Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
Price £899
SONY’S RX100 series has pretty much rewritten the rulebook on premium digital compacts. The RX100 V is no exception, being small, well specified, hugely customisable and capable of excellent image quality.
Built around the same 1in Sony Exmor RS sensor and Bionz image processor found inside Sony’s RX10 II bridge camera, the RX100 V is designed for speed. Continuous shooting has risen to 24fp – a figure that leaves its main rivals in the shade. Maximum recording time for the camera’s built-in high-speed video modes has been doubled, too. For regular video duties the RX100 V provides 4K capture alongside a range of 1080p full HD and 720p HD options.
In addition to processing speed, another area that sees a big improvement over previous models is the RX100 V’s hybrid autofocus system. Whereas previous RX100 models relied solely on contrast- detect autofocus, the latest model adds a 315-point phase- detection autofocus module that covers approximately 65% of the frame. This noticeably improves the RX100 V’s overall autofocus and tracking performance.
While the RX100 V shines in just about every area, a few things take the gloss off ever so slightly. There’s no touchscreen functionality, the in- camera menu system isn’t the most intuitive and battery performance isn’t great, either. And then, of course, there’s the price – £900 is undoubtedly a lot of money for a compact, however good it might be. Still, even with these issues taken into consideration the RX100 V remains a cut above the competition.
Key features
Price £899 1in, 20.1MP Exmor RS sensor 2.9x optical zoom (equivalent to 24-70mm) ISO 100-12,800 3in/1.22-million-dot LCD 2.36-million-dot EVF