Sony RX100 Review
The Sony RX100 is the best point & shoot camera ever. It is a p&s camera so good that it’s better compared to larger sensor cameras. Point and shoot cameras have always been about compromise, and in the past, you always had to compromise one or more of the following: camera size, sensor size, lens speed, zoom range, or feature set when looking for a camera. Those days are over with the Sony RX100, which is the first point and shoot camera to combine pocket size with a large 1″ sensor, a fast f/1.8 lens, 3.6x optical zoom (28-100mm equivalent), great design and build quality, and a robust set of features.
Even years after its release in 2016, the Sony RX100 line still remains the class-leader based on our testing. While the Sony RX100 II and Sony RX100 III both sport some very nice improvements in terms of features, we still rank the original RX100 #1 due to its significantly lower price-point. In terms of image quality, all cameras in the Sony RX100 line perform roughly the same, which is to say very well. The only camera in this line that we have yet to use is the Sony RX100 IV.
For point and shoot users, the two most significant features that are typically mutually exclusive are the 1″ sensor and the compact size. It doesn’t have the largest sensor of any point and shoot camera, but it does have the largest sensor of any truly pocketable point and shoot camera. The significance of this cannot be overstated: you can easily fit the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 in your pocket and carry it with you anywhere. Buying this camera and reading our How to Take Great Photos with Your Point & Shoot Camera will prepare you to take amazing photos on your Disney vacation without carrying around a bulky camera bag.
All other point and shoot cameras that come close to the RX100’s image quality are gargantuan in size. The Sony RX100 is almost exactly the size of other cameras, yet packs so much more of a punch. That this camera can do everything that it does in such a small size almost defies the laws of science. It’s one amazing camera in one really, really small package. So amazing, in fact, that the Sony RX100 has taken sales away from larger cameras–even DSLRs. It’s crazy that a pocket-sized point & shoot camera could do that. How is it so impressive? Let’s get down to the details…
If you clicked on this review expecting a bunch of lab photos of boring color charts, I’m sorry to disappoint. I’m not a pixel peeper, I’m a photographer who uses cameras in the real world, concerned with how they really perform (go to DxOMark if you want “stats”). In the real world, the Sony RX100 performs so well that I found myself having “pinch me because this is too good to be true” moments.
To start, I always ask myself for whom is this camera made when judging it: amateurs, novices, or experts? The answer here is “everyone.” The Sony RX100 has a lot of different modes for varying skills. Most important of these, to me, are the manual modes, which are absent from a lot of point and shoot cameras. If you’re not ready for advanced modes, fear not, as there are also Intelligent Auto Modes. These worked very well in my testing, and should make the Sony RX100 a great camera for beginners to “grow into” as they learn photography.
This large, 1″ sensor coupled with the f/1.8 aperture of the lens allows for something I’ve never accomplished with any other point and shoot camera: shallow depth of field! The first time I captured a photo with a nice buttery, out of focus background with the Sony RX100, I was a bit flabergasted. It was as if the Sony RX100 was doing its best DSLR impression. It was a pretty good impression. The discerning eye could certainly tell a difference, but to have that look to a photo taken by a point and shoot camera? Wow.
The Carl Zeiss lens is the brightest of many bright spots on the Sony RX100. The optical quality is stunning, with great color, contrast, and sharpness. Point and shoot veterans may balk at the 3.6x zoom on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100, but this smaller focal range ensures greater optical quality. This is an absolutely necessary compromise, and frankly, I find the focal range perfectly adequate. Especially considering that the 20mp files give you plenty of cropping space.
Since point and shoot cameras often produce soft images, I’m far more concerned with maximizing sharpness than maximizing zoom. The lens also features optical stabilization, which helps keep images sharp when the shutter speed drops lower than is ideal. Another benefit from my perspective is the gorgeous starbursts and minimal lens flare that the Zeiss lens can produce. These are not the type of results you expect from a point and shoot lens. To say I have been floored by this lens would be an understatement.
Thanks to this lens and that large sensor, the images the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 takes are sweet. They have great color, clarity, contrast, and sharpness. By default, the black levels don’t have quite as much kick as I’d like (this can be adjusted), but no point and shoot camera that I’ve used has ever produced truly dark darks. Overall, image quality is stunning.
Build quality on the lens is impressive, as it is on the camera as a whole. The camera is made in Japan, which is viewed as a sign of quality in the photography world, as that’s where the labs are located that create the technology itself. The quality shows in the build of the Sony RX100, which is rock solid metal alloy solid and has a very sleek design aesthetic.
Another huge benefit to the camera is the ability to shoot raw in addition to JPG. The dynamic range of the raw files is incredible for a point and shoot (albeit not on par with a DSLR), making this a very capable camera for anyone who wants to do serious editing to their photos. Just look at the detail in these night photos above and below.
As far as camera modes, features, and gimmicks, there’s a bit of each here. Although intriguing, the HDR modes seem a bit gimmicky to me (although who can’t do this type of thing in post processing may love them), and there’s also a far less gimmicky self portrait feature, and a great panorama mode. As mentioned above, the range of modes (from Intelligent Auto to full manual) makes this the perfect camera for beginners to pick up as they learn photography and become experts. It’s not a camera that will quickly be outgrown.
Thanks to its lightning fast burst mode (up to 13(!!!) frames per second), the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 won’t suffer from one of the most common complaints about point and shoot cameras: lag before and between photos. It can beat most DSLRs in terms of burst rate. The pop-up flash is another great feature, and the ability to angle this flash up to bounce it off the ceiling (to diffuse the light) is awesome.
External buttons are sparse on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100, which definitely takes a “less is more” approach to design that might scare away DSLR users, but thanks to programmable function buttons, this is not a big deal. I love external buttons on my DSLRs, and at first this was a big concern for me, but I have gotten used to it. Having fewer buttons definitely makes the camera more approachable and less intimidating for beginners.
Video is impressive on the Sony RX100, which can shoot in 1080p HD. The video quality seems great for a point and shoot on its own, but when combined with that lens, you have class-leading video quality that will be more than adequate for most users.
For a point and shoot camera, high ISO performance is pretty impressive. I took it up to ISO 800 without noticing much loss in detail or noise, and although noise increases and clarity decreases above that, I will be using images up to ISO 3200. In fact, the image below was shot at ISO 3200, without any noise reduction applied in post processing.
Anything above ISO 3200 is pretty unusable, except for small use on the web or in a serious pinch. Still, usable ISO 3200 from a point and shoot? That’s amazing! Just check out the photos below from Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris (a dark ride) to see how well it performs at high ISOs.
The Sony RX100 is not without its faults. Namely, the price tag. However, now that the camera has been out for a few years, the price has dropped significantly, and it can now be purchased for under $400, which is a great price considering the quality of the images it produces and the size of the camera.
I would never trade in my DSLRs for this camera, but that’s because I’m very serious about photography. It certainly doesn’t perform as well as my full-frame DSLRs, but for beginners, this is an amazing option that’s well worth the money. Beginners won’t notice the minor loss of quality as compared to a DSLR, and it’s arguably worth the tradeoff in exchange for substantially improved portability. Given the quality it offers, I don’t think the price is a serious con. You get what you pay for, and the Sony RX100 offers very solid value for money.
There are some real cons, though. First, is battery life. I get around 400 photos per full battery charge, which is pretty low. Another criticism is that the highly touted f/1.8 lens isn’t a constant f/1.8. This is pretty common for point and shoot cameras, and perhaps I’m hoping for the impossible, but I wish it were a little faster at the telephoto end.
In practice, though, this hasn’t been a big deal. I shoot mostly wide in low light situations (honestly, who wants a telephoto shot of a sunset?!), and for these “real world” photos, the aperture is just fine. The RX100 III and IV both deliver constant, fast lenses, but at the expense of some zoom range. Personally, I prefer what the original Sony RX100 offers in this regard.
Overall, I highly, highly recommend the Sony RX100. This is a truly revolutionary camera. That I’m comparing its performance to my DSLRs in areas of this review should speak volumes, given that it’s a pocket-sized, point and shoot camera. To be sure, quality is not DSLR quality in most regards, but it can be very close. Close enough that I’m betting the Sony RX100 would be a suitable replacement for a DSLR for a lot of you reading this. A point and shoot that is a suitable replacement for a DSLR for many people and is pocket sized?! I honestly never thought I would see the day. It may seem like a lot of money, but given what this camera can do, it’s really not. In fact, it’s a downright bargain. The Sony RX100 will have other manufacturers playing catch-up for years, and even though its successors are now out, the Sony RX100 still remains my #1 overall point and shoot camera pick because of its robust feature set and lower price than its successors.
If you’re looking for other photography equipment recommendations or photography tips in general check out a few of my top photography blog posts:
Photography Buying Guide: Way More Than You Ever Needed to Know…
Best Books for Improving Your Photography
5 Indispensable Tips for Better Vacation Photos
Neutral Density Filter Buying Guide
Travel Tripod Buying Guide
Your Thoughts…
Do you own the Sony RX100? What do you think of it? Are you considering buying it? Share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
Hello Tom!
Thank you for taking the time to write about your experiences which in turn helps us plan our time and money better.
I’m writing this comment 1 year after your post so I’m exercising caution before buying a P/S cam before our 10/2017 Disney Japan trip. Does your review on the RX100 still hold true? Or have you travelled again since then and found a better one/updated version?
If I end up purchasing, I will make sure to use your links – least I can do to help you help us 🙂
Many thanks!
I own the RX100 MARK I and I love it. I recently made the mistake to buy the Mark III. I thought newer would be better but here’s the truth; something you’ll never read in any review on the net: The RX100 I is sharper than the III (and the IV I think)…
I’ll never give or sell my RX100 I. It’s a fabulous camera and amazing in low-light situations. I’m still using it for live music (only raw files and no more than 3200 iso).
Great review Tom!
The Sony RX100 is a beast, no doubt about it. And definitely recommended.
It can snap vibrant and colorful pictures, even in dark surroundings. And it is amateur friendly.
But I would suggest, that if people can’t find the RX100 I or II and before getting persuade to buy the newer and much expensiver RX100 III or IIII. To get a look at the Panasonic LX100, which is probably a better camera at this price range.
Either way, you definitely can’t go wrong with the RX100.
Hi Tom!
I’m in love with your photography, and it’s inspiring me to learn to shoot with something better than my iPhone. I’m looking at a point and shoot for pocketability reasons.
Do you still recommend the RX100 in the wake of the release of the Canon G9X? It also rocks full manual mode and a 1″ sensor and has some other quality of life improvements like a touchscreen and built in wi-fi. The Wirecutter is of the opinion that the RX100 processor is getting a bit long in the tooth, and the G9X is price-competitive.
Basically I have no idea what photography reviews to trust and your photos speak for themselves. I’d love your input before I drop $400 on a new camera!
Do you have any tips for family photos at Disney?
To elaborate: Im taking a family trip to DisneyWorld this fall. We have two young daughters that will be taking pictures with every character they see! I won’t be able to grab that character’s arm and set them up for the perfect photo (bright backgrounds, dark faces, shadows).
I have artistic tendencies but with a 7 & 5 year old experiencing their first time in Disney World…I can only ask so much of them. I am also VERY NEW at photography but seem to have pretty good luck finding opportune times to snap a great photo. Luck can only bring me so far…
I just purchased the Sony rx100 upon reading your article. Which settings should I focus on? What can I do to have a successful family oriented, not so extravagant, photographic experience at Disney?
Hi Tom! Pro photog here and I love this review! I have 2 d750s and a million lenses but I am considering just getting this and maybe bringing the 750 just for the fireworks. Question though- I was also looking at the Olympus TG-4. It has an aperture of 2, and can shoot in manual and in RAW as well. The benefit of that camera over this one is that it is shock and waterproof. I kind of like the idea of this knowing I wouldn’t have to worry about the camera at all. And I could use it underwater or on ski vacations. Is there anything that stands out to you as a reason this camera would be better than that one (other than the 1.8 aperture and manual mode)? TIA! Also side note- I was so against planning for our Disney vacation and your blog not only helped me realize how wrong I was about that, but also got me interested and excited to plan! This blog is literally amazing!!! Thank you so much for all the comprehensive info!
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I was wondering what your top pick is for a point and shoot for Disney…we are headed there soon and I do not want to drag my DSLR with. I want the camera to have the punch of a DSLR. I want to zoom and not lose quality. I know this is a ton to ask, but I want something to throw in a small bag and not be burdensome.
Thank you so much!
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Hi Tom,
I read your recommendation for camera bags but all seemed to be for DSLR cameras. Do you have a recommendation for the Sony RX100? Looking for something to hold an extra battery and have easy portability, while being semi weatherproof. Any ideas?
Hey Tom,
I noticed the pictures of the Disney rides inside, what settings did you use to get pictures like that? Did you use the RX100?
Tom:
Could you recommend the best custom settings for one who shoots a lot of low-light indoor pics. I assume intel auto will work fine for natural light but most point & shoot cameras that I’ve owned make blurry indoor pics.
Any thoughts regarding the new Sony RX100 III?
My thought is that it looks really cool…haven’t had a chance to test it out myself yet!