Sony 20.2 Megapixels Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Quick Review by SteveHuff

On May 16 2012, Sony announced the Cyber-shot RX100 digital compact camera featuring a 20.2 Megapixels sensor and fast F1.8 Zeiss branded 3.6x zoom lens. At the heart of the RX100 is the 1.0-inch type Exmor CMOS sensor that's specially developed by Sony which is approximately 4x larger than the 1/2.3-type sensors in traditional point-and-shoot cameras. The large sensor can take in more light while capturing images & movies with very low noise. The lens is the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* fixed lens with 3.6x optical zoom range and a wide F1.8 maximum aperture to let in additional light. The lens features 7 bladed circular aperture and an Advanced Aspherical (AA) lens element.

Other features of the RX100 includes support of sensitivity up to ISO 25600 (using Multi Frame Noise Reduction), 10 frames per second in full resolution, high-speed autofocus as quickly as 0.13 seconds, a 3-inch 1,229k dot Xtra Fine LCD display with WhiteMagic technology (use additional white pixels to boost screen brightness), a smooth control ring around the lens body for manual adjustments, as well as 6 different creative styles and a variety of popular picture effects including Toy Camera, Partial Color, and HDR Painting. The Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 digital camera is listed for about $650. Here's the summary of quick preview by SteveHuff:

"Well, can one be in love after two days? Probably not but it feels like it. This camera opens up some great possibilities. It is tiny, silent and even blazing fast AND gives DSLR quality..well, correction... in some cases BETTER than DSLR quality (depending on DSLR and lens used). It fits in my front jeans pocket and is ready to roll at a moments notice. No, there is no EVF but this is a small camera that is meant for REALLY take anywhere pocket use. The LCD screen is easily visible even in the brutal AZ sun (can't say the same for other cameras) as it has Sony's "White Magic" technology that improves visibility in full sun. The fast Zeiss lens helps and you can shoot at 28mm at f/1.8 and get nice results and even some decent Bokeh as well. The image below if of my son at ISO 6400. It is an OOC JPEG so you do see the NR but this is 6400, coming out of a pocket camera! I have not shot RAW yet but I will have RAW results when I post my full review of this camera.

So this looks like it will be a hit for Sony. I can not wait to shoot it over the next couple of weeks to really put it through its paces and pit it against the Nikon V1 and just for fun, a Leica X2! Should be fun   I also was messing around and took some video and it looked beautiful as well. The built-in Steady Shot worked wonders and this Zeiss lens has a Zeiss feel about it, even in the video. In my hand the camera feels small but solid with a nice build. If it did have an EVF it would be flat-out my dream pocket cam. Then again, and EVF would have made it larger and that would have made it appeal to a different group of camera enthusiast, and not fit in my pocket! Me, I see this camera being taken with me anywhere and everywhere. Something  that many other cameras can easily achieve with a bag, but now I have that quality in my pocket it seems. I can not give any final evaluation on it until my review of course but so far so good!"

Awesome Camera/Lens for it's purpose., gatorheadLuis - Jun 14 2013
I was looking for a high quality slim/lightweight compact camera to be my everyday camera I took with me to work, could take with me out to dinner, shot HD video, took SD cards and allowed for full manual controls if I wanted to get creative. The RX100 is the best camera for that purpose and I LOVE this camera for that purpose. My Panasonic GH3 with 12-35mm 2.8 and 75mm 1.8 is my go...

A story about Sony support, or lack of?, TEXAS ROCKS! - Jun 11 2013
Once upon a time, in a land far away lived a guy who loved Sony with all his heart. He felt like there was no reason to have anything else than Sony. So he went out and bought a TV (Sony), a DVD player (Sony), Camcorder (Sony), Game Console (Sony), MP3 Player (Sony), First, Second, and Third computers (Sony), First, Second and Third digital cameras (Sony), he even bought a new alarm c...

Camera Novice, A. McCall - Jun 11 2013
Best camera for someone getting into photography and who wants to take pictures like the pros. Strongly recommend to all....

Don't bother if you have an SLR., Adam J. Brown "Adam" - Jun 10 2013
If you have money to spend, or you don't want to fuss with an SLR and want above average point-and-shoot image quality, consider this camera. If you have an SLR, and just want a pocket camera to carry around when you don't really care about having top image quality, save your money and buy the Canon S100 at more than half the price. The difference in image quality is only noticeable u...