Sony has announced the all-new, reinvigorated RX100 VII with a 1.0-type stacked 20.1 MP Exmor RS CMOS image sensor and the latest-generation BIONZ X image processor, which join forces to achieve autofocus and speeds that Sony states haven’t been available in a compact camera before.

The new RX100 VII employs a ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T 24-200mmviii F2.8-4.5 high magnification zoom lens, which makes the RX100 VII an adaptable option for a variety of shooting situations.

Key features

• A newly developed 1.0-type stacked 20.1 MP Exmor RS™ CMOS image sensor with DRAM chip and latest-generation BIONZ X™ image processor
• Alpha 9 level speed performance with up to 60 AF/AE calculations per second and 20fps blackout-free shooting with AF/AE tracking
• 357-point focal-plane phase-detection AF + 425-point contrast-detection AF with 0.02-sec focus acquisition speed
• Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF for humans and animals
• ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm F2.8 – F4.5 Large Aperture High Magnification Zoom Lens
• New Single Burst Shooting Drive Mode at up to 90fps speed
• Pro-level movie functionality including 4K HDR [HLG], Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF for movie shooting, 4K Active SteadyShot™, Vertical-position data recording for movies and integrated microphone jack

High-performance AF in a compact body

The new RX100 VII gives 357 focal-plane phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points. Also, thanks to a newly optimised lens drive control, Sony states that it’s the world’s fastest 0.02 sec AF acquisition speed. A significant leap in AF/AE tracking performance during continuous shooting means the camera performs AF/AE calculations up to 60 times per second and is capable of capturing fast-moving action at 20fps with AF/AE tracking.

The image sensor is blackout-free for a completely live view, even when continuous shooting at 20fps; Sony states that it’s the same as the Alpha 9.

The RX100 VII also debuts a new drive mode called ‘Single Burst Shooting’, for taking high-speed shots at [up to] 90fps in JPEG/RAW format utilising the anti-distortion shutter. Single Burst Shooting allows you to frame fast-moving action and shoot as if taking a single shot, but the camera will produce seven still images taken at 90fps, 60fps or 30fps, so you can select the best shot.

The RX100 VII presents advanced Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF capabilities, which is a first in a compact camera. Real-time Tracking uses Sony’s latest algorithm including AI-based object recognition to assure that subjects can be captured with accuracy, even via the touch panel on the rear screen. This promises improved accuracy, speed and tracking performance of Eye AF for both human and animal subjects.

Video

The compact and lightweight RX100 VII, which weighs approx. 302g and comes in at 102mm x 58mm x 43mm means it can always be carried and has mounting versatility that larger cameras have problems with. Despite the compact form factor, there is an abundance of professional-level movie-making capabilities, including:

• 4K in-body movie recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in high bit-rate XAVC S™xi
• Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF for video 4K Active SteadyShot that is 8x more effective than 4K Standard SteadyShot
• Industry-standard 3.5mm microphone input
• Hybrid Log-Gammaxii [HDR] / S-Gamut3.Cine / S-Log3, S-Gamut3 / S-Log3
• Compatibility with Movie Edit add-on from the ‘Imaging EdgeTM’ mobile application for movie stabilisation and editing
• Vertical-position data recording for movies
• Interval Shooting for time-lapse videos
• Super Slow Motion recording at up to 960fps
• 180-degree flip screen for simple monitoring whilst vlogging

Shooting grip kit for vlogging

Sony has also announced that it will also be adding a Shooting Grip Kit [DSC-RX100M7G] to the mix, which includes an RX100 VII and Shooting Grip [VCT-SGR1] that allows for easy recording and zooming right at your fingertips; Bracket with Accessory Shoe; and two Rechargeable Battery Packs [NP-BX1]. Pair this kit with an external microphone which can mount onto the bracket’s accessory shoe, allowing for a simple vlogging setup.

Pricing and availability

The RX100 VII will ship in August 2019 at approximately £1,200.

For full product details, please visit Sony’s dedicated web pages and watch the intro video below.