Sony 20.2 Megapixels Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Review by TR With Rating 9/10

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 review by TrustedReviews, giving the camera a rating of 9 out of 10:

"Overall image quality is very good. Used in multi-segment metering mode exposure is generally very accurate, with only the odd underexposure. To counter this, we simply dialled in around 0.3-0.7EV using the exposure compensation tool. Should you want to create HDR-like images then the built-in Auto HDR feature should prove very useful. In total there are six different modes along with an automatic option. The camera will then take three consecutive images at different exposures for you and automatically combine them into a single image with a broader dynamic range. If you want to avoid the HDR look but still want to produce images with more detail in the shadow and highlight areas then Sony's D-Range Optimizer is another useful tool you can call upon. You can opt between five strength levels or just select Auto and let the camera decide for you. The RX100 offers a range of of Creative Style JPEG processing options and these can be used to determine how saturated the colours in your images are as well as the Brightness, Contrast and Sharpness levels. The five preset options include: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset and Black & White. The all-new 1in 20.2MP sensor is able to resolve class-leading levels of detail - at least for a camera of this class. if you're after images with even greater detail from a compact, then the only thing to really beat it is the Fujifilm X100 or Canon PowerShot G1X. The 28-100mm is sharp through the range, with both vignetting and barrel distortion kept well under control. While we'd have like to have seen a slightly faster maximum aperture than f/4.9 at the long end, the ability to shoot wide-open at f/1.8 at 28mm means shallow depth-of-field shots are possible. White balance is very reliable, with the Auto White Balance (AWB) setting delivering consistently neutral results. Should you need to though, you can force the camera to shot at a particular colour temperature with the usual list of presets available: Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent (x4) Flash, Colour Temp/Filter and Custom. ISO performance also impressed us. Under ISO 800 and images are sharp and show plenty of detail. Above ISO 800 and image noise does start to become increasingly noticeable, although for a compact this is still pretty impressive. Even at the highest standard setting of ISO 6400, images are still passable.

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is an excellent advanced compact that offers a near perfect blend of size, performance and image quality. At over £500 though the RX100 doesn't come cheap, putting it into the same kind of price bracket as many CSCs and even some entry-level DSLRs. Clearly the RX100 is a different kind of camera altogether that is designed to appeal to a different kind of user with a different set of needs, however if portability isn't your number one priority then this is certainly something to think about. If not and you're looking for a premium advanced compact, then the RX100 certainly fits the bill."

Awesome, Landon N - May 14 2013
This camera is awesome. Th quality that it is able to capture is through a point and shoot is unmatched....

Now this I can carry with me all the time!, Jose - May 10 2013
I used to carry a DSLR with me since I didnt want to miss any shots but it was so hard to have it with me all the time. It was also a risk carrying it with me since I dont live in the safest place and also because of the wear on the camera. I had been waiting for a camera like this one, its everything I need in a pocket camera and more!...

I love this camera, Dan - May 09 2013
The picture quality is so obvious, deep solid pixels, with clear strong images. And I have no idea what I'm doing when I take the pictures. The in camera directions are really lame. I think there is a book out on how to use it - I suggest buying it, but there is no real need if all you're doing is pointing and shooting. Fits in my jeans even with camera case on, snug but...

Wow. What a capable & compact camera., DC - May 08 2013
If you're looking at this camera, then you've probably seen all the glowing product reviews: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony_rx100.shtml http://www.wired.com/reviews/2013/02/sony-cybershot-rx100/ You might worry, "Are my expectations set to high? What if the camera doesn't live up to it's billing?" Well, I'm here to tell you not...