29.7.2018

SEE UPDATE 1 ON LENS SHARPNESS AT BOTTOMSEE UPDATE 2 AFTER 600 PHOTOSHOOT AT BOTTOMSEE UPDATE 3 RE MAGFILTER FILTER ADAPTER AT ENDI have an M3. But I’ve just bought an M6 after struggling with ‘shall I or shan’t I’ and am posting some initial observations as they may help others in a similar situation.I am blown away with the image quality of the M3. Photos taken at the top of Snowdon are simply amazing and leave my reasonably upmarket Canon SLR standing. Those photos rekindled my interest in photography and led to thinking about the M6.The M6 is like an M3 on steroids! Some press criticism says that the M6 isn’t really the next iteration of the RX100 line but is entirely different.That’s rubbish in my opinion. If I’m going to spend that much on any camera, let alone point and shoot, I certainly don’t want the odd tweak...I want the good things retained but other things rethought and new added. That’s what the M6 does. (I can’t comment on what changes had already appeared in the M4 or M5).The M6 looks pretty much like the M3. Chunky, well made. Still the same small buttons etc but that’s the nature of the camera. Initial observations on differences are:1. The viewfinder. It’s much brighter and sharper. The rear element springs out automatically now, which is great. So this is a huge improvement to someone that usually uses only viewfinder. One irritation is that the little focus lever seems to move very time the VF pops up. Easy to readjust but irritating. I might try slipping some thin cellophane under the lever to make it a bit stiffer. It is now much easier to see more information through the viewfinder than was ever possible with the M3.2. The rear screen is much better quality and has a bit more movement. The main thing is the much lauded touchscreen...well it is and isn’t. You can move the focus point and trigger the shutter from the screen but you can’t adjust menu items ....they’re all via the menu button and dial adjusted as before. One advantage though is in playback mode as the image can get moved by finger...enlarge by front lever as before (no pinching) but I find that being able to move the image by touch to be very helpful.3. The adjusting ring on the lens has a smoother operation than my M34. There’s no ND filter...there is on the M3. I don’t know why it’s gone, maybe due to having to fit more lens into the same space. Doesn’t affect me really, but some it will. On my M3 I have a filter adapter stuck to the end of the lens....i use it for a polarising filter at times and it could take an ND too...but the dimensions at the end of the M6 lens are slightly smaller than the M3 and so there’s less flat surface around the perimeter to hold a filter adapter. So until someone produces an adapter specifically sized for the M6, it’s probably not realistic to use an externally mounted ND or polarising filter.5. The lens is of course different, zooming to a (35mm) 200mm equivalent. That is quite different to the M3 although it comes at the cost of not quite so fast a lens ...which could be an issue I guess in low light conditions. One thing to be aware of though is lens movement at the long end. Of course that is always an issue hand holding a long lens but (and maybe it’s because I’m not as young as I used to be) I am very aware of the need to keep the camera still when zoomed out. The camera is stabilised but given the slower lens speed, it does mean that there will be more pressure on getting a high enough shutter speed without resorting to increased ISO. I can only guess that because the distance between the back of the camera and the front of the zoomed lens on such a small camera is a lot less than on say a similar SLR zoom, that this emphasises any shake. It’s not a problem, just be aware.6. I’m most interested in landscape photography so would have preferred a slightly wider angle lens but it’s pretty much the same as the M3 slightly less in fact)7. the menus are different to the M3 and the ‘manual’ (that’s a laugh) is rubbish so it’s going to take some time and experimenting to understand everything (until Gary Friedman produces what no doubt will be another excellent book on the subject). The basic settings are still as you’d expect but there are new ones squirrelled away that are not easy to understand as the abbreviations aren’t always clear!8. The two ‘auto’ settings on the mode knob of the M3 have been replaced with just one (although in the menu you can choose between the old iauto and iauto with knobs on). Seems sensible to me.9. Lens quality. I have yet to take serious comparable images and look for sweet spot etc but my initial photos seem to show that the lens performs pretty consistently and well across the apertures and zooms...maybe apart from the widest and smallest apertures. I’ll update this review once I have those results.10. M3 or M6? I must admit that the cost of the M6 is pretty challenging....especially if it’s thought of as a point and shoot. But it isn’t that really...I have a Canon EOS80D and it does most that that camera does and in some cases more. It’s also very solidly engineered. I suppose in part it comes down to the lens as the performance of that at the range outside the M3 could go a long way to explain the high cost. I’ve sold some SLR kit to partly pay for the M6 and I was in two minds about selling my M3 once I’d got used to the M6. But now I tend to think that there’s a place for both the M6 and M3 because for landscape type work particularly during the darker winter months, I can see the M3 having the edge...especially as I already have it! So I think I’ll probably keep both cameras because I see them as being complementary rather than competitors/iterations.Am I glad I bought the M6? Yes...and for a travel camera I think it is better equipped all round than the M3. But the M3 is such a good camera that certainly on winter walks, that’s probably the one I will take!Hope these initial thoughts help. I’ll add lens information once I have checked it out.UPDATE 31/7/18I've taken and visually analysed comparative landscape photos at every available aperture at full wide angle (24mm equivalent), mid zoom (80mm equivalent) and full zoom (200mm equivalent) trying to identify 'sweet spot'. Overall I'm impressed as the lens performs consistently well at most apertures except when stopped down. For me, there is a noticeable drop off in RELATIVE sharpness from f8 onwards. By that i mean that the images from f8 onwards are perfectly acceptable when viewed at normal image size but that the wider apertures produce noticeably sharper images when strongly magnified. This loss of relative sharpness is no different to the M3 (or in fact all the Canon lenses I've checked).However its a different story at the other end of the aperture scale. Overall (for landscape work where I want the sharpest image at the centre and the sides), on the full wide angle 24mm I thought the sweet spot was f4 (pretty good at f3.5 and f4.5 too). Surprisingly, the image quality was almost as good at f2.8 but dropped at f3.2 before picking up again at f3.5. The irony of this for me is that the wide angle sweet spot on my M3 at wide angle is f4.5. So it seems that the lens on the M6 which is apparently slower than the lens on the M3 in fact appears to have its wide angle sweet spot at a wider aperture! So it seems that low light performance on the M6 for landscape work anyway is actually as good if not slightly better than the M3. And in fact, bearing in mind that the f2.8 fully open image is almost as good as the sweet spot image, in many situations you could say that the low light performance is quite a lot better than the M3 despite the fact that the M3 is a 1.8 lens!At 80mm zoom, the sweet spot seems to be at 5.0. At 200mm for me I'd say its at f5.6...which is the same as the M3.So in summary of that, I wouldn't generally shoot at f8 upwards, the sharpest picture overall for the M6 lens seeming to be f4, f5 and f5.6 for those zooms. And I would certainly shoot wide angle at f2.8 which produces better wide open images than the M3. This also indicates that in real practical terms (as opposed to specification) contrary to expectation, the M6 has a lens that is effectively faster than the M3 when you want maximum sharpness across the image.I should say that I'm just an amateur enthusiast and have been looking at images only from a landscape perspective. It may be different for other styles or movies.UPDATE AFTER 600 SHOT PHOTOSHOOTI've just returned from a wet, overcast and mainly gloomy week in the Lake District where I've taken a lot of photos, which I've also processed on the computer.1. Viewfinder. The issue I mention in item 1 above is a real design problem. I've read that many people have this problem. I've tried everything to wedge the dioptre level but the rear section of the viewfinder flicks out with such force that paper, tape, baize, plastic wedges etc simply don't work. Much against my better judgement, I've use black Sugru blobs on both sides of the level after setting it for my vision. This has held perfectly and I can only hope that it will come off again if I need to change focus! It really should not be necessary and is a failure of design in an otherwise brilliant camera.2. Gary Friedman. Just to say that his book is out now. It's brilliant...it's what the manual should have been like but isn't. I strongly recommend getting it...either off Amazon or direct from his web site. No commission for me sadly, just spreading the word!3. Sharpness. The camera and photos are brilliant...I'm totally sold! As I said above, I do mainly landscape and counterintuitively, I took nearly all photos based on the sweet spot rather than shutting down in the usual way. The results are outstandingly sharp.4. Sweet spot. I tried a few shots at f8 but the resulting photos show that f4 etc (depending upon lens setting) is far superior. I also took some photos using the Auto setting and looking at the pictures afterwards, I see the camera shot at f2.8 on wide angle...which as I noted above , is almost as good as f4. So those Auto photos have come out well too.5. Exposure. I set the camera to shoot in Raw and largest jpeg. I also set it for 3 bracketed shots at 0, -0.7 and +0.7. I wasn't sure how standard exposure would perform. What I found generally was that the best photos were either with the 0 exposure or -0.7. I think only one out of the 600 was better at +0.7. After final selections of the jpeg photos, I'd say that about 80% were best at standard exposure but 20% or so better at -0.7.6. In my view the issue made in reviews about this lens being slower than the lenses in the rest of the RX100 series is not an issue practically at all...certainly taking landscape. The best photos are at f4 or f2.8 and that is faster than the sweet spot on many other cameras.7. Panorama. I took a number of panorama shots. It was difficult getting this to work to start with...error messages telling me that I was moving either too fast or too slow. I must have tried 20+ times before I got the first image. Now it seems fine. I find it far best to set the panorama to be 'downward' then take the pictures holding the camera portrait. This seems to get more reliable results and the end image is far better in terms of proportion etc. The end image creates a pretty large file though so may need reducing in size for sharing. The benefit of using the panorama is that this effectively allows a wider angle of view than the lens alone and inherent foreground curvature is generally not bad. Quite impressive results overall.8. JPEG quality. Comparing the camera jpeg images with the RAW is interesting. It seems to me that generally the jpeg from the camera is very good. Only about 5 or 6 images were better processing the RAW and in general, that was to do with light levels rather than anything else. I think for the time being I will continue taking bracketed shots in jpeg and RAW...thats 6 shots per photo. It does take a bit of time for the camera to write these to the card but it wasn't a problem for me.9. Battery. I was a bit concerned about battery life especially as I was taking additional bracketing shots but it worked out OK in practice. A fresh battery in the camera and one spare was fine per day.10. Zoom shake. Given that the M6 is a very portable camera, its easy to be fooled into thinking that the fully zoomed lens is just as portable! I found that it is just as important, if not more so with a small camera, to keep the camera rock steady as it isn't very forgiving.11. Conclusion. Yes its expensive but in my view, the image quality is potentially way better than I'd expect with even a mid quality lens on a DSLR so if you factor the price of a good quality zoom lens into the equation, maybe the price isn't as ridiculous as it first seems. It's a beautifully made camera with necessarily small buttons which may not suit everyone but the image quality plus the range of functions available in the camera make this as far as I'm concerned and outstanding camera. The criticism of the slightly slower lens is a non point for me as in practical terms it isn't slower, probably faster. I was nervous buying this camera that I'd be disappointed but having had it and used it for some time, my reservations have disappeared. I will keep my M3 for the time being as backup but if I lost the M6 would I buy it again? Yes without doubt. It's my Canon DSLR that needs to worry now! So if you have the money but feel a bit uncomfortable, I'd say 'go for it'. If you have an M3 already, still go for it.12. Finally...software. At the time of writing (27/8/18), the M6 RAW isn't widely supported. I use a stand alone Lightroom 6.14 and having spent hours with online support, can tell you that they've told me that software cannot and will not be able to support this camera Raw. In my view this is cynical manipulation by business trying to get us to pay monthly rather than one off. So it looks like bye bye LR unless you either pay monthly (the latest RAW update covers this camera) or are prepared to convert files to TIFF. Capture One doesn't yet support the M6 although hopefully it will soon. Photodirector 9 Ultra doesn't list the camera yet but it does open and work with the M6 Raw...so thats what I'm using pro tem, and it seems that Affinity does as well (although I don't know anything about that). And of course Sony's Imaging Edge software does as well....I've tried that and it too is fine.I hope this has all been helpful, albeit long!PS....I’ve bought the Magfilter Filter Adapter 58mm. It fits perfectly. I gather the 55mm and 52mm adapters use the same size ring fixed to the camera (but check first!) so assuming that is correct, then those adapters should fit too. It’s very unobtrusive...when the filter isn’t being used there’s just this thin black ring fixed to the camera...it doesn’t get in the way of anything. And even with the filter holder in place, the lens opens and closes without any part of the lens fouling. Seems a good option for reusing existing polarising and ND filters.

13.9.2018

I already owned the Mk2 version of this camera but the Mk6 is a significant upgrade and addresses the only real issues I had with the earlier one, namely the focus and visibility for framing a shot in strong sunlight. The latter has been addressed by adding a viewfinder, which pops up at the press of a button when you want to use it and folds back neatly into the body of the camera when you don’t. The viewfinder means that this camera no longer has a hot-shoe; I can live without that for this valuable addition.The former has been sorted out by having a touchscreen, so you can pick your subject out of a crowded scene and achieve perfect focus, whether that be the nose of a cat, a plane in the sky,a flower, you get the picture; well, you will, rather than an out of focus subject and a failed shot. But you still have the menu option of ‘DMF’, that is, auto focus with manual adjustment for when you can spend a little more time fine tuning – I would recommend turning that on, so you have the option available.All of this in a camera that you can fit inside a pocket.Sorry, I forgot to mention the quality of the pictures and movies is superb, it is a phenomenal camera.In terms of ‘extras’, this comes with a battery, which is the same one as the earlier models, which means you have a spare if upgrading. The usual wrist strap and a small manual – the main detail is in the camera menu or downloadable. I am less keen on the fact that the battery can only be charged in situ, although a plug is supplied for the USB, so you can charge via a normal socket. I bought a separate generic charger some time ago to overcome this issue; a spare battery is a good idea. You will need to buy a memory card and, if you are going to shoot in 4K, go for a large one as it will eat up space.Note that recording in 4K is limited to 5 minutes continuously and the camera then needs to take a rest. That isn’t a problem for me as I tend to film shorter durations but bear this in mind if you want to shoot, say a wedding as it may mean you capture the arrival of the guests but miss the vows unless you downgrade your footage.The list of features is seemingly endless, as it was with the Mk2 to be fair, and on almost every specification it ticks the box. The menu is vast with so many different options that you will be spoilt for choice. If you are new to the camera, then the most important things to consider are choosing DMF, setting the dioptre and deciding whether to shoot in4K or not. I have chosen to do so, for now anyway. The rest can follow.The highest specification camera in existence is of no use if it isn't with you when you want the shot. If the herds of Wildebeest have swept majestically across the plain or Krakatau has finished erupting by the time you have swapped lenses, then all the kit in the World will not give you much to remember. This is about having everything you need for most shots - still or movie - in a unit that you can simply slip into a pocket. This is a camera that is small enough that you can keep it with you rather than 'plan' to take photographs. It enables spontaneity.There are so many layers of software that it is difficult to imagine that I will scratch the surface in terms of its potential, but the key thing is that it covers most options. I won't scratch the lens, it retracts into the body when switched off so no losing time with lens caps. As to the hardware specifications these are Pro level in a body size that most would assume to be a 'snaps' camera.A quite understated item in terms of its capabilities and which through its sheer portability enables moments to be captured on the fly. This camera brings the art back to what still or moving photography is all about- being able to capture life as it happens. After years of lugging bags and lenses and often having little to show for 'planned photography' this camera is putting a spring in my step in more ways than one.

29.3.2019

“The best camera is the one you have with you” is a cliche that is often used to convince that the camera in your phone is all you need. Well, I think the best camera is a great camera that you don’t mind taking with you everywhere. I own a Nikon D800e. Super fast professional grade lenses. I own the latest iPhone XS, indeed the best phone camera I have ever used. But it can not compare to a camera that focuses fast, has good low light performance and zooms into everything from kids football to flying swans or whatever comes your way. Of course a D800 is better. But you don’t carry it with you most of the time, it’s just too heavy, so you weigh the occasion against the bulk of the gear and leave it home.What you end up with is an iPhone. Yes it’s the best iPhone ever, but it is not a comparison to a photographic tool. Take a photo at low light and from ISO 200 upwards you see smudged detail because the software “beautifies” the photos and you cannot control it. It’s a Facebook / Instagram / tweet tool. Take this camera. Incidentally it costs as much as the latest iPhone. But it takes photos that are closer to my D800 than any of my previous dslrs. It’s that good. Focus is faster, shooting speed is insane.. I had to change to medium speed as 24 photos per second are not needed for me, so “only 10” pics/second is my sports mode now. I take it everywhere with me without hesitation. It weighs nothing, is compacter than a phone, and has everything I need to take any shot that could come my way. Yes, because of the zoom this lens is not as fast as the previous Rx100, but still I have usable results at ISO4000, even with noise reduction turned off! And actually, if you want a 1.8-2.8 lens, you can just buy a second RX100 III for less than an low cost dslr lens. Less cost and less weight. But I don’t see the need for me, the built in flash is great and I found a way to use it for indirect flash by simply holding it upwards with my finger. I keep thinking to myself “wow this is the best camera I ever owned”. Because it takes great quality photos, and has the speed and accuracy and handling to actually get the shot done. It’s ready to shoot in less than 2 seconds, and is silent as a whisper. Nobody seeing this in your hands will feel alerted or awkward, it looks so harmless but it takes sharper, closer, faster, better looking photos than most dslrs. Yes, it costs as much as a medium priced dslr. But you pay for the incredible technology that allows you to take this pocket rocket with you anywhere without regret , just in case there is a nice photo opportunity, and you will enjoy it. The only thing to remember: you need to buy an external battery charger and 2-4 extra batteries. There are good offers for £20 for 2 batteries. Just check the energy storage capacity it should be 1400mah or more just like the standard Sony batteries that sell at 4 times the price. I bought this and it works perfectly:DuraPro 4Pcs 1600mAh NP-BX1 NP... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074J9QFVQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_shareFew more accessory tips: don’t go crazy on cases, the leather cases are not practical as you can’t access the battery to swap it. Don’t buy Lowepro Santiago 10 or 20 either, it won’t fit although advertised for RX100. I bought the large amazon basics pocket camera case, it is great for storing in your man bag or rucksack.AmazonBasics Case for... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DUGZEWK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_shareAlso, it is very good to handle with this strap:Lemmikki Soft Neoprene Washable... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06X9DVR2C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_shareI didn’t like the rubber grip that you can add, it spoils the looks and I preferred the neck strap for secure handling.Any way, I’m not going all Ken Rockwell on you here, just wanted to say it’s a great camera and go get one if you want the best pocket camera.

14.9.2018

I own the original RX100 so was pleased to try this Mk6 version. Below are my early impressions of the RX100 Mk6 and I will build on this review as my experience of the camera develops.Strengths of the RX100 Mk6- Pin sharp Zeiss Zoom Lens (9 - 72mm (24-200mm equiv.) f/2.8~4.5) - a welcome development over the much shorter zoom capability of previous models. Unlike some competitors which boast long-range zooms quality at their furthest reaches is poor, however, even at maximum zoom the RX100 Mk6 delivers excellent results.- A proven 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor from the Mk5 is used.- The overall image quality is very good,very sharp in most situations with good colour rendering and lots of electronic filter options/effects.- 4K UHD video capability produces really good results with exceptionally good slow motion facility but see below.- Despite the new longer lens low light performance is still pretty good.- Fast 24fps burst mode is available.- The tilting screen with touch capability is sharp and offers decent visibility in sunshine, the screen is of most use in focusing/shutter operation.- Easy pop-up EVF which offers good quality and is easily retractable, plus, it copes with different aspect ratios well.- Multipoint autofocus is very fast and capable.- NFC, Bluetooth and WiFi on board.- Complex but logical menu system with personalised menu option/presets available.- The on board flash is capable considering its size and can be adjusted to bounce.- Depth of field is quite good and allows for a convincing blurred background in many types of shots.- Overall, the camera feels crisp and rapid in operation.Areas for development- Battery life is adequate but just that, the battery type is the same as the Mk1 but powers more tech. So far I’ve got around 250 shots per charge.- 4K video is limited to 5 mins plus, the camera can get quite warm and require cooling down time.- Still uses a single SD card slot by now I would have thought a UHD slot or dual slots would be incorporated.- Very expensive in its class, you could argue, ultimately it’s still a point and shoot at the price of a decent DSLR.- Macro is competent but not outstanding.- Autofocus can hunt a bit if you zoom during 4K video shooting.- Although it hasn’t bothered me so far, the ND filter from the Mk5 has been removed.- The touch screen functionality is a bit limited.- Anti-shake appears to be only the mechanical system carried forward from earlier models.- There's still no battery charger included, charging is still in camera via USB lead although an AC adaptor is supplied.- No mic or headphone jack.- The Sony stick on camera body grip is still an extra. Also, because the LCD screen is different to other models, Sony has yet to make a screen protector available for the Mk6.Other remarksArguably you pay a price in F-Stop performance for the extended reach of the lens on this new model, (f/2.8~4.5 rather than f/1.8~2.8 on the Mk5) but in terms of versatility, I think it’s a price worth paying especially for subjects like wildlife etc but only you will know if that applies to your photographic needs.Overall, if you can afford it, this is a high-quality compact camera which delivers very good results, but despite being the 6th iteration of the RX100 model it still has some idiosyncrasies. Sony has done a good job of putting a zoom lens into the RX100 with a barely perceptible increase in size whilst retaining the premium quality feel and output.I have mused over the 5 star rating, if I could, I’d have given it 4.5 stars, but on balance, it is closer to 5 than 4 when you consider the quality of results obtainable from such a small camera.

16.3.2015

Well Engineered (but very expensive) SONY DSC-RX100M3 Digital Camera, as always for a Sony Product. I'm a beginner & previously, all my life have only every purchased 'cheaper' point & shoot' automatic cameras so I'm still trying to get my head around all the tech features & jargon for this camera which I have owned for 3 weeks now (early days).Great tilt & turn LCD Screen. (Hold it high - you look up at it, over the crowds heads etc., - or hold it low - you look down onto your lap at it!) Great Quality Pictures - but I'm not to happy at the moment about skin colour under certain artificial light conditions when the auto shoot features are engaged - it doesn't seem to cope too well with this- only a matter of time before I'm sure I crack the problem with finding the correct lighting mode in the Menu System-speaking of which this is quite complex! Whether or not it needs a TOUCH SCREEN LCD I couldn't say - may mean accessing the Menus might be easier/quicker). There is no way of turning the screen COMPLETELY off - it can be switch off to a blank screen BUT there are still various indicators on it still working which means it's up to something - maybe a firmware update to solve this one by SONY?Wish the 'how to set up various customised memories' on the camera help was explained a bit better for us 'newbies'. Disapointed that when recording video that it stops automatically after 29 minutes or so - could do with an auto start up again if it's a file limit size because I though it was taking my first movie only to discover it wasn't recorded after all after the first shoot of approx 29mins (& even that it's self can be disjointed! - You have to watch the timer on the LCD and when that dissapears you have to restart - losing valuable seconds or minutes if you miss the fact that it has stopped!). The audio recording of this camera is quite frankly rubbish! Sorry to have to say that but it's true - a big disapointment in this department, stero or not - still rubbish. Love the slow smooth zoom in and out of the camera when shooting videos - no sea-sick feeling when viewing. Great videos but you'll need a top of the rang to use the Highest Definition capture - lesser memory cards cannot cope/record! Note! This camera doesn't come with a memory card - so more expense. Obviously not very much zoom-in but presume that's in order to capture better quality pics & videos? Love the dial at the front which I have worked out how to use to allow more light in to the camera without using the flash. Used my Samsung Android Mobile, as a remote controller (not compatible, I understand, on iPhones) to connect wirelessly onto the camera - basic modes Zoom in/Out for both Pics & Video (but not together because you have to switch it on to one or the other on the camera first). Took a little while to understand how to connect using the camera Menu System - wasn't quite what the paper manual stated. Also downloaded a Firmware update (& used a USB hardwire to instal onto the camera). No problems there - just takes a while to re-write everything.So, having said all this, I would still buy this superior camera (even with it's few flaws - probably me!) especially for taking photos.

11.1.2018

I was given a DSC RX100 III for Christmas, and so far my experiences are very positive. My previous camera was a HX50 compact zoom camera, and the RX100 III is a massive leap forwards.First impressions and things I like so far:1) Pop-up electronic view finder is extremely usable and I find that it helps me with framing and composition greatly. The EVF is bright and sharp, and has good enough diopter adjustment to allow me to use it without my glasses - really excellent.. I love it for this feature alone. It really is a feat of engineering to cram a high quality pop-up EVF into such a compact chassis2) Fast lens at wide apertures and big (ish)sensor with wide ISO range make it much more usable in low-light conditions where you can't use flash3) Advanced drive modes, aperture and exposure priority modes really allow you to start to experiment with creative effects in different shooting scenarios. The creative shooting modes are a lot of fun - I had a lot of fun with the colour filter mode that allows you to have red objects in colour and the rest in B&W - great shooting letter boxes and phone boxes!3) Rear screen pivots up and is capable of rotating 180 degrees to allow selfies. I'm not generally a selfie-taker, but it allows you to frame them correctly if you need to and would also be good for vloggers in video mode4) Overall image quality is very strong for a compact camera - images appear sharp and crisp with good detail and exposure is generally very good across a range of natural and artificial lighting situations in the auto modes including artificial lighting and overcast days5) The camera makes reliable choices for focus and there seem to be very few shots where the the scene analysis has put focus where I didn't expect it to.6) Powerful built-in flash - it didn't look like much, but is surprisingly powerful and can be flipped up for bounce flash. Just as well because there isn't a hot shoe any more...7) Startup is quite quick from pressing power to ready to shoot - much better than my old HX508) A lot of flexibility and control - I bought this camera because I wanted to start to experiment with expanding my photographic techniques beyond the use of auto modes and this camera has a lot of DSLR-type configurability and flexibility. (Possibly too much for me to get to grips with quickly - there is a lot to work with!)9) Good stabilisation on video modes - very usable, without 'jelly roll' type artefactsAreas that could be better1) Closing the EVF shuts off the camera, and this can't be defeated. This should be a configurable setting2) No external mic input. This is a shame as this would be a very useful video camera for vloggers but being limited to the internal stereo mike is quite limiting3) slightly longer zoom range would be useful for candid portraits4) Fast lens is stopped down quickly as you zoom5) Needs a thumb grip on the right of the camera, especially if you have big handsOverall, I'm very pleased and impressed and look forwards to years of great photos from this camera!

29.12.2014

I bought a Mark2 for my daughter for Christmas as she has hankered after one since a holiday last spring when the girl with one of those took the best pictures of all the group of 8 girls, some with far more expensive cameras. When the Mark 2 arrived I played with it and loved it but really felt the lack of a viewer when taking photos outdoors. Luckily my husband heard my worries and surprised me with the Mark 3. Having had the two of them side by side for a few days, I can compare. I had a few problems with the viewfinder as I wear reading glasses so my focal length was off, or so I thought. I felt a little silly when I discovered the focus tog to move along.I have been carrying a big bridge camera arround for years when I go to shows, it needed to be big to get the wide angle. I can fit very nearly as much into the frame on this little beauty. It weighs almost nothing so can live in my handbag all the time. Be aware the pukka case for this camera is £99. There are cheaper lookalike cases arround at about a quarter of that or less, but they don't fit as well (a gap at the top so the whole case is a bit floppy). It is ready to shoot almost as soon as you turn it on, a good thing when a woodpecker arrives in the garden. It takes regular SD cards so makes life simple, though the manual refers to sticks as well but I haven't found where you would insert one. It looks like extra batteries are cheap enough. I have always preferred cameras which take AA batteries as you can buy them anywhere on the planet but the battery which it comes with has a long life and because I can carry charged spares, problem solved. Most of my photography is indoors of textiles. I need to get a shot which includes something up to about nine foot wide but sometimes can only stand close to it. I am happy to say I can get it all in shot. I also take many closeups. The macrofocus is good even when the lens is nearly touching the subject. Not only can I see the individual threads, but also the fibres of those threads. I have a big Samsung smart phone and the Play memories ap is great for getting photos over to it on wifi. I am not so happy with it on the Windows 8 ap to my pc. It now opens the ap whenever I load from any card reader etc so things are not necessarily stored where I want/need them to be. Also the editing software is very basic. Very very basic. I shall uninstall once I get my head round doing that on Windows 8 (three lots of new technology in a couple of weeks is not a good thing). I need to play with the camera more but for the main functions of what I need, it is perfect. I had stopped carrying my big camera arround because of the weight so I am back in the land of photography. And by the way, my daughter is very very happy with her Mark 2. The rose might not be the best photo in the world but it was the first taken with the camera on Christmas Day at about 3.15pm when the light was fading. I am impressed with this as a first shot.

4.9.2019

I had an RX100 Mk1 - this was superb, but the allure of an EVF, an articulating screen and f/2.8 available at all zoom settings (and f/1.8 at 24mm) meant it was time to upgrade. I still got a good price for the RX100 - these cameras seem to hold their value quite well, and found an RX100 MK3 with cash back from Sony - so the cost to upgrade was reasonable.This review is written after over 1 year if use with the MK3... it still impresses.All the things which were good about the RX100 Mk1 are the same but it is a big upgrade in some areas too. For example, manual focusing with the EVF...Using the EVF not only means you can hold the camera more steadily in general, but if you need to manual focus it is so much easier now.

11.8.2014

Great Camera that lacks little, in a format that can fit a pocket (but I would put it ina full case at this price) in reality. OLED EVF with dioptre adjustment to focus in on without glasses and a good strong image with info overlay (selectable). Great layout, 3 memories for user defined set-ups (video or still modes), great lens for low light, fast picture to picture, sound off for silent picture taking, articulating 3" LCD screen, ND filter, downloadable apps, WiFi, NFC to smart phone or computer, USB connect & charge, the list goes on and on, this is a real compact box of tricks.I was looking for a compact to give me a good alternative to my Canon DSLR and lucky for me this came out a few weeks before I started looking.

21.12.2014

Let's make no mistake, if you are looking for a small, easily pocketable, take everywhere camera, that does just about everything, and does it really well, then the Sony RX100 is the one to go for. No other manufacturer comes close. The image quality is truly superb.The RX100 are built solidly, easy to use, and can be as simple or complex as you wish. Stick it on full auto and it will produce magnificent images. Start using some of its extra facilities, like the ND filter, zebra, and focus peaking and you can take images that will stand up to scrutiny in a show.The new viewfinder works very well, seems tiny but there is no shimmering,

15.7.2017

Sony DSC RX100 M3 compact cameraI have recently obtained a M3 Sony RX100 camera to replace a Canon S120 camera which I had for a few years. The Sony seemed to be considerably more advanced and has been hailed by some reviewers as the almost perfect advanced compact camera. In my opinion, however, it could be developed considerably further. My main gripes about the M3 are firstly that its viewing screen is not adequate to properly view the high quality images and secondly that the relatively short zoom range of the lens can feel very limiting. No doubt the camera has a fine lens to provide ultra sharp images and that is desirable if one is prepared to do quite a lot of adjustments off-camera.

1.12.2014

I wanted a camera which I could use when visiting European cities. It had to have many of the features of a DSLR yet small enough to slip in the pocket when wandering around shops or museums It also had to be light so that it did not dominate the permitted hand luggage on the plane. Over the past few years I have downsized from a Canon DSLR to an Olympus OMD E-M5 and now to the Sony DSC RX100M3. I have the viewfinder I needed plus a 20 Mpixel sensor and all the features of the latest DSLRs. The 24-70 mm lens is adequate for most of my needs and I have been very impressed with the quality of the photographs I have taken so far.

18.9.2019

Summary: if you are looking a camera that is both portable and capable of stunning 4K video, this is it.A bit of context - I usually shoot photos on a Google Pixel 2 XL for daily use. I picked up the RX100 VII mainly for its video capabilities. Here is why the Sony is likely to outperform modern smartphones in terms of video:1. Variable focal length of 24-200mm: the Zeiss lens is impressive, spanning from wide angle at f2.8 to telephoto at f4.5.2. XAVC S 4K Codec - the RX100 can record using the XAVC S Codec at 100mbps in 24p, 25p, or 30p at 4K. The result is often stunningly sharp.3. SLOG-2 and HLG profiles - if you are into cinematography and colour grading, there is a wide selection of picture profiles to choose from.4.

15.3.2019

Just to give you some background: I am an enthusiast photographer and have owned many brands and types of camera over the years. Moved over to Sony with the A7r a few years ago and more recently the A7r3. I have always carried a high quality compact camera whenever possible also (although the latest smartphones such as my iPhone may soon make this a redundant policy I suspect!). Have used and still own the 1st gen RX100 and very good it was too. Eventually purchased the RX100V and was blown away. Used for about 1 year and had NO intention of buying this longer zoom RX100VI...until I tried it and read reviews. I no longer use the MkV version and the MkVI has become my overall camera.

14.9.2014

My wife and I travel a fair bit and always carry a camera. Most travel involves hill walking or some activity and lugging around a DSLR camera (in my case a Lumix GH2 with 14-140mm lens) gets a bit wearing after a while. I had been looking for a small camera that would give me virtually all the features and quality output of the Lumix; but with the criteria that it had to have a viewfinder/eyepiece – which most small cameras don’t have. My son, who is a Digital Camera magazine reader, suggested I look at the RX100M3.My local Sony Shop (in Aberdeen) did not have the camera in stock so it was going to have to be a blind purchase; and based on the reviews being good.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Mark III - Reviews

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