Customer Reviews

Sony RX100M2 Advanced Cybershot Digital Compact Camera (20.2MP) 3 inch LCD

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Length:: 5:48 Mins

♦ Brief ♦

I purchased the RX100 last year, which has since been my favourite compact camera to use, and so far I haven't come across a camera that betters it, that is of course until this upgrade that brings some much welcomed extras.

Here are some of the upgraded features:

☑ An improved sensor (Exmor R CMOS Sensor); it's still the same size and has the same effective mega-pixels, but is now backlit which means it's able to pick up light by a further 40%.
☑ Hot-shoe; no idea why they didn't include this on the previous version, but at least it's here now.
☑ Tilt-able screen; one of the things I was longing for on the old RX100, this is one of my favourite upgrades by far!
☑ NFC (Near-field communications); I love this extra feature, by tapping the bottom of this camera onto your phone that has NFC enabled, it will connect them both together straight away.
If you don't have PlayMemories Mobile installed, it will take you to the store to download it (for free), if you have it installed already, it will connect them both together where you can then control the camera with your phone, though the modes are limited, you're able to take stunning quality photos and instantly transfer them over to your phone when taken.
☑ Now have an extra choice of recording in 25p addition to the previous 50i & 50p.
☑ PAL & NTSC choice; in the settings you can switch from one to the other which I'm sure certain people will love.

- Zoom is still 3.6x optical zoom, this is normal for high-quality compact cameras such as this one.

☒ One thing this camera doesn't have is a touch-screen, this is debatable as a lot of people like this kind of feature, however others don't, personally I'm not a fan of touch-screen on cameras; I have a NEX 5RL and I always use the buttons to navigate, I hate using the touch-screen for some reason.

☒ Grip is minimal (best used with the wrist strap), once again this is down to preference, I like the combination of the sleek style whilst having just enough grip, but others may not like this.

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♦ Box contents & recommended items ♦

Included in the box are the following:
Camera | AC adapter | Battery | Micro USB cable | Wrist strap | Two shoulder strap adapters | Manual.

Things you NEED:
SDHC Memory Card (You can choose a different brand/memory capacity, though do remember as this is a 20MP camera, files sizes average between 3MB-5MB if your using Jpeg in fine detail, or is around 20MB if using the RAW format (RAW image has a '.ARW' file extension)).

Optional:
Camera Case (LCJ-RXA) | USB SDHC Card Reader | Spare Battery NP-BX1 | HDMI - Micro HDMI Cable.

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♦ Settings & Modes ♦

Just like the RX100, this is aimed towards people who are more advanced in photography due to it's great amount of changeability in settings, that said, like most cameras these days, regardless if it's a professional camera or for basic needs, they all seem to have automatic modes which allow people to snap shots quickly without having to worry about tweaking the settings in most situations.

The interface is pretty much identical to that of the RX100, with the addition of a few extra available settings located within the menu, for those who haven't seen it before all the settings are changed within the main menu, unlike the other cyber-shot cameras where a side menu pops up allowing you to change settings whilst being able to see what the camera is pointing at, this one has a solid menu that covers the whole screen, which is very appropriately tabbed making it easy to navigate.

Though if you wish to change a few settings quickly without going into the main menu, you can edit the 'Fn' button options (located on setting tab 2 in the main menu), this will give you the choice to select 7 out of 17 settings which will instantly be available upon pressing the 'Fn' button, choices range from image size, exposure, ISO, white balance, picture effects, HDR etc...

This function is partially transparent, so you can see where your pointing at.

To change modes, all you have to do is twist the mode dial located on top of the camera to the setting you want:

Intelligent Auto | Superior Auto | Program Auto* | Aperture Priority* | Shutter Priority* | Manual Exposure* | Memory recall** | Movie | Sweep Panorama | Scene Selection***.

* Advanced modes which allow you more customization in the settings.
** Allows you to set three different profiles, giving you quick access to your favourite settings.
*** Gives you a choice of many pre-set modes such as 'portrait', 'landscape', 'night scene' etc...

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♦ Image Quality ♦

The quality is utterly fantastic, the camera is able to focus quickly to the subject to then take very nice sharp photos.

This camera is able to deliver an amazing amount of depth of field (obviously depends on which mode or settings you use), and found it be a bit more better than the previous RX100 when it comes to focusing on subjects at a closer range.

Due to it's sensor it's able to produce great low-light shooting results even when it's being held, though for some more impressive shots at lower lighting levels, I would recommend getting a sturdy tripod and play with the shutter settings.

The flash on this camera is also very good and I found it not to be overwhelming, I like the fact they've kept the same styled flash that allows you to manually point it upwards, allowing you to bounce the flash off the ceiling.

♦ Video Quality ♦

For those who are into recording movies/video footage, then you will be VERY pleased with this camera, especially on it's highest quality which produces a very smooth looking video.

You also have the choice of the following recording modes: 'Program Auto', 'Aperture Priority', 'Shutter Priority', 'Manual Exposure', which gives you more control over your movies.

The in-built stereo microphone is also very good quality, though with the addition of the hot-shoe it allows you to add a more advanced microphone (model number 'ECM-XYST1M'), when it becomes available.

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♦ Helpful information ♦

When transferring files, if you're using the USB lead provided, make sure when it's connected you turn the camera on, otherwise it wont recognise the camera is connected.

Personally I would recommend getting a USB SDHC Card Reader, it's so much faster to navigate through files and delete the ones not needed, you can then copy and paste the desired photos onto your computer within seconds.

Pictures are located in the "DCIM" folder.

Videos can be found by going through folders; "PRIVATE" - "AVCHD" - "BDMV" - "STREAM".

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♦ Overall opinion ♦

Due to the RX100 having such a positive response from customers all over the world, I think it was a clever move by Sony to improve the camera even further by adding extra features consumers had been talking about which would improve it even further, and with the RX100M2, it has done just that!

With the extra additions of an upgraded sensor with better sensitivity, hot-shoe, tilt-able screen, WiFi & NFC features, this definitely makes the RX100M2 a worthy upgrade.

That said, I don't think it completely replaces the RX100, because it is a great camera and now it's been given a really good price reduction, however if the extra features are something that would be of a greater use (which for me it has), then I think it would be well worth either upgrading, or buying this over the RX100.

Overall I would definitely recommend this camera, it's just utterly brilliant!

[EDIT]

♦ Video ♦

I have now included a video that shows the unboxing & overview of the camera. Please note that the version I was provided by Amazon to review was the Japanese version, I had contacted them about this and they assured me the ones coming to the UK will have all the relevant English documents and adapters.

♦ Photos ♦

Located under the main picture of the product is a link stating "See all customer images", click on that to see photos I have uploaded.

I do plan on going out and getting more photos as examples when I have more spare time. :)

Since owning this camera, since the week of its launch, and reaching fairway up the Learning Curve, (IMO) I notice at least 200% improvement in the quality of images I capture, requiring bare minimum post processing, if any, to meet MY approval.
Update, 13.08.13. - Further experience with this camera convinces me that despite some very minor personal incompatibilities, this Compact and its Output is hard to flaw.

The list is endless and on almost every specification it ticks the box for a Pro choice. 3 inch LCD that can flip both ways, top sensitivity ISO 12,800, one inch 20.9 megapixel CMOS sensor, Zeiss lens with 3.6 optical zoom, digital zoom equivalent to 14 x at 20 metres, multi input USB and shoe, WiFi, built in flash, tracking focus.

And then you look at it.

It is as if a Range Rover has been shrunk to the size of a Smart car. Perfectly formed but pocket sized. Would a pro want something this small? Would an amateur such as me want all these facilities? Isn't it a bit small to be taken seriously? I thought the market was moving to interchangeable lenses?

Slowly I got what it was about.

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.

I have had this camera for about a week now and agree with what the first reviewer has written.

I have the Olympus OM-D EM-5 and assortment of lenses but wanted a camera I could literally put in my jeans pocket and get excellent results. After doing a lot of research, it looked like the RX100 was about the best out there. When I heard about the RX100 M2 I went to a Sony pre-view day and liked what I saw and pre-ordered the camera.

I have had quite a few similar sized cameras over the years but the RX100M2 is FAR superior to anything of the same size. It's amazing....and punches well above it's weight. I promise you won't be disappointed!

This camera will compete with the lower end full frame DSLR's! I have taken about 100 pictures with it in varying circumstances and it has an abundance of choices of picture modes/filters. Powerful pop up flash and many functions can be assigned.

The only slight criticism I have of it is that the screen (there is no viewfinder built in) can be difficult to see in bright light. The optional EVF is quite expensive but excellent apparently.

It has virtually every function you could want. The only one lacking was the ability to have your details written into the EXIF data. Various HDR modes.

To sum up, the pictures from this camera alongside ones from a DSLR would be hard to distinguish if you did not know what cameras they came from.

Yes, it's pricey............but you get what you pay for. The original RX100 was apparently awesome and this is an improved version.

I'm 100% satisfied and it more than does what I bought it for.