Compact Review Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

82 % Rs.34,990

The megapixel war in the digital compact sphere has given rise to new problems and challenges to camera designers; the main being the issues of digital noise and limited dynamic range due to the small image sensors. Being the first to introduce the Back-Side Illuminated ( BSI) CMOS sensors to counter the noise issues in low-light photography, Sony has now introduced a larger-than-standard sensor in their new release - the Cybershot DSC-RX100. As per Sony’s claim this is the world’s first camera to feature a 1.0-inch Type sensor. With back-side illumination, 20.2 megapixels and a fast f/1.8 lens, the camera offers impressive specs.

Design and Build Quality

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is built tough, just like most Cyber-shots. The

outer body is made up of metal except for the base plate, which is engineering plastic. The lens has a two-segment construction and there is a control ring around the outer barrel of the lens which can be programmed to control various parameters. The built-in flash is pop-up type and is mounted on the top panel. The tripod mount is metal. The 20.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 uses a 1.0-inch Type (13.2 x 8.8mm) back illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor which, according to Sony, is approximately four times larger than the 1/2.3-inch Type imager used in regular point-and-shoot cameras. A large sensor captures more light than a smaller sensor of similar megapixel resolution. The BIONZ image processor delivers superior results, allowing the camera to shoot up to 10 frames per second in full resolution. It also facilitates high-speed autofocus which, according to Sony, locks on to the target in 0.13 seconds under good lighting conditions. The camera features a fast Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 29 – 105mm f/1.8 – 4.9 lens featuring Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilisation. It features a seven-bladed circular aperture,

providing D-SLR-like defocussing effects. It features an Advanced Aspherical (AA) glass element which makes the camera extremely compact without affecting optical performance. The lens focusses from approximately 5cm to infinity at the wide-angle end and 55cm to infinity at the telephoto end. The focus modes are Multipoint, Centre-weighted, Spot, Flexible Spot and Manual. Exposure can be compensated up to +/-3 EV in 1/3-EV steps. ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 125 to 12800 with an Auto option as well. Shutter speeds range from 4 to 1/2000 sec. White Balance options are Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Incandescent, and Flash. Self-timer has options of 10 sec and 2 sec. The builtin flash has a range of approximately 0.3 to 17.1m at the wide-angle end and approximately 0.55 to 6.3m at the telephoto end in Auto ISO mode. Flash modes are Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, and Flash Off. Face Detection feature can detect up to 8 faces in a photograph. Shooting modes available are Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, Program, Movie, P, S, A, M, Scene Selection, Picture Effect, and Manual Exposure. Scene Selection modes are High Sensitivity, Twilight, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Landscape, Fireworks, Gourmet, Pet, Handheld Twilight, and Anti Motion Blur. Picture Effects available are HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Partial Colour, Soft Highkey, Water Colour, and Illustration. The camera also has unique features such as Auto Portrait Framing and MF assist (magnifies image for fine adjustments), and Peaking function ( highlights sharply focussed areas in the image).

Still images are recorded in JPEG format with a maximum resolution of 4896 x 3672 pixels, while videos are recorded in AVCHD format with the best quality of 1920 x 1080. The camera does not have an internal memory, but accepts a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO HG Duo or SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card for storage. It uses a 3.0-inch, 1,228,800 dot Xtra Fine TruBlack TFT LCD for display. The display features WhiteMagic technology that uses white pixels in addition to the normal RGB pixels to boost screen brightness. The device is powered by a Li-ion battery pack ( NP-BX1 supplied), has dimensions of 101.6 x 58.1 x 35.9mm, and weighs 240g with battery and memory stick.

Ergonomics

The Cyber-shot RX100 is comfortable to use. The programmable control ring is a pleasure to use and so is the control wheel at the back of the camera. Images

on the LCD appear crisp. Since this is a small camera, the index finger of your left hand is likely to obstruct the flash. So while using the flash, you need to hold the camera like a D-SLR—with the left hand beneath the lens (this will also allow you to use the control ring).

Performance

The RX100 produced sharp images. AF was fast and precise even under low light situations. Metering modes worked as expected. Apart from slight mustache distortion, the lens did not produce any discernible distortion. Darkening was observed at the corners at the wide-angle end at f/1.8. Prominent flare was observed along with purple fringing at the wide-angle end at f/1.8. White Balance performed well under most light sources. Though distinct colour cast was observed under Cloudy and Incandescent settings, these could be easily corrected in Photoshop. Native print size was 12.16 x 18.24 inches at 300 ppi. At 25 percent of the screen size, images were noisefree throughout the ISO range. At 50 percent, we observed slight noise from ISO 1600 upwards, but this is observable only if you are looking for it. At 100 percent, slight noise was observed from ISO 800 upwards. But even ISO 800 can be used at 100 percent, especially if the images are printed, since photographic prints are generally less noisy than what is seen on the screen. Overall, the images were perfectly usable throughout the ISO range. We consider this to be excellent control of noise.

Value for Money

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 retails at an MRP of Rs.34,990. At this price, the camera is over-priced.

SPECIFICATIONS

Image Sensor : 1.0-inch Type (13.2 x 8.8mm) Exmor R CMOS Effective Pixels : Approx. 20.2 Mega Pixels Lens Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T 29 – 105 mm equivalent f/1.8 - 4.9 Focus Range : Approx. 5cm to Infinity ( W)

Approx. 55cm to Infinity ( T) Monitor : 3.0-inch 1,228,800-dot Xtra Fine

TruBlack TFT LCD Imaging Processor : BIONZ Image Stabiliser : Optical SteadyShot Focus Modes : Multi-Point AF, Centre-Weighted AF, Spot AF, Flexible-Spot AF, Manual, Flexible Spot AF ( Tracking Focus), Flexible Spot AF ( Face Tracking Focus) Light Metering : Multi Pattern, Centre-Weighted,

Spot Exposure Comp. : + / - 3.0EV, 1/3EV Step ISO Sensitivity : Auto, ISO 125, 200, 400, 800,

1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 White Balance : Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent,

Incandescent, Flash Shutter Speed : 4 – 1/2000 sec Self-Timer : 10sec / 2sec / Off / Portrait 1

Portrait 2 Flash Mode : Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro,

Rear Sync, Flash Off Flash Range : ISO Auto: Approx.0.3m to 17.1m( W) Approx.0.55m to 6.3m( T) Auto Macro : Yes Auto Focus : Yes (Auto / Off) Illuminator Aperture : f/1.8 – f/11( W) Face Detection : Yes, up to 8 faces Shooting Modes : Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, Program Auto, Movie, Panorama, Scene Selection, Picture Effect, Manual Exposure, Scene Selection High Sensitivity, Twilight, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Landscape, Fireworks, Gourmet, Pet, Handheld Twilight, Anti Motion Blur Picture Effects : HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Partial Colour, Soft High-key, Water Colour, Illustration Recording Media : Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO HG Duo, SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Card, Memory Stick Micro, Memory Stick Micro (Mark2), Micro SD, Micro SDHC Max. still image size : 4,896 X 3,672 Best video quality : AVCHD - 1,920 X 1,080 (28M, PS) Smile Shutter : Yes Power Source : Li-ion battery NP-BX1 (Supplied) Dimensions : 101.6 x 58.1 x 35.9mm ( W x H x D) Weight : Approx. 240g (with Battery

& Memory Stick)