Sony RX100 Series Comparison (I, II, III, IV, V, VA, VI and VII)

Since the original release of the Sony RX100 back in 2012, the company has been pushing updates to the camera and releasing one new iteration every year. This means that as of today, we have had a total of 8 such releases: RX100, RX100 II, RX100 III, RX100 IV, RX100 V, RX100 VA, RX100 VI, and RX100 VII. Sporting a 1″ sensor and superb optics from Zeiss, these point and shoot cameras have been widely popular among photographers. And thanks to their compact size and low weight, the RX100 series cameras have been highly regarded as very capable, and yet pocket-able cameras that are perfect for such needs as travel photography.

Unfortunately, due to the number of the RX100 series cameras, their differences in pricing and features, it has become increasingly difficult for potential buyers to understand the main differences between these cameras. In this article, I will be comparing the key features and specifications of the RX100-series cameras, which will hopefully make it easier to see what has changed between all the releases we have seen so far.

Below are two tables that we put together for our readers, showing each iteration of the Sony RX100 cameras, along with their key specifications. We had to split the table to two because there was too much information to fit into a single table. Please note that we have marked the superior features in darker blue, while the key missing features are marked in light red.

As expected, the latest generation Sony RX100 series cameras are obviously going to have the richest feature-set and specifications compared to their predecessors. With a superior Stacked CMOS sensor capable of producing excellent images that surpass all the previous generation RX100 cameras, faster Bionz X processor capable of handling up to 20-24 fps shooting speed, 357 phase-detection autofocus points, 4K video recording at up to 30 fps (and now with 4K HDR on the RX100 VI and RX100 VII models), excellent OLED EVF and very respectable slow-motion video recording capability up to 960 fps, this is a point-and-shoot powerhouse.

The latest RX 100 VII packs a 24-200mm equivalent lens like its predecessor, offering better reach than older generation RX100 series cameras. Keep in mind, however, that this comes at the expense of slower maximum aperture – f/2.8-f/4.5 compared to f/1.8-f/2.8 seen on the previous III-VA models. Sony says that the new OIS is supposed to be excellent though (compensating up to 4 stops), so perhaps the camera won’t suffer as much in low-light conditions.

The newest Sony RX 100 VII is priced pretty high compared to its predecessors, especially the first three models that can still be bought today from B&H and other retailers. Which begs the question – is the latest and greatest really worth spending so much more money on? I guess it depends. If you really need more reach, faster and more accurate autofocus, ability to shoot 4K / 4K HDR / slow motion video, real-time tracking and Eye-AF features, the RX 100 VII might be worth the price premium.

However, if you are just looking for a solid point-and-shoot camera, I would say the previous generation models are worth looking into. The RX100 and RX100 II are obviously great bargains, but for a reason – they are a bit longer on the wide end (28mm vs 24mm is a huge difference in field of view), their image quality is not as great as on the latest models, they lack built-in viewfinders and their LCD screens are not as versatile. So keep all this in mind when deciding what route to take.

If you are wondering about the differences between the latest RX100 VII and its predecessor, the RX100 VI, it is important to know that most of the changes are internal (cosmetically and ergonomically, both cameras are nearly identical). The biggest change on the RX100 VII is improved phase-detection autofocus system that can take advantage of Sony’s superb Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF that we have previously seen on high-end cameras like the Sony A9.

In addition, although the Sony RX100 VII drops its continuous shooting speed from 24 fps to 20 fps, it is able to record images blackout-free. The RX100 VII also gains seven-image bursts at up to 90 frames per second, something no other RX100-series camera is able to do. Another unique feature of the RX100 VII is a built-in microphone port to be able to connect external microphones when recording videos. Lastly, the RX100 VII gains the latest version of the Sony menu system, as well as a built-in intervalometer, so it is no longer compatible with Sony’s PlayMemories apps.