Sony RX100 Series Comparison

Sony high end compact cameras, the RX100 series has been a great success in history.

Should you go for the latest Mark V version? Oris the still available Mark III is good enough?

Specification Sony RX100 I
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Sony RX100 II
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Sony RX100 III Sony RX100 IV Sony RX100 V
Announcement Date 06/06/2012 06/27/2013 05/28/2014 06/10/2015 10/06/2016
Sensor Type CMOS BSI CMOS BSI CMOS Stacked CMOS Stacked CMOS
Sensor Resolution 20.2 MP 20.2 MP 20.1 MP 20.1 MP 20.1 MP
Sensor Size 13.2 x 8.8mm (1″) 13.2 x 8.8mm (1″) 13.2 x 8.8mm (1″) 13.2 x 8.8mm (1″) 13.2 x 8.8mm (1″)
Native ISO Range 125-6400 160-12,800 125-12,800 125-12,800 125-12,800
Image Processor Bionz Bionz Bionz X Bionz X Bionz X
Phase Detection Autofocus No No No No Yes
Phase Detection Autofocus Points N/A N/A N/A N/A 315 AF Points
Lens Focal Length 10.4-37.1mm 10.4-37.1mm 8.8-25.7mm 8.8-25.7mm 8.8-25.7mm
Focal Length in 35mm Equiv 28-100mm 28-100mm 24-70mm 24-70mm 24-70mm
Lens Aperture f/1.8-f/4.9 f/1.8-f/4.9 f/1.8-f/2.8 f/1.8-f/2.8 f/1.8-f/2.8
Integrated ND Filter No No Yes Yes Yes
Maximum Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/2000 sec 1/32000 sec 1/32000 sec
Startup Time 2.8 sec 2.8 sec 2.0 sec 2.0 sec 2.0 sec
Anti Distortion Shutter No No No Yes Yes
Auto ISO Min Shutter Speed No No No Yes Yes
EVF N/A Optional 1.44 Million Dot EVF 2.36 Million Dot EVF 2.36 Million Dot EVF
Flash Hotshoe No Yes No No No
Built-in Flash Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Continuous Shooting Speed 10 fps 10 fps 10 fps 16 fps 24 fps
Buffer Size 13 JPEG / 13 RAW 13 JPEG / 13 RAW 48 JPEG / 26 RAW 48 JPEG / 26 RAW 150 JPEG + RAW
LCD Screen 3.0″ Fixed 3.0″ Tilting, +90°/-40° 3.0″ Tilting, +180°/-45° 3.0″ Tilting, +180°/-45° 3.0″ Tilting, +180°/-45°
Video Recording 1080p, up to 50 fps 1080p, up to 60 fps 1080p, up to 60 fps 4K, up to 30 fps 4K, up to 30 fps
S-Log2/S-Gamut No No No No Yes
Slow Motion Video N/A N/A Yes, Up to 120 fps Yes, Up to 960 fps Yes, Up to 960 fps
Slow Motion Video Duration N/A N/A 29 min 4 sec 8 sec
Built-in WiFi No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Battery Life (CIPA) 330 shots 350 shots 320 shots 280 shots 220 shots
Weight 240g 281g 290g 298g 299g
Size 102×58×36mm 102×58×38mm 102×58×41mm 102x58x41mm 102x58x41mm

Comparing the Nikon D5 with Sony A9, in Real World?

A Youtube camera gear reviewer, Max Yuryev, and pro sports photographer Paul Nelson, team up to give Nikon D5 and Sony A9 an outdoor and indoor review.

They called this a REAL WORLD Comparison which I do not agree. No, I won’t call this a real world comparison, as obviously the subjects (runner, boxer, etc.) are all staged and instructed by the photographers to do what they want.

 

Both were impressed by the Sony A9, for its wider AF point coverage and faster frame per second shooting speed.

 

Both cameras are able to give fast and accurate focus on moving subject, with Sony A9 outperformed the Nikon even more.

My Opinion though…https://www.photomalaysia.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=196&action=edit

Comparing a Nikon D5 camera that is over 17 months old with a just announced (still under pre-order stage in Malaysia) Sony A9 camera isn’t fair at all. A faster processor, bigger buffer, and better sensor could have been developed and used in any 17 months newer camera.

 

One thing I do agree though in the review, that the focus points in Nikon DSLR is quite limited to the centre portion of the camera. At times I do want my subject to be slightly closer to the edge, but couldn’t as there is no focusing point there.

 

However, comparing 20fps in Sony A9 to 12fps in Nikon D5 for me is meaningless. Having more files in your memory cards mean you have to spent much more time having to go through each photo and more space to store those crappy photos. How about a 1000fps Sony RX100 V? That would be the king of all sports camera?!

 

Define real world. Eg. Olympic. Where’s Sony? The next Olympic? We will wait and see…

 

OK, it is still an interesting video to watch, and it just makes me wanted to get my hand on a Nikon D5 more now (am using Nikon D4 still). Yes, you can say that I am a biased Nikon user.