Sony Cyber-shot RX100 with Large Sensor and Bright F1.8 Lens

Sony has seen a significant growth in its interchangeable lens camera segment, a category that has been spared by the fierce competition from smartphones. The main reason is that mirorless cameras deliver great image quality in very compact and light bodies, a feature that is lacking in the DLSR market. However, Sony noticed that the majority of interchangeable camera users own only one lens, following the assumption that most people are after greater image quality with one lens, today, Sony unveiled a very interesting new fixed lens Cybershot.

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100, offers an ultra-bright F1.8 Vario Sonar T Carl Zeiss lens and a large 1.0 inch 20.2 megapixel EXMOR CMOS sensor. The new sensor is larger than any competing sensor in the interchangeable lens category thus, it offers a better image quality, according to Sony. We all know that usually, a larger sensor means better quality, and given Sony track record when it comes to develop this type of component, we can trust the manufacturer this time – however we may want to test it live.

Sony worked closely with Carl Zeiss to offer a 28 mm ultra-bright F1.8 lens that delivers great results in low light conditions, producing pictures with very little noise even in dark areas -I have seen picture comparison provided by Sony that sustains this claim. The sensor is not an EXMOR R with backlight since its large size already captures more light than the regular 1/ 2.3 inch 18 MP Cybershot sensor. The 1.0-inch EXMOR light capturing surface is 3.6 times larger than the regular Cybershot sensor.

Other features include a 3.6x optical zoom with a 7.2 x Clear Image Zoom (digital), 10 fps continuous shooting, full HD video recording  60p/50p with dual recording (shooting still images while recording video),Sony’s proprietary  image stabilization Optical Steady Shot, and a 3.0-inch 1,299k dot “white magic” LCD screen.

Cyber-Shot RX100 Specifications

• Available this July for about $650 (confirmed)
• 60p 1080p video recording
• 1-inch CMOS sensor, 20.2 Megapixel
• -”fixed lens with 3.6X optical zoom
• F1.8 aperture
• ISO: up to 25600
• 10 FPS burst mode (full resolution)
• 1229k pixels LCD display