Sony DSC-RX100 VII Digital Camera

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII seamlessly combines speed, reach, and portability, making it a compact camera that offers extensive versatility for both still photography and video recording. As the seventh iteration in the renowned RX100 series, this model is the second to incorporate the remarkable 24-200mm-equivalent ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens, which provides a comprehensive range from wide-angle to telephoto, enhancing shooting flexibility across diverse conditions. The camera features a newly designed 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS CMOS sensor paired with an upgraded BIONZ X image processor, facilitating rapid shooting capabilities, high sensitivity with an ISO range up to 12800, and the ability to record in UHD 4K. The innovative sensor design prioritizes speed, enabling blackout-free continuous shooting at rates of up to 20 fps, which simplifies subject tracking. Additionally, the Single Burst Shooting mode allows for extreme shooting speeds of 90 fps, ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects. The sensor also boasts a 357-point hybrid autofocus system, ensuring swift and precise focus performance for both still images and video. The stacked design and front-end LSI further enhance operational speed and image quality. Video capabilities are equally impressive, featuring S-Log3 and HLG gamma settings, along with High Frame Rate shooting that allows recording at up to 960 fps for stunning slow-motion effects.

Maintaining the traditional compact design of the RX100 series, the VII model remains easily portable despite its enhanced zoom lens. It is equipped with a pop-up 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, providing a sophisticated option for eye-level shooting. Alternatively, users can utilize the 3.0" 921.6k-dot LCD touchscreen, which features a tilting mechanism to facilitate shooting from both elevated and low perspectives. The touchscreen functionality allows for Touch Focus and Touch Shutter operations. Additionally, the camera is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities, enabling seamless image sharing with connected mobile devices and the ability to incorporate location data from a smartphone.

20.1MP 1" Exmor RS CMOS Sensor & BIONZ X Image Processor

The updated 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS CMOS sensor in the RX100 VII employs a sophisticated stacked architecture that incorporates an integrated DRAM chip, resulting in exceptional image quality across the ISO range of 100-12800, coupled with remarkably swift performance. This innovative sensor design combines pixel area, a high-speed signal processing circuit, and memory to enhance data throughput, facilitating features such as Single Burst Shooting, an Anti-Distortion shutter, UHD 4K video recording, and additional capabilities. Furthermore, this 1" sensor is equipped with 357 phase-detection autofocus points and 425 contrast detection zones, ensuring rapid and accurate focusing.

Complementing this sensor is an upgraded BIONZ X image processor along with a front-end LSI, which significantly enhances the speed and efficiency of the entire imaging system. This advancement allows for blackout-free continuous shooting at rates of up to 20 frames per second, with continuous autofocus and exposure calculations occurring at a remarkable frequency of 60 times per second. The Single Burst Shooting feature enables the capture of up to seven frames in either raw or JPEG format at speeds of 90 fps, 60 fps, or 30 fps, making it ideal for seizing fleeting moments. Additionally, the combination of the front-end LSI and improved sensor performance contributes to superior image quality, particularly at elevated sensitivities, by minimizing noise and enhancing perceived resolution and color fidelity.

ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm Lens

The integrated ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens offers an extensive equivalent focal length range of 24-200mm, making it ideal for a variety of photographic scenarios. This updated zoom range, which spans from wide-angle to mid-telephoto, enhances shooting flexibility while maintaining a compact design, thanks to its f/2.8-4.5 maximum aperture. The optical configuration features eight aspherical elements, including four advanced aspherical (AA) elements, significantly minimizing aberrations and distortions to ensure exceptional sharpness and precise image rendering. Furthermore, a ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating has been applied to reduce reflections and glare, thereby enhancing contrast and color accuracy.

This flexible reach is further enhanced by the inclusion of four-stop effective Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, which effectively reduces the impact of camera shake, making it suitable for handheld shooting in low-light environments. Additionally, the Clear Image Zoom function can be utilized to extend the effective zoom range with minimal degradation in image quality.

Fast Hybrid AF System with 315 Phase-Detection Points

The RX100 VII features an advanced on-sensor phase-detection autofocus system that significantly enhances the speed of autofocus for both photographs and videos. This camera employs a hybrid approach, incorporating 357 phase-detection points that span approximately 68% of the frame, in conjunction with a 425-area contrast-detection system. This combination allows for rapid and precise focusing across various scenarios. The RX100 VII can swiftly lock onto subjects in a mere 0.02 seconds and is equipped with Real-time Tracking, which utilizes artificial intelligence for tracking moving subjects. Additionally, Real-time Eye AF, effective for both humans and animals, guarantees exceptional sharpness when capturing portraits.

UHD 4K Video Recording

The RX100 VII is capable of recording UHD 4K video at frame rates of 30 and 24 fps, delivering films with remarkable clarity. By employing a full pixel readout without binning, the camera captures approximately 1.7 times the data required for 4K output. This oversampling technique enhances clarity while minimizing the effects of moiré and jagged edges. For improved recording sharpness, the Active SteadyShot mode can be utilized, which emphasizes smoothness and mitigates the appearance of camera shake. During video recording, Fast Hybrid AF ensures precise and rapid tracking through the use of phase-detection AF points. Additionally, the camera supports Sony's advanced XAVC S format, allowing for high bit rates of up to 100 Mb/s. Beyond high-resolution internal recording, the uncompressed HDMI output facilitates the connection of an optional external recorder for pristine 4K recording with 4:2:2 sampling.

The RX100 VII offers a comprehensive array of customizable color and gamma settings, enabling users to modify parameters such as gamma, black level, knee, and color level, among others. Additionally, it incorporates the S-Log2 Gamma Curve, which is utilized in high-end Sony Cinema cameras, allowing for an impressive increase of up to 1300% in dynamic range compared to traditional REC709, thereby enhancing post-production versatility. The camera also supports HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) and the BT.2020 color space, facilitating recording within an extensive color gamut. Furthermore, alongside S-Log2, S-Log3 is available, providing an effective 14-stop dynamic range that enhances grading control, particularly in the shadow to mid-tone areas of the image.

The RX100 VII boasts a significant advantage in speed, particularly in its video capabilities, where users can take advantage of advanced High Frame Rate shooting and super slow motion features. In Full HD mode, videographers can utilize a standard 120 fps setting, which allows for exceptional slow-motion effects when edited. Furthermore, the camera includes a specialized HFR mode that elevates the frame rate to an impressive 960 fps.

Additionally, a Photo Capture function is integrated into the camera, enabling users to swiftly extract an 8.29MP still image from their UHD 4K videos. This feature is also applicable in Full HD, allowing for the extraction of a 2MP still image. Moreover, the camera supports NTSC/PAL switching, making it suitable for global use, and it can record vertical videos with embedded metadata to facilitate playback correction for vertical orientation.

Body Design and Wireless Connectivity

The rear 3.0" 921.6k-dot tilting LCD is designed with a touchscreen interface, facilitating intuitive operation that includes features such as Touch Focus, Touch Pad AF, and Touch Shutter. Its tilting capability, ranging from 180° upward to 90° downward, is ideal for capturing images from various angles, whether high, low, or front-facing.

The one-push pop-up XGA OLED electronic viewfinder provides a resolution of 2.36 million dots and a magnification of 0.59x, ensuring sharp and clear viewing. Enhanced by a ZEISS T* coating, the EVF guarantees clarity across the entire screen and features a convenient one-push access for seamless switching between the LCD and EVF.

An integrated 3.5mm external microphone port enhances audio recording quality. Surrounding the lens is a manual control ring that boasts a smooth, click-less design, allowing for quick and silent adjustments of settings. This ring can be customized to control various features, including zoom and aperture, at different values.

A custom button, along with other programmable buttons, can be assigned to any of over 40 functions, providing quick access to frequently used settings. The pop-up flash is designed to illuminate subjects in low-light conditions.

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows for immediate transfer of images to mobile devices, facilitating direct sharing on social media, via email, or to cloud storage services. The camera also supports NFC (Near Field Communication), enabling a one-touch connection with compatible mobile devices without the need for complex setup. Once connected, the mobile device can display a live view image and, through Smart Remote Control, remotely operate the camera's shutter release. Additionally, a QR code can be used for smartphone connectivity.

Other Camera Features

• Anti-Distortion electronic shutter can enable completely silent shooting as well as the ability to work at shutter speeds as fast as 1/32000 second. This shutter also keeps rolling shutter effects to an absolute minimum and enables photographers to work in bright light with wider apertures.
  
  
• The Fn menu can be accessed and edited immediately after continuous shooting, while data writing is still in progress.
  
  
• File name setting allows users to change the first three characters of the file name from DSC to three characters of their choice. Additionally, images shot in continuous mode can also be displayed, reviewed, and deleted in the groups they were shot for faster operation.
  
  
• Step Zoom lets you quickly change between five common focal lengths (24, 28, 35, 50, or 70mm) by rotating the control ring.
  
  
• Users can set a minimum shutter speed when using ISO AUTO to help minimize shutter blur.
  
  
• Creative Style settings: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn Leaves, Black & White, Sepia, and Style Box.
  
  
• Picture Effect modes: Toy Camera, Pop Color, Posterization, Retro Photo, Soft High-Key, Partial Color, High Contrast Mono, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolor, and Illustration.
  
  
• Picture Profile parameters: Black Level, Gamma (Movie, Still, Cine1-2, ITU709, ITU709 [800%], S-Log2, S-Log3, HLG, HLG1, HLG2, HLG3), Black Gamma, Knee, Color Mode, Saturation, Color Depth, Color Phase, Detail, Copy and Reset.