Some cameras mark their time and are declined, over the years, in several models. This was the situation of Canon GX, Panasonic FX and LX ... and Sony RX100.

Sony which had bought Minolta company in 2005 has great ambitions in photography. In addition to being the leader in the production of photographic sensors, in 2013 Sony created a new market with two full-format hybrid cameras , the Sony A7 and A7R with respectively 24 and 36 million pixels sensors.
A year before in 2012 Sony had shaken the world of expert compacts with the Sony RX100 with a sensor about 4 times larger than most competing sensors: the sensor 1". This sensor was coupled with a zoom 28-100 mm all in a very small format camera.
The success, due to the image quality, was immediate.

The commercial strategy of Sony is different from those of other manufacturers that when they release a new camera, remove its predecessor, Sony uses a more original method of continuing to sell simultaneously several generations of cameras. Sony regularly introduces new versions of its cameras but continues to offer pre-sale models at a lower price, which allows the creation over time of a wide range of cameras from the oldest to the newest, the latter having the most complete features.

Main features of RX100's models

2012 Sony RX100

The Sony RX100, released in 2012, is a compact digital camera that has a 20.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, an optical zoom Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 3.5x 10.4-37.1mm f/1.8- 4.9 (equivalent to 28-100mm in 24x36mm format), a 7.5cm (3 ") 1222.800-dot LCD display, an SD card slot, an optical viewfinder, ISO 125-6400 sensitivity, a burst mode of 10 frames/s, a BIONZ image processor, an AF by contrast detection, a full HD video mode 50p, the power supply by an NP-BX1 battery allows to take 330 shots. The Hasselblad Stellar is a luxury clone of Sony RX100 with a fine woods grip and unique finishes and details. It measures 3.59 x 10.16 x 5.81 centimeters for 240 grams.

Hasselblad Stellar

2013 Sony RX100 mark II		The Sony RX100 mark II, released in 2013, differs from the previous model by: a new 20.1 Mpx Exmor R ™ CMOS sensor BSI sensor, extended sensitivity to 160-25 600 ISO, a 7.5 cm LCD swivel rear screen ( 3 ") of 1,228,800 points, an extension support, to have an optional electronic viewfinder, Wi-Fi and NFC. For the rest it keeps the optical zoom Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 3.5x 10.4-37.1mm f/1.8-4.9 (equivalent to 28-100mm in 24x36mm format), the card slot SD, optical viewfinder, burst mode 10 frames/s, BIONZ image processor, contrast detection AF, full HD video mode 50p, battery NP-BX1. The Hasselblad Stellar II is a luxury clone of Sony RX100 mark II.
2014 Sony RX100 mark III		The Sony RX100 mark III, released in 2014, differs from the previous model by: a 1.44 million point retractable OLED viewfinder, Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * optical zoom lens 3x 8.8-25.7mm f/1.8-2.8 (equivalent to 24-70mm in 24x36mm format) with 10 elements in 9 groups (9 AA aspherical elements), a new BIONZ ™ X image processor, a burst mode that drops to 5 frames/s and loses the expansion support. For the rest it keeps the BSI CMOS Exmor R ™ 1 " sensor of 20.1 Mpx, the sensitivity of 160-25 600 ISO, the back LCD adjustable screen of 7.5 cm (3") of 1 228 800 points , Wi-Fi and NFC, SD card slot, optical viewfinder, contrast detection AF, Full HD video mode 50p, NP-BX1 battery.
2015 Sony RX100 mark IV		The Sony RX100 mark IV, released in 2015, differs from the previous model by: a 20.1MP sensor with 1M "Exmor R ™ CMOS chip with DRAM chip, a burst mode that goes back to 16 frames/s, a new retractable OLED viewfinder of 2.35 million points, full HD video modes 50p and 4K/UHD 30p. For the rest it keeps the same optical zoom Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 3x 8.8-25.7 mm f/1.8-2.8 (equivalent to 24-70 mm in format 24x36 mm), the processor of BIONZ ™ X images, sensitivity of 160-25 600 ISO, LCD adjustable rear screen of 7.5 cm (3 ") of 1,228,800 points, Wi-Fi and NFC, SD card slot, 'AF by contrast detection, NP-BX1 battery, a battery life that drops to 280 shots.
2016 Sony RX100 mark V		The Sony RX100 mark V, released in 2016, differs from the previous model by: An Hybrid AF mode (contrast and phase detection), burst mode at 24 fps. For the rest it keeps the same optical zoom Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 3x 8.8-25.7 mm f/1.8-2.8 (equivalent to 24-70 mm in 24x36 mm format), the sensor BSI CMOS 20.1-megapixel Exmor R ™ with DRAM chip, retractable OLED viewfinder with 2.35 million dots, full HD 50p and 4K/UHD 30p video modes, BIONZ ™ X image processor, sensitivity of 160-25 600 ISO, the adjustable rear LCD screen of 7.5 cm (3 ") of 1,228,800 points, the Wi-Fi and NFC, the SD card slot, the battery NP-BX1 with autonomy that fall to 220 shots.. In 2018, Sony updated the Sony RX100 mark V to Sony RX100 mark VA which inherits the BionZ X processor from the RX100VI with higher image quality, better burst autonomy which goes from 150 to 233 views. better subject tracking in autofocus, higher viewfinder refresh rate and faster autofocus, new Sony menu interface, Zone AF mode, variable-size spot metering, three auto white balance options and the ability to add ratings to images.
2018 Sony RX100 mark VI		The Sony RX100 mark VI, released in 2018, differs from the previous model by: a new Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 8x optical zoom 9-72mm f/2.8-4.5 (equivalent to 24-200mm in 24x36mm format), a 7.5cm LCD swivel and touch-sensitive rear screen (3 ") of 921 600 points. For the rest, it keeps the Hybrid AF mode (contrast and phase detection), the burst mode at 24 frames/s, the BSI CMOS sensor Exmor R ™ 1 "of 20.1 Mpx with DRAM chip, the retractable OLED viewfinder of 2.35 million points, Full HD 50p and 4K/UHD 30p video modes, a BIONZ ™ X image processor, ISO 160-25 600 sensitivity, Wi-Fi and NFC, SD card slot, the NP-BX1 battery with a range of 240 shots.
2018 Sony RX100 mark VII		The Sony RX100 mark VII, released in 2019, differs from the previous model by: a new 20.1-megapixel Exmor R ™ CMOS BSI sensor with DRAM chip, a new Hybrid AF (contrast and phase detection) inherited from the A9 with 357 points, real-time detection and tracking of human eyes or animals, the same burst mode at 24 frames/s without blackout or 30, 60 or 90 frames/s for 7 frames, a video mode 4K/UHD 30p stabilized. For the rest, it keeps the same Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 8x optical zoom 9-72mm f/2.8-4.5 (equivalent to 24-200mm in 24x36mm format), a 7.5cm LCD swivel and touch-sensitive rear screen (3 ") of 921 600 points, a retractable OLED viewfinder of 2.35 million points, a BIONZ ™ X image processor, ISO 160-25 600 sensitivity, Wi-Fi and NFC, SD card slot, a NP-BX1 battery.

In 2020, Sony is launching the Sony ZV-1, a camera derived from the RX100 and dedicated to vloggers. This camera is built around the 20MP 1" sensor and the chassis of the RX100. It has no viewfinder but a fully articulating touchscreen display which allows to have direct feedback when filming (up to 4K UHD), the video recording button is now on the top. It also has a Bionz-X processor, an accessories shoe, a high-performance microphone topped with a small windshield, delivered with the camera, to reduce the effect of the wind, a 3.5 mm jack, a micro-USB 2.0 output and a micro-HDMI output. The ZV-1 has the Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T * 3x 8.8-25.7mm f / 1.8-2.8 optical zoom lens (equivalent to 24-70mm in 24x36mm format). Detection of eyes and faces in video, adjustable, focus transition, automatic exposure and backlighting, digital stabilization, skin tone management, have been improved. The ZV-1 also has a background defocus function lets you quickly switch between two levels of background blur at the push of a button, even while recording and another button to focus directly on an object, even if the vlogger's face is still in the field. The ZV-1 is available at the price of $800 (August 2020).

2020 Sony ZV-1

In 2022, Sony is launching the Sony ZV-1F, a simplified camera for vloggers. This camera is built around the 1" 20.1 megapixel sensor, a fixed T* 7.6 mm f/2 lens (equivalent to a 20 mm in 24x36 mm format) and the design and ergonomics of the ZV-1. It has no viewfinder but a fully articulating touchscreen display which allows to have direct feedback when filming (up to 4K UHD), a USB-C socket. It is possible to transform the camera into an HD webcam simply by connecting it via USB to a computer. Control of the camera is also possible via Bluetooth via Sony's Imaging Edge application (available for iOS and Android). Unlike the ZV-1, the new camera recognizes the faces and eyes of humans and animals well, but it does not track subjects in real time. It has a flash shoe which does not have the contacts of the ZV-1 accessory shoe, the stabilization is now digital and therefore reframes the image, the camera is not tropicalized, has neither headphone jack nor files raw, nor livestreaming, except with a Sony Xperia smartphone. These limitations do not prevent the ZV-1F from having good image quality in photos and videos and from being an effective camera for vloggers. The ZV-1F is available at €499 (October 2022).

2020 Sony ZV-1F

At the end of May 2023, Sony announced the ZV-1 Mark II, an update to the original ZV-1 aimed at vloggers and creators. The ZV-1 Mark II is built around a 20MP Type 1 (13.2 x 8.8mm) Exmor RS Stacked CMOS sensor and an 18–50mm equivalent F1.8–4.0 lens. It is capable of capturing 4K video at up to 30fps and 1080p video up to 120fps. When it comes to photos the ZV-1 Mark II can shoot continuously up to 24fps in both JPEG and Raw, with a buffer capacity up to 800 JPEGs.. it is available for $ 1000 or as a kit with the GP-VPT2BT Bluetooth handle for $ 1160 (June 2023)

2023 Sony ZV-1 mark II

The price of each new model camera is higher than its launch at the price of the camera that it replaces but Sony practices an aggressive price policy and does not hesitate to lower the price of these old models. In August 2019, prices range from $350 (RX100 new) to $1300 (RX100 mark VII new).

pierre j.

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Created August 18^th 2019, Updated June 17^th 2023.
© Pierre J.