Sony RX100 V Sony - Review 🏆

The Sony RX100 V is a premium compact camera that packs advanced features into a pocket-sized body. Released in late 2016, it's the fifth iteration in Sony's popular RX100 series. These cameras are aimed at enthusiasts seeking pro-level performance without the bulk of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

The RX100 V stands out with its incredibly fast autofocus, continuous shooting up to 24 fps, and 4K video recording. It retains the sleek, minimalist design of earlier RX100 models but adds a pop-up electronic viewfinder for eye-level shooting. Image quality is excellent thanks to the 1-inch sensor and bright Zeiss zoom lens. While not cheap, the RX100 V offers unmatched performance and versatility in the compact camera space. It's a great choice for travel, street, and everyday photography when you want to go light without compromising on features.

Build Quality and Design

The Sony RX100 V has a robust yet compact metal body that feels solid and durable in the hand. Despite its small size, it doesn't feel flimsy or cheap.

The body is made of aluminum alloy, giving it a premium feel. The dimensions are 4 x 2.4 x 1.6 inches and it weighs just 10.5 ounces. So it's very pocketable and easy to carry around.

The grip is decent but could be slightly deeper. There is enough space for your thumb on the back and your fingers to wrap around the front. Overall the ergonomics are good for a camera this size.

There are physical controls including a mode dial, exposure compensation dial, and customizable control ring around the lens. These direct controls allow you to quickly change settings.

The buttons and dials are well-placed and have a nice tactile feel when pressed. The camera is comfortable to hold and operate even for those with larger hands.

Overall the build quality is excellent with a sleek, sturdy metal design that looks and feels like a premium product. The compact size makes it highly portable without sacrificing usability and image quality.

In addition, the Sony Vlog Camera ZV-1 II is designed specifically for vloggers and content creators. It features a side-opening vari-angle LCD screen, which makes it easy to frame shots from any angle. The camera is compact and lightweight, making it perfect for on-the-go recording. It also comes with advanced autofocus and impressive image stabilization, ensuring smooth and sharp videos. The built-in directional microphone with a noise-reducing wind screen makes it ideal for capturing clear audio.

Image Sensor

The Sony RX100 V features a 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 20.1 megapixels. This is a stacked sensor design that allows for faster readout speeds and improved autofocus performance compared to traditional sensors.

The 1-inch sensor size strikes a nice balance between overall image quality and camera portability. It's larger than the sensors found in most point and shoot cameras, allowing for good light gathering capability and improved dynamic range. At the same time, it's smaller than APS-C or full frame sensors found in larger interchangeable lens cameras. This allows the RX100 V to maintain a very compact form factor.

The Exmor RS designation indicates the sensor uses a stacked architecture. This places front-end processing components like the A/D converter directly on the sensor die rather than on separate chips. This allows data to be read off the sensor much faster, enabling features like continuous shooting at up to 24 fps with AF/AE tracking on the RX100 V.

With an effective resolution of 20.1 megapixels, the RX100 V provides sufficient resolution for detailed prints while keeping individual pixels large enough for good high ISO noise performance. This makes the sensor well-suited for both landscapes/nature photography as well as low light conditions.

Overall, the 1-inch Exmor RS sensor provides an optimal combination of image quality, speed, and low light performance in a compact camera design. It's a major factor in the excellent photo and video capabilities of the RX100 V.

The Sony Alpha 7CII is another impressive camera from Sony, featuring an advanced full-frame sensor in a compact body. It offers superb resolution and dynamic range, making it an excellent choice for professional photographers and videographers. The Alpha 7CII also boasts improved autofocus capabilities and enhanced video recording features. Its compact design does not compromise performance, making it convenient for on-the-go shooting without sacrificing image quality.

Lens

The RX100 V features a high-quality Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens, offering both a wide angle and short telephoto range in a compact form factor. With a bright maximum aperture range of f/1.8-2.8, it can capture images with beautifully defocused backgrounds and performs well in low light conditions.

The 24-70mm zoom range is extremely versatile for everything from landscapes to portraits. At the wide 24mm end, you get a nice wide field of view which is useful for landscapes, architecture, and group shots. When zoomed in to 70mm, the lens has enough reach for flattering portraits and close-up shots. Overall, this zoom range covers a variety of common shooting scenarios.

Zeiss lenses are renowned for excellent sharpness and high image quality. The advanced optical design and Multi Coating on the lens elements reduce flare and ghosting, resulting in clear, high-contrast images. The fast f/1.8 aperture at the wide end allows for shallow depth of field and subject isolation. With a versatile zoom range, wide max aperture, and superb Zeiss optics, the RX100 V's lens delivers outstanding image quality in a truly pocketable form factor.

Autofocus

The RX100 V features a hybrid autofocus system, combining 315 phase-detection AF points with contrast-detection. This results in lightning-fast autofocus speeds, allowing you to capture fleeting moments with ease.

Phase detection AF is ideal for tracking moving subjects, as it can predict subject movement and lock focus accordingly. The 315 AF points cover around 65% of the sensor area, giving you great flexibility in shot composition while maintaining fast AF.

In terms of speed, Sony claims autofocus acquisition takes only 0.05 seconds. This rapid response allows you to capture split-second moments confidently. Shooting bursts of images is also handled adeptly, with AF tracking at up to 24 fps.

Accuracy is also excellent thanks to the hybrid AF system. The combination of phase and contrast detection AF provides precise focus in varied shooting conditions. This accuracy paired with the speed gives you the capability to get tack-sharp images of fast action and motion.

Overall, the RX100 V's autofocus capabilities allow you to capture subjects and moments with incredible speed and precision. The phase detection AF points and hybrid system give you an impressive combination of fast tracking, rapid response, and excellent accuracy.

Video Capabilities

The Sony RX100 V is a very capable video camera for its size. It can shoot 4K video at up to 30 frames per second with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, resulting in very sharp and detailed footage.

For slow motion, the RX100 V has a High Frame Rate mode that allows shooting HD video at up to 960 frames per second. This allows you to create incredible slow motion effects during playback. At 960fps, you can stretch a second of real time into nearly 40 seconds of slo-mo video.

Image stabilization while shooting video is also very impressive thanks to the RX100 V's Optical SteadyShot system. This uses an advanced 5-axis stabilization that works very well for reducing camera shake while walking and moving around with the camera. The effect is very fluid and smooth video footage. This is a great benefit for shooting handheld video without needing a gimbal.

Overall, the video capabilities of the RX100 V are highly advanced given its compact size. The ability to shoot high quality 4K and super slow motion HD, along with great image stabilization, make it a fantastic choice as a pocketable video camera.

Connectivity and Features

The Sony RX100 V offers robust connectivity options to make sharing photos and videos on the go easy. It has built-in WiFi and NFC (Near Field Communication) for quick connection to smartphones and tablets. Simply tap your NFC-enabled device to the camera to initiate pairing. Bluetooth is also included for a constant low-power connection between camera and smartphone.

For physically connecting the RX100 V to other devices, it has both a micro HDMI port as well as a micro USB port. The micro HDMI allows you to output video and images directly to an HDTV. The micro USB port serves multiple functions - you can use it to charge the battery in-camera, transfer data to a computer, or live stream video over USB.

Some other notable features of the RX100 V include a pop-up electronic viewfinder with 2.35 million dots resolution. This allows you to hold the camera up to your eye for more stable handheld shooting. There is also a 3.0 inch tilting LCD screen with touch functionality. You can tap the screen to set focus points or trigger the shutter. Overall, the RX100 V is very well equipped for connectivity and has a strong feature set.

Battery Life

The Sony RX100 V is powered by an NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery pack. This battery is rated for around 250 shots per charge based on CIPA standards. Real-world battery life can vary quite a bit depending on usage.

Using the camera for still photos, you can expect to get 200-300 shots per charge. If you're shooting a lot of video, battery life will be closer to 1-1.5 hours of recording time. The battery drains faster when using features like continuous shooting or the electronic viewfinder.

One downside is that the battery is charged internally via USB, so you can't carry spares. The battery is also on the small side capacity-wise compared to some other advanced compacts. Overall the battery life is decent but not outstanding. Carrying an extra battery pack or USB charger can be helpful if you plan to shoot all day or record long videos.

Pros and Cons

The Sony RX100 V offers a number of advantages that make it a great choice for enthusiasts looking for a premium compact camera. Here's a quick summary of the main pros and cons:

Pros

• Excellent image quality from the 1-inch 20MP sensor
• Fast 24fps continuous shooting with autofocus and autoexposure
• Impressive autofocus with 315 phase-detection points
• Useful 4K video recording and super slow-motion modes
• Bright 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens with good range
• Tilting LCD screen for flexible shooting angles
• Built-in electronic viewfinder
• Useful features like focus peaking and zebra pattern

Cons

• Relatively short zoom range compared to some rivals
• No touchscreen capabilities
• Battery life could be better
• High price tag

Overall, the RX100 V delivers outstanding performance and image quality in a truly pocketable body. The fast burst shooting, great autofocus, useful video features, and excellent lens make it one of the top choices in its class. The price is high, but justified for serious photographers looking for a versatile do-it-all compact camera.

Conclusion

The Sony RX100 V is an impressive premium compact camera that packs advanced features into a pocketable body. With its 20.1MP 1-inch sensor, 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss lens, and superior autofocus, it delivers excellent image quality and fast performance for everything from landscapes to action shots.

The addition of 4K video, 960fps slow motion, and a flip-up LCD screen make the RX100 V a versatile tool for both photos and video. Connectivity options like WiFi and NFC allow you to easily transfer and share content on the go.

For its size, the RX100 V offers capabilities that exceed many larger cameras. The menu system does have a learning curve, so it may not be the most beginner-friendly option. However, for enthusiasts and professionals looking for a capable compact companion, the RX100 V is hard to beat.

Overall, if you're searching for a pocketable yet powerful camera with speedy operation and great image quality, the Sony RX100 V is easy to recommend. It packs far more features than you'd expect into such a compact body, making it a top choice for travel and everyday carry.