Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

Advantages: The matrix, which is uniquely large for a point-and-shoot camera, and a high-aperture lens make it the best point-and-shoot camera for shooting in low light conditions. Comparatively little noise at high ISOs. Also copes well with contrasting scenes. When this is not enough, there are additional features: HDR, night photography (when one good one is automatically assembled from several shaky and noisy frames).

Disadvantages: We tried too hard with compactness: a smooth thin body without a protrusion makes the grip somewhat uncertain (the feeling that it will slip out).

Comment: For my use, the biggest problem with point-and-shoot cameras is that when there is a lack of light, the frames turn out to be just awful (noise and / or motion blur). To solve the problem, you need to capture more light (more matrix and lens aperture), but then the camera becomes far from compact. I bought a Sony NEX-5 - yes, the pictures are better, but with a lens it is no longer compact. Moreover, the low aperture of the Kit lens does not allow the large matrix to open. Here, due to the high-aperture lens, we get the same parameters in the body of an ordinary soap dish. This is very encouraging.

Advantages: Excellent photosensitivity, at night shoots with the light of one street lamp from a tripod, from hands with two lamps. Looks a lot cheaper than its price. This is a plus, more on that below. The buttons are conveniently located, elastic, they themselves are not pressed. Metal body. Survived a fall from a table onto a tile. Not a scratch. He shoots normally in the machine. Most of the shots OVERCOME similarly priced DSLRs (whales).

Disadvantages: Expensive accessories. However, China will help us. Display protection + leather case (clone of the original) + 3 spare batteries + external charger cost $ 75 with delivery. It takes a long time to charge via USB, 4 hours. Weak flash, only for portrait or home shooting close. The counterlight does not always penetrate, it is sad. UPD: I mastered the flash, with some experience it is enough in 90% of cases. It's nice that you can bend it up and get soft reflected light, and not "plastic faces". I have not used external charging even once in half a year, I have enough native or charging from a computer, I still put it on charge for the night. In a very tight rhythm of filming, on vacation, the battery is enough for a day easily. At home - 2-3 weeks.

Comment: I was looking for a high-quality camera that can be used when traveling to poor countries without risking my life. For example, Fujifilm FinePix S4500 actually created it, although it costs a penny (but the thief will find out about this after he breaks your skull) and the RX100 is ideal for such tasks, IMHO, because looks no more than 200 bucks. Now I would take RX100II for the sake of Wi-Fi - getting the card out of the camera is not very convenient, it is friends with the computer through an inconvenient plug-in, as the flash drive does not open (I did not find how). Dropped the RX100II because of the flash shoe - it stands out very much. Now I would make up, tk. external flash is sometimes not enough. I consider the rotary display of the RX100II to be more of a disadvantage - the viewing angles of the RX100 are sufficient for shooting at an angle, and the construction is stronger. In general, if cheap looks are not critical for you, take the RX100II. He also has a slightly better matrix (although an inexperienced person will not notice this). UPD: due to the appearance of flash drives and their adapters with built-in Wi-Fi, the problem of the lack of Wi-Fi in the camera itself has disappeared. Now you can take photos contactlessly. The adapter will cost about +20 bucks, if from China. This is the best camera I've ever used so far! Both in terms of speed of work and quality of shooting. Sharpness is adjusted instantly, because of this, a lot of interesting shots in motion were obtained!

Advantages: 1. Compactness (everyone has different requirements for this parameter, personally, I see only Canon S100 and S110 from analogues in this parameter). 2. Excellent image quality at ISO100, 125 and 200. You can print safely up to 60 * 90. I have printed several portraits 75 * 112. ISO400 is decently worse, but 30 * 45 printing is on par. ISO800 maximum 24 * 36. 1600 is already 10 * 15. 3200+ is not printable. Absolutely all material is watched on a 55 "TV from 3.5 meters, up to ISO6400. 3. Excellent detail and DD at ISO 100, 125 and 200. (in comparison with compacts, not SF and FF cameras, of course). 4. Video 1080p50 5. And once again the size (in conjunction with the above) 6. Possibility to direct the flash to the ceiling (or other reflector) 7. Good screen. Even in very bright sun you can see everything 8. Quite good camera JPEG (but even if you are a beginner, shoot in RAW + JPEG, you can get better detail from RAW where you need it).

Disadvantages: And how without them. I do not consider them critical for myself, but it may be important for someone. 1. Weak stab. 2. The macro mode is actually operable only on the control room. In teleposition, we can assume that there is no macro mode. 3. There is no thread on the lens for filters (although if you look at the profile thread in the photo club you will see good solutions to this problem). 4. Incorrect ABB when shooting in cloudy weather (it is normally treated if there is a RAW image).Otherwise, ABB is excellent. 5. There is no possibility of choosing a video in 60p (maybe Sony will finally come to its senses and give the consumer the right to choose in which mode to shoot).

Comment: IMHO (as well as everything stated above) at the moment the best compact camera, even in spite of minor flaws.

Advantages: Compactness. Very fast AF Good continuous shooting, good HDR Bright screen can be used even in the sun. Aperture at wide angle

Disadvantages: Price, I recommend buying only on stocks. A bit narrow DD from this the sky is a little "embossed" Lack of a viewfinder (sometimes it is simply necessary, for example, at sea, on a sunny day). WB is a bit cold, RAW is just an integral element of shooting or tweak the tone in the settings if you intend to shoot JPG. Slightly slippery body can slip out (wrist strap required).

Comment: Bought for shares for 17.7 thousand rubles. - I think that's a fair price for this engineering miracle. Bought as an addition to FF for every day as a street reporter and for genre photography. Already on the first day I got a very successful shot using a glass of beer as the second lens. I didn't like the native RAW processing program I had to use FS. It is difficult to find an analog battery for a stock, but it is necessary. If the budget allows, I highly recommend it as a camera for every day. For travel light it is also suitable if there is no desire to carry a DSLR. I liked the management very much. For example, in RAW mode, you set the aperture priority, assign the ISO ring on the lens and you practically do not need to climb in the menu - 2 rings are enough. I shot a couple of video fragments for testing: good AF, slow ZOOM and the main drawback, as in all cameras, is insufficient stabilization. But in general, the quality is similar to that of average amateur camcorders. Which, in other respects, is not surprising, since SONY has been a leader in this segment for many years. Conclusion: the potential of this surprisingly small, but at the same time advanced "soap dish" will unfold if you have some experience and a basic understanding of the photography process. Many people here point out that 20 megapixels is a bit too much, but the pixel size is slightly larger than on the 1 / 1.7 matrix. Therefore, working ISO up to 800, however, I do not recommend setting more than 400, then the picture will be pleasing. At the same time, if you resize 60% of the central area, you can get an additional "increase" of 1.5, which turns 20 Mp 1 "into 12 Mp 1 / 1.7" but with an additional "zoom" of up to 150 mm. 4.8 out of 5 is my rating. There is no worthy competitor in this size and weight today.

Advantages: - Awesome video with good sound - Compactness - Tenacious battery - Fast autofocus

Disadvantages: - Not perfect shots - Ergonomic miscalculations - Unpredictable automation - Price

Comment: I waited 2 months since the release of this unit. I waited for the saturation of the greed of Russian SONY dealers and a corresponding decrease in prices. I didn't wait and still got it. So far, the impressions are mixed. I chose between him and the Ganon G1x. And as a videographer, I wanted a versatile 2-in-one. In general, in terms of video quality, the RX100 does not only the G1x, but also my Sony FX1000 camcorder! At minimum focal length and f1.8, the picture is amazing. Pleased with the abundance of manual settings for everything that is possible, as in normal DSLRs. Most of the settings are, of course, through the menu, but there are very convenient quick buttons that give access to all the necessary parameters during the shooting. I took very few photos, while I'm just practicing and getting used to the new technique. Indoors (like most cameras) incorrectly determines the white balance, but if the WB is set manually, the colors are excellent.I haven't really understood the logic of the automation yet: it can set the ISO in the room to 200 and set the shutter speed to 1/10 sec, of course, blur is obtained. Or maybe, on the contrary, raise the ISO to 6400, the shutter speed is 1/200 and the picture will not drown in noise, but will be smeared with noise reduction ... In general, it is best to use manual settings - then the result is predictable. I was a little disappointed with the operation of the flash - it makes a white spot in the middle of the frame, and at the edges - darkness ... But I am glad that the working sensitivity of 1600-3200 allows you not to use the flash! :)) In general, a controversial device for those who want to get photos, videos, compactness and quality in one bottle. But the price could be lower, at least at the level of Canon PowerShot G1X ... Added after 14 months of use. The ruble price for fotik decreased slightly, the dollar rate increased. The device works perfectly, I like the result and photos and videos. I bought a non-original battery for $ 5 on ebay, it does not differ from the original in terms of quality and operating time. Still happy with my choice!

Advantages: Stunningly compact! Fits in a pocket, can be carried in a bag and not be noticed. Matrix with a crop of 2.7 -> good detail. The quality of photos in automatic mode is consistently good; there are practically no big errors in metering and focusing. Manual shooting in RAW with subsequent processing really works wonders and allows you to troll those DSLRs who still believe that "soap boxes" cannot shoot like that in principle. Convenient control, all the "adult" parameters of the P / A / S / M modes at hand. In my opinion, it is perfect for teaching the basics of photography, if for some reason you don't want to take a DSLR. He just shoots great at night - of course, primarily with a tripod, but also with hands (look for photos). Good shots sometimes come out at ISO 3200 (color noise is cut off neatly and without residue, and luma noise is very fine-grained and unobtrusive, for amateur purposes it does not spoil the picture at all). Trash starts predictably at ISO 6400, alas. With one battery charge, it takes 350-500 shots (Sony claims 330, but this is if for each photo it takes a long time to look for an angle and aim, and if I clicked on the run - I got almost 600 in RAW). From compacts for this money - it seems that the best. There are newer models (RX100 II and RX100 M3), but they are not fundamentally different from this one, but at a much higher price.

Disadvantages: There is only one serious drawback, in my opinion. During sunset hours, the camera regularly misses the white balance, lowering the color temperature. Photos come out with a harsh cold blue tint. It is solved by manually setting the white balance on the camera or shooting in RAW with subsequent balance correction already on the computer. Although it would be better if she shot right away. Less essential: no case and neck strap (only for the arm); no optical viewfinder (but the screen is enough for the eyes); inconveniently switching focus modes (if you want to capture a bird on a tree, and not a branch against the background of some colored spot, you get tired of looking for point focus in the menu); tracking focus often breaks off a moving subject.

Comment: My first camera. At some point, I discovered that smartphone photos (HTC One M7) are fine, only until you can compare them with those made by a good camera. And when I flew on a business trip to Europe and took a bunch of well, just disgusting evening and night photos on my smartphone, I realized that something needed to be changed. I stopped at this model precisely because of its compactness and good performance at night. At first he shot in automatic mode, but quickly studied the materiel and began to experiment. What to say? The camera is great for learning the basics of photography, and in general for mixed amateur photography. DSLRs with their interchangeable lenses, filters and large matrices are more versatile, but you can't put a DSLR in your pocket or throw it in your bag "just in case." This one is easy.In principle, it is quite possible to shoot with it and "automatically" immediately in JPEG, but it is even better to set the RAW + JPEG mode - then everything that came out imperfectly can be corrected. Recommend. And take a look at the pictures.

Advantages: The device itself: - Metal - The highest quality of assembly and materials; made in Japan - * Very * compact, fits into a jeans / jacket pocket, can be carried with you all the time - Self-closing lens (which in practice is far from a trifle) - Stylish austere design, not a single extra detail - Connects to a PC as an external drive, charges via YUSB Usage: - Fast and accurate autofocus, instant shutter release, very high rate of fire: this camera never has to wait - Really convenient manual focus (ring around the lens + illuminated areas in focus + focus area enlargement) - High-quality automatic white balance - Excellent detailing images; unlike soap dishes, 100% crop is never a shame (and this is at 20MP) - 20MP leaves a lot of room for crop, if required - You can safely use ISO up to 1600, if not higher - Customizability of almost everything you can wish for - Flash on flexible stem (can be directed to the ceiling) - A lot of very high quality "digital" things: auto-HDR, panorama, autofocus tracking for the selected object, multi-frame noise reduction, recognition of registered faces, etc. - Working modes "make it beautiful" for those who believe that the camera should be controlled by only one button :-)

Disadvantages: - Lack of official guide included (and elsewhere) - Lack of built-in ND filter + minimum shutter speed of 1/2000 prevents the use of aperture 1.8 in bright light - Lack of ability to adjust the sensitivity of the ring around the lens (firmware 1.0): this does not allow, for example, it is easy to do focus pull on video - No 24p "like in a movie" video: only 50p (firmware 1.0) - A couple of times after disconnecting from charging, it was turned on only after removing / replacing the battery and nagging: - Photos, MP4 and AVCHD videos all are in different folders, between which you have to manually switch between when viewing on the camera - The delay between the start of shutdown and the start of folding the lens - The battery compartment cover and USB port seem a little weak compared to the ideal quality of everything else

Comment: When you inform your friends that you have bought a camera, the first question is often “How much does it cost?”, Then “Show me!”. And everyone, naturally, expects to see a "real camera" for that kind of money, that is, a DSLR. Seeing something so small and expressionless, they lose interest. Like, "Everything is clear, a soap dish" :-) If you need a "good photo (+ video) device for all occasions" - this is an option that can be * always * with you (as opposed to a DSLR, unless you are to her as a fashion accessory), and the quality of the pictures of which has nothing to do with iPhones and soap dishes. If possible, compare yourself with inexpensive mirror whales. Whether this model is worth the requested money is up to you.

Advantages: Compactness, high-quality photos, great video. Many useful modes. Very good lens, good focal length range. Nice interface when you figure it out.

Disadvantages: Timer is not available in HDR mode and no remote control is provided. Easily fixable in firmware, but you can't get it from Sony.

Comment: I have been shooting for more than 10 years with Canon A70, S1 IS, S3 Is, Nikon P7000 has a Sony A580 DSLR. I bought RX100 2 months ago I shot 2000 frames, tested all modes. In terms of camera functions, the camera surpasses entry-level DSLRs, loses a little in noise, the matrix is ​​smaller. The dynamic range is inferior to Sony A580 by only 1 stop. I have never shot with Auto before, now I shoot when there is no time to analyze the situation to select shooting modes. And I have never regretted it. It is not correct to compare RX100 with cameras with a larger matrix. I have been looking for a good compact camera for a long time and at the moment this is the best one. Of course I wanted a camera with a viewfinder, but this size and quality is not yet available. I considered Fuji X20, but it has a maximum working ISO of 200, while the RX100 has ISO 400. You have to learn to take pictures, otherwise all cameras will be bad.

Advantages: Really compact (in length and width - less than a smartphone), nimble, durable body, large matrix and a good lens.

Disadvantages: For a man, it's probably even very compact, but you quickly get used to it. Competitors have models that shoot better in auto mode. The zoom lens makes a little noise, especially in the dark.

Comment: It all started with the fact that a few years ago the existing Canon A610 seemed small - the processors became faster every year, from its non-replaceable optics and a small 1 / 1.7 "matrix, even taking into account the installed CHDK, you can't squeeze out much. In general, then ( somewhere in 2010) I was thinking about a junior DSLR, but, delving deeper into the topic, I realized that it is better to take something at least $ 1000-1500, because cheaper models did not provide superiority over older "soap boxes" such as Canon Powershot G11. And there were still doubts (since I am not a professional photographer and I am not going to delve into the topic): do I need such dimensions, a set of two or three lenses for different occasions, and, accordingly, the costs and carrying of additional kilograms In the spring of this year, my A610 "polished" - the result of diagnostics: it is necessary to replace the lens with a sensor worth 5000 rubles. , my lips They offer more than other options, but to my surprise, I did not find worthy ones in the $ 300 segment, and for $ 400 too. Why did I take the 1st version of the RX100: the 3rd immediately disappeared, despite the best lens (important), the processor (important, but not very important), the optical viewfinder (again, it's not very important to me, if there is a high-quality screen) and video ( it doesn't matter to me) - with a twofold difference in price, a significant improvement in only one parameter out of three that is significant for me, not a very high investment efficiency. The 2nd version of the RX100 also did not live in the mind for long: Wi-Fi (not important), BSI (interesting, but insignificantly improves the picture), shoe (no matter, there is no external puff and I do not plan), I thought about the rotary screen for a long time - in the end again I thought that a rotary screen, especially in one plane, is not an option for which I am ready to overpay $ 200. So, acting by contradiction, I came to the result - RX100 of the first version is in my hands.))))

Advantages: Soap Tsar, which removes the quality of junior DSLRs. Just excellent quality of portraits and macro, all "smart" auto modes in the camera are sharpened for such shooting - an excellent result will be obtained without a single setting. You have access to "like adults" games with depth of field, you can make a very beautiful blur of the background. Excellent video quality. The FA is simply stuffed with various functions and settings, including panoramas. With all this, the device is really tiny, much smaller than many hobbyists. Micro-USB charging, USB disk mode.A very clear and informative help menu right on the camera screen will be very useful for people far from serious photography.

Disadvantages: The camera may seem too small, especially if you will be shooting in manual mode and actively wielding the ring on the lens. Because of the very compact optics, you can't play with depth of field at distances beyond 10-20 meters, plus the picture as a whole becomes not as perfectly clear as in portraits. I also did not like the lack of a normal semi-automatic focus - the only way to hover over the machine, and then click another object without knocking out the focus is to hang it on some button to disable autofocus, since it is at least configurable. The protective shutters on the lens open too easily, and no cover is provided in the kit, as a result it will be a little scary to just carry the device in a bag like a soap dish "always at hand", you never know the glass will be scratched by the keys.

Comment: There is not much to compare directly with. LX7? younger Nikons? Samsung? Not funny. FA is not perfect, but very, very worthy. You will get a strongly different quality only in a much larger size and for a lot more money. A good option if you are not yet mentally prepared for a large and thick DSLR or to calm your internal vibrations on the topic "pay a little more and buy much better"