Review: Sony DSC RX-100

Sony hopes to challenge the big boys with its little compact.

WE have heard a lot of good things about Sony's latest compact camera, the DSC-RX100.

The camera has powerful features and it'll be interesting to see how it fares in a world dominated by DSLRs and mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILCs).

It is impressive just how much Sony managed to cram into such a small frame. The body itself is made from aluminium which gives it a solid look and feel.

The camera is designed such that it gives users easy access to manual controls. For instance, the control ring that wraps around the lens can be customised to do just about anything such as focusing, zooming, adjusting aperture and changing ISO settings.

There's also a function button for quickly adjusting settings like ­exposure compensation, white ­balance, d-range optimiser and ­creative filters (of which there are 13).

MORE CONTROL: The dial around the RX100's lens is invaluable for making fine adjustments on the fly.

However, it lacks some features found on larger MILCs like an accessory port and electronic viewfinder (which can come in handy when outdoors).

The RX100 also doesn't have built-in WiFi which is disappointing because this is just the type of camera that would benefit from being able to upload photos directly to social networking sites.

Also, while the metallic body is cool, it's a little hard to hold and a bit ­slippery.

Features aplenty

The RX100 features a 20.2-megapixel sensor, a fast f/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens, an ISO range of 125 to 6,400, and is capable of shooting at up to 10fps (frames per second) in continuous shooting Speed Priority mode.

The RX100 has enough creative options to satisfy ­experienced users with the usual PASM modes on the mode dial, as well as two Intelligent Auto modes to help less experienced photographers.

RICH COLOURS: The 3in screen on the back acts as your viewfinder and you have a number of controls on the back to tweak the camera settings to your liking.

Sony also has included features like Sweep Panorama, an easy way to take a panoramic scene without the need for a ­tripod or editing in Photoshop afterwards.

There are also Picture Effect filters like tilt shift, partial colour and soft focus but we are most impressed with the illustration and watercolour filters, which we have not seen in other cameras of the same class.

The two effects take a bit of processing after each shot but the results are quite pleasing, as it gives pictures an artistic makeover.

Speed demon

The camera's startup time is incredibly fast. From the moment you turn it on, the RX100 is ready to take a shot and almost instantly gets a focus lock on a subject.

It still can't beat the speed of a DSLR but it's good for situations when you want to snap a shot ­quickly.

HANDY: The RX100 can be charged using a microUSB cable just like most smartphones which is convenient.

The same can be said of the camera's lightning quick autofocus which worked well in most situations although it was a bit inaccurate in dimly lit areas.

Again, it's not as fast as a DSLR but impressive nonetheless for a compact camera.

But what took us by surprise is the image quality - the photos turned out sharp with great colours and dynamic range.

The combination of its wide-aperture lens and large sensor allows the RX100 to shoot great looking bokeh (blurred backgrounds) photos and perform well in low-light situations.

Not only are the images crisp and sharp but the ISO performance is worlds apart from that of a regular compact camera.

At ISO 1,600, for instance, the images are clear of noise with little softening. For most compacts, the image would have turned out blurry and looked like a mosaic painting.

The camera also offers the option to shoot in RAW format for those who like to tweak their images to the max.

Just like most modern cameras, the RX100 is capable of recording videos in full HD in AVCHD format. We found the video quality to be acceptable but it's definitely isn't as good as the RX100's photo taking capabilities.

The built-in stereo microphones do a decent job but if you want to capture speech clearly it would be next to impossible in a noisy environment.

There is also the option of recording in MP4 format although this lowers the video resolution to 1,440 x 1,080 which is no longer full HD.

In terms of battery life, the RX100 shot about 300 photos on a single charge. Interestingly, it is charged over microUSB, the very same way most smartphones are, so it's easy to keep it powered.

Last shot

Smaller than a MILC, the RX100 offers great ­performance and will serve well as a secondary ­camera for DSLR owners who travel often.

The combination of solid design with a fast lens and great picture taking capabilities makes it a perfect ­compact for serious photographers.

ODD: The RX100's HDMI port is strangely located on the bottom of the camera.

Another thing going for it is the control interface which makes it easy for shutter bugs to tweak ­settings on the fly.

However, it's not perfect. For instance, the HD video recording capability could have been better.

It's also not cheap - it's priced close to entry-level DSLRs and MILCs.

But if portability is ­paramount then the RX100 is well worth the price of admission.

Pros: Great photo quality; compact size; smartly designed controls for manual shooting.

Cons: Pricey; HD video recording not great.

DSC RX-100
(Sony)
Prosumer compact camera
SENSOR: 20.2-megapixels (5,472 x 3,648-pixels)
VIEWFINDER: 3.0in LCD (1,228,800-dots) TFT LCD
LENS: 28-100mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8 (wide) - f/4.9 (telephoto)
SHUTTER SPEED: 30 sec - 1/2,000sec
ISO RANGE: 100 to 25,600
SHOOTING MODES: Auto, Auto Advanced, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Three Custom modes, Smart Auto, Sweep Panorama, Picture Effect
VIDEO MODE FORMAT: AVCHD (1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps) or MPEG4 (1,440 x 1,080 at 30 fps)
BATTERY: Lithium-ion NP-BX1
STORAGE: SD/SDHC/SDXC
INTERFACE: MicroUSB port, micro HDMI out
OTHER FEATURES: Face detection, Control Ring, Flash
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D): 102 x 59 x 36mm
WEIGHT: 240g
WEBSITE: www.sony.com.my
PRICE: RM2,499
RATING: 4 stars

- Chong Jinn Xiung (The Star)

Review: Nikon 1 J2

Nikon refreshes its entry-level camera for beginners.

LESS than a year ago the Japanese ­manufacturer launched its range of Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras and now it has refreshed the entry-level J1 model with the J2.

Considering the fast turnaround time, the J2 is more of an incremental upgrade rather than a complete overhaul of the previous model. But even so, the J2 is not without a number of improvements.

Do these improvements warrant J1 users upgrading to the new camera? Let's find out.

Design

The J2 retains the aesthetics of its ­predecessor though it now comes in several colour variations (including red, pink and orange), and the cameras have matching coloured lens bodies.

Our review unit was in striking orange and the bright colour certainly drew stares everywhere we went with the camera. On the plus side, it's not easy to misplace, but it does stand out.

If you don't fancy being a beacon, Nikon offers the J2 in classic black, silver or white.

For the most part, the camera has a minimalist design, with flat buttons on top and a single mode dial on the back. The fixed angle 3in LCD screen on the back has a higher resolution than that on the J1,

There is no electronic viewfinder. Its absence may make it more ­challenging to shoot pictures while outdoors.

SWAP IT: Different situations call for different lenses, fortunately the Nikon has a range of Nikkor 1 lenses to choose from.

Also, there is no accessory port for an external flash.

The J2 also lacks a grip on the body, but the camera still feels natural in hand and the rear thumb-rest helps users maintain a steady grip.

We also liked that the camera has two methods to switch it on and off. There's a regular on/off button on the top but if you are using a Nikon 1 lens that is retractable, you can switch the camera on by simply twisting the lens barrel to extend the lens.

The camera's near instant-on status makes it great for grabbing snapshots.

The J2, like the J1, has a pop-out, built-in flash that sits on the top-left corner of the camera body.

Performance

Nikon's J2 uses a 10.1-megapixel CX format sensor like with the J1, giving mounted lenses a 2.7x focal length magnification. This makes the bundled 10-30mm kit lens a 27-81mm focal length in 35mm format.

The lens has Vibration Reduction technology to prevent shaky ­handheld shots when using the zoom feature.

USEFUL BUTTON: The Nikkor 1 kit lens has a handy button on the side that not only retracts the lens to make it more compact but also turns the camera on when you twist to extend it.

Although the Nikon 1's range of lenses is comparatively small in comparison with other mirrorless systems, you can easily expand the range with regular Nikon DSLR lenses via an optional adaptor.

The J2 retains the J1's hybrid autofocus system that uses both phase and contrast detection, alternating between the two depending on the situation. Autofocus with phase detection is generally quicker, whereas contrast detection yields more accurate results.

Nikon's new camera, however, has a slight problem when focusing in low light because the autofocus will often not get an accurate lock on your subject in such conditions.

Pictures were generally sharp and quite detailed when we took to shooting outdoors on a bright sunny day. Colour reproduction was accurate and skintones came out natural.

Image saturation was initially muted, though this was easily fixed with a quick adjustment of the Vivid settings on-camera.

Under very contrasty lighting - harsh light and shadows - the J2's Dynamic Lighting options really helped save the day from what would otherwise have been overexposed or underexposed images with a lesser camera.

A high ISO sensitivity range is available on the J2. The ­camera managed to keep noise to a ­minimum, with noise only being visible at ISO 3,200.

If you are into night photography, you are in luck because the J2 can keep its shutter open for up to 30 seconds, and even has the Bulb setting for longer exposures.

BATTERIES GO HERE: Just pop open the bottom latch to insert the camera's battery and SD card for storing pictures.

The J2 may not have a dedicated macro mode like on some compact cameras, but the 10-30mm kit lens is a decent performer when taking close-up photos.

We also liked the camera's fast continuous shooting rate, thanks to its electronic shutter. The J2 can shoot at an insane 60fps (frames per second), and you can dial that down to 30fps or 15fps. This is handy for sports photographers.

There's also Full HD video recording with stereo sound, so you are good to go if you need to shoot videos with the J2. There are special shooting modes, like slow-motion video and motion snapshot. J1 users have these features as well.

Conclusion

We think the J2 is more of an evolutionary step-up rather than revolutionary. Apart from the improved screen and additional colours, not much has changed on the J2 from the J1.

This incremental upgrade will likely not attract those who already have Nikon's entry-level mirrorless camera, considering that the J2 does not feature any exciting new features or offer significant new capabilities from the previous model.

However, the J2 has two key features - a fast autofocus and fast burst-shooting speeds - that may appeal to some. It's a shame the autofocus has some issues in low light conditions, though.

And really, an electronic viewfinder would have been good to have. Ditto with the external flash hotshoe.

All in all, the J2 is neat for those looking to upgrade from a compact camera, and serves as a good introduction to the world of interchangeable lenses.

Pros: Compact and lightweight; fast burst-shooting speeds; good low-light performance overall.

Cons: Autofocus has trouble in low-light conditions; no electronic viewfinder; no accessory port for external flash.

Nikon 1 J2
(Nikon)
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera
SENSOR: 10.1-megapixels CMOS
VIEWFINDER: 3in LCD (921,000-dots)
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/16,000sec -30sec (electronic)
ISO RANGE: 100 to 3,200
SHOOTING MODES: Still Image (PASM modes located within menu), Smart Photo selector, Movie, Motion Snapshot
VIDEO MODE: Full HD at 60i/30 fps for MOV; 640 x 240-pixels at 400fps or 320 x 120-pixels at 1,200fps for slow motion videos
BATTERY: Lithium-ion EN-EL20
STORAGE: SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card
INTERFACE: USB 2.0, HDMI
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D): 106 x 61 x 29.8mm
WEIGHT: 280g
WEBSITE: www.nikon.com.my
PRICE: RM2,118 (with 10-30mm kit); RM2,718 (with 10-30mm and 30-110mm kit)
RATING: 3 stars
Review unit courtesy of Nikon (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, (03) 7809-3688

- Chong Jinn Xiung (The Star)