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Sony RX100 VII Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Sony RX100 VII

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    Main Features

    • 20MP - 1" BSI-CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 125 - 12800
    • 24-200 mm F2.8-4.5 Zoom Lens
    • Optical Image Stabilization
    • 3" Tilting Screen
    • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
    • 20.0 fps continuous shooting
    • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video
    • 960 fps High-Speed Video
    • Built-in Wireless
    • 302g. 102 x 58 x 43 mm
    • Replaced Sony RX100 VI
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Sony RX100 VII Overview

    First introduced in July 2019 , Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII is a 20.0MP Large Sensor Compact camera with a 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization , Tilting touch screen and 24-200 mm F2.8-4.5 lens. Sony replaced the older RX100 VI with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:
    Compare Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII vs Sony RX100 VI

    Sony RX100 VII Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Sony RX100 VII is the latest member of Sony's RX100 series of cameras. Sony's RX100 Series consists of multiple iterations of its compact cameras with 1" sensor, fast zoom lenses and advanced shooting features, becoming one of the most popular series among photography enthusiasts. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Sony RX100 Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Sony RX100 VII
    2019 20.0MP - 1" 20.0 fps 102 x 58 x 43mm 302g
    Sony RX100 VA
    Compare
    2018 20.0MP - 1" 24.0 fps 102 x 58 x 41mm 299g
    Sony RX100 VI
    Compare
    2018 20.0MP - 1" 24.0 fps 102 x 58 x 43mm 301g
    Sony RX100 V
    Compare
    2016 20.0MP - 1" 24.0 fps 102 x 58 x 41mm 299g
    Sony RX100 IV
    Compare
    2015 20.0MP - 1" 16.0 fps 102 x 58 x 41mm 298g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
    Sony RX100 VII vs RX100 VA vs RX100 VI vs RX100 V vs RX100 IV

    Sony RX100 VII has an Overall Score of 68/100 and ranked #14 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #171 out of 1220 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Sony RX100 VII Physical Specs
    Sony RX100 VII weighs 302 g (0.67 lb / 10.65 oz) and has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 43 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.69″). Considering that the average weight of Large sensor compact type cameras is 401g, Sony RX100 VII is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 43mm, it is also quite small, 12mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Large sensor compact Cameras

    Sony RX100 VII
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Large sensor compact Cameras

    Sony RX100 VII
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Sony RX100 VII with the dimensions:

    Sony RX100 VII Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Sony RX100 VII Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Sony RX100 VII, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Sony RX100 VII Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Sony RX100 VII Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Sony RX100 VII with its main competitors:

    Sony RX100 VII Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs RX100 VII Thickness vs RX100 VII
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Sony ZV-1
    Compare
    294g 8g lighter 44mm 1mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Sony RX100 VI
    Compare
    301g 1g lighter 43mm equal thickness
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Fujifilm X100V
    Compare
    478g 176g heavier 53mm 10mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Canon G7 X MIII
    Compare
    304g 2g heavier 41mm 2mm thinner
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Canon G5 X MII
    Compare
    340g 38g heavier 46mm 3mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Sony RX100 V
    Compare
    299g 3g lighter 41mm 2mm thinner
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Panasonic ZS200
    Compare
    340g 38g heavier 45mm 2mm thicker
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Panasonic LX100 II
    Compare
    392g 90g heavier 64mm 21mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Sony RX100 VII doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Sony RX100 VII Sensor and Photography Features

    Sony RX100 VII has a 20.0MP 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5472 x 3648 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. RX100 VII has a native ISO range of 125 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Sony RX100 VII is not the highest resolution 1 inch Sensor camera. Nikon 1 J5 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Sony RX100 VII vs Nikon 1 J5 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Sony RX100 VII's 1" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Sony RX100 VII Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Sony RX100 VII Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Sony RX100 VII Lens

    Sony RX100 VII features a 24-200 mm F2.8-4.5 8.3x zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to 24mm focal length on the wide end and 200mm on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

    Wide Coverage

    Large sensor compact Cameras

    RX100 VII
    Widest - Canon G1 X II
    Average
    Telezoom

    Large sensor compact Cameras

    RX100 VII
    Longest - Panasonic ZS200
    Average

    With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but only moderately fast at the tele end with max aperture of f4.50.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Large sensor compact Cameras

    RX100 VII
    Fastest - Panasonic LX10
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Large sensor compact Cameras

    RX100 VII
    Fastest - Leica Q
    Average

    RX100 VII is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Sony RX100 VII's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.



    Sony RX100 VII LCD and Viewfinder

    Sony RX100 VII has a Tilting 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    Sony RX100 VII back view and LCD

    For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Sony RX100 VII will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of RX100 VII's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.


    Sony RX100 VII Selfie Friendly LCD

    RX100 VII has a built-in Electronic viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a resolution of 2,360kdots and coverage of 100%. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later. The magnification ratio of the viewfinder is 0.59x (35mm equivalent).

    Sony RX100 VII Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Sony RX100 VII features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth and NFC) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, RX100 VII can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.Sony RX100 VII's Bluetooth connectivity feature comes handy for connecting other devices that supports it. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our RX100 VII. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

    You can connect RX100 VII to compatible devices via its HDMI port or NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger port.

    Battery

    Sony RX100 VII is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 260 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Large sensor compact type cameras is 303 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Sony RX100 VII
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Leica X Vario with its 450shots is the model with longest battery life among Large Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Sony RX100 VII vs Leica X Vario or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Sony RX100 VII Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Sony ZV-1
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 260shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Sony RX100 VI
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 240shots Yes Yes Yes
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Fujifilm X100V
    Compare
    4096 x 2160 420shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Canon G7 X MIII
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 235shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Canon G5 X MII
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 230shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Sony RX100 V
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 220shots Yes No Yes
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Panasonic ZS200
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 370shots Yes Yes No
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Camera Panasonic LX100 II
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 340shots Yes Yes No

    Sony RX100 VII Video Features

    With Sony RX100 VII, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30p,25p,24p fps and save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S formats. This means that Sony RX100 VII provides 4K (Ultra-HD) video. Except some exotic 6K and 8K video recording cameras, 4K is the new standard in consumer video world.

    RX100 VII also a high speed mode where it captures videos at 960 fps for ultra slow motion videos. RX100 VII has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. Sony RX100 VII also has a port for an external microphone so you can record high quality sound with the help of an external microphone.

    Sony RX100 VII Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Sony RX100 VII can shoot continuously at max speed of 20.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec. RX100 VII also has an electronic shutter which can shoot silently at max speed of 1/32000s. One thing to keep in mind is that electronic shutter may cause rolling shutter / jello effects, and also banding issues under artificial light on your images.

    Flash

    Unfortunately RX100 VII doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    One neat feature that we like about RX100 VII's built-in flash has is that the flash head can be tilted upwards manually using your finger, which can be used to bounce the flash light and create a more pleasing lighting on your subject. It is not a very strong flash so the ceiling/wall or the surface you use for bouncing must be relatively close to the camera.

    Focusing

    Sony RX100 VII features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations.

    Sony RX100 VII also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically. In addition to the face detect AF, RX100 VII has a more sophisticated feature called Eye Tracking AF which detects and locks focus to the selected eye of the person in the frame accurately and tracks as the subject moves. Eye tracking AF of Sony RX100 VII is a perfect feature for shooting portraits and is especially useful when fast lenses are used and the depth of field is very narrow.

    Sony RX100 VII PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Sony RX100 VII review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)
    Bluetooth Connectivity
    NFC Connectivity
    Image Stabilization
    Articulating Screen
    4K (UHD) Video
    Touch Screen
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    RAW Shooting
    Face Detection Focusing
    20.0MP - High Resolution Sensor
    12.800 Max ISO
    921k dots LCD Resolution
    1/32000s Electronic Shutter Speed
    20.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter
    Manual Focusing
    Manual Exposure
    External Microphone Port
    Timelapse Recording
    24mm Wide Angle Lens
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide
    2360kdot Viewfinder Resolution
    Good Low Light ISO - 418
    Panorama Shooting
    960 fps High Speed Video
    AE Bracketing
    Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen
    Dual-axis Electronic Level
    Remote control with a smartphone
    UHS-I Memory Card Support
    Real time Animal Eye AF
    Retractable Viewfinder
    Report a correction

    Buy Sony RX100 VII from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No External Flash Shoe
    Low Battery Life: 260 shots
    Heavy Body: 302
    No Environmental Sealing
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Sony RX100 VII Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Sony RX100 VII in 5 different photography areas.

    Sony RX100 VII for Portrait Photography

    Sony RX100 VII has a score of 49 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
    Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
    Image Stabilization
    RAW shooting capability
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Manual Focus Mode
    Manual Exposure Mode
    No External Flash Shoe

    Read the details of how we scored Sony RX100 VII for Portrait Photography

    Sony RX100 VII for Street Photography

    Sony RX100 VII has a score of 86 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Tilting LCD Screen
    Image Stabilization
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
    24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Sony RX100 VII for Street Photography

    Sony RX100 VII for Sports Photography

    Sony RX100 VII has a score of 39 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theRX100 VII.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
    Wireless Connection
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
    Image Stabilization
    200 mm Tele Lens
    RAW shooting capability
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    Environmental Sealings
    Focus Points
    Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
    No External Flash Shoe

    Read the details of how we scored Sony RX100 VII for Sports Photography

    Sony RX100 VII for Daily Photography

    Sony RX100 VII has a score of 75 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    8.3X Optical Zoom
    RAW shooting capability
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
    302g
    Body Thickness 43mm

    Read the details of how we scored Sony RX100 VII for Daily Photography

    Sony RX100 VII for Landscape Photography

    Sony RX100 VII has a score of 43 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list.
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Sony RX100 VII for Landscape Photography
    Sony RX100 VII Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Sony RX100 VII compares with other Large sensor compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Sony RX100 VII alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Sony RX100 VII

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Sony RX100 VII amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Sony ZV-1
    Sony ZV-1
    Compare
    Sony RX100 VI
    Sony RX100 VI
    Compare
    Fujifilm X100V
    Fujifilm X100V
    Compare
    Canon G7 X MIII
    Canon G7 X MIII
    Compare
    Canon G5 X MII
    Canon G5 X MII
    Compare
    Sony RX100 V
    Sony RX100 V
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS200
    Panasonic ZS200
    Compare
    Panasonic LX100 II
    Panasonic LX100 II
    Compare

    Sony RX100 VII Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Sony RX100 VII with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Sony RX100 VII's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Sony RX100 VII
    Does the Sony RX100 VII have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Sony RX100 VII have RAW support?
    Does the Sony RX100 VII have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Sony RX100 VII have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Sony RX100 VII?
    What is the Sensor Size of Sony RX100 VII?
    is the Sony RX100 VII a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Sony RX100 VII have Touch Screen?
    Does the Sony RX100 VII have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Sony RX100 VII?
    What is the Weight of Sony RX100 VII?
    What are the Dimensions of Sony RX100 VII?
    Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Sony
    Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
    Announced 2019-07-25
    Body Type Large sensor compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 24-200 mm (8.3x)
    Max Aperture F2.8-4.5
    Macro Focus Range 8cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Tilting
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 921k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Electronic
    Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots
    Viewfinder Coverage 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.59x
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Max Electronic Shutter Speed 1/32000s
    Continuous Shooting 20.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
    Max Flash Sync 1/2000s
    Flash Modes n/a
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 63
    DxO Color Depth 21.8
    DxO Dynamic Range 12.4
    DxO Low Light ISO 418
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Size 1"
    Sensor Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm
    Sensor Area 116.16mm2
    Sensor Resolution 20 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 5472 x 3648
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 125
    Min Boosted ISO 64
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
    Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160
    Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Built-In
    HDMI
    USB NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 302g
    Physical Dimensions 102 x 58 x 43mm
    Battery Life 260 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model NP-BX1
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
    Storage Slots 1


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