that second route (the sea cliff one?) Looks familiar and I want to see if I've guessed right!

i don’t get this, can you explain?

LOLing at the answers. Shame there hasn't been a proper one.

Shame there hasn’t been a proper one

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but ...
https://fstoppers.com/architecture/how-lens-compression-and-perspective-distortion-work-251737

Greg, I love your pics but you don’t half type some shite.

It's all pure talent ;O)

Not sure if this is what you’re looking for but …

I'm confused now, as you've just posted a link to an article that makes the same point I was making? I agree it's bad practice to effectively rely on a 50% crop of a 35mm image rather than using 70mm lens but the point still stands.