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Sony RX100 II

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II front
 
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 281g - 102 x 58 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100
  • Successor is Sony RX100 III
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
74
Overall
60

Sony RX100 II overview

Sony RX100 II is Sony's Large Sensor Compact camera initially revealed on June of 2013. The camera includes a 20MP, CMOS 1" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 5472 x 3648.

Sony brought out this camera to improve the earlier Sony RX100 (Read Full Comparison) and then brought out the more recent Sony RX100 III (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to improve this camera.

The RX100 II is ranked #34 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras and all round #311 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to check our Advanced camera finder to see camera results based on your personal requirements.

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The following is a chart of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony RX100 II family

The Sony RX100 II is part of a family of cameras. You can read the full list below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-VII front thumbnailSony RX100 VII
RX100 II vs RX100 VII
24-200mm
F2.8-4.5
20MP1"2019
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-V(A) front thumbnailSony RX100 VA
RX100 II vs RX100 VA
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2018
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-VI front thumbnailSony RX100 VI
RX100 II vs RX100 VI
24-200mm
F2.8-4.5
20MP1"2018
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-V front thumbnailSony RX100 V
RX100 II vs RX100 V
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2016
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-IV front thumbnailSony RX100 IV
RX100 II vs RX100 IV
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-III front thumbnailSony RX100 III
RX100 II vs RX100 III
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-II front thumbnailSony RX100 II28-100mm
F1.8-4.9
20MP1"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100 front thumbnailSony RX100
RX100 II vs RX100
28-100mm
F1.8-4.9
20MP1"2012

Sony RX100 II Pros and Cons

Here is a list of pluses and minuses of the Sony RX100 II based on criterias that are generally viewed as essential in a camera.

built in image stabilization (Optical)
built in lens has zoom (28-100mm 3.6 x zoom)
decently wide (28mm)
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
good max aperture (f1.8)
great battery (350 CIPA)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has a tilting screen
has built in flash
high resolution screen (1,229 k dot)
includes HDMI support
lighter than others (281 grams)
manual focus
NFC support
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports face detect focusing
supports tracking focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have headphone jack
doesn't have mic jack
lack of phase detect AF
max zoom aperture not good (f4.9)
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Sony RX100 II Sensor information

The specification of the sensor on the Sony RX100 II is 13.2mm x 8.8mm (1"). The 116 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 5472 x 3648 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is superior than digital stabilization since the latter may cause cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 20 megapixels and features a native ISO range of 160 to 12800. The ISO can also be expanded electronically to 100 to 25600. RAW photos are saved so the user has more room to maneuver in post.

The graphic below illustrates the RX100 II's sensor size in comparison to other common sizes. The RX100 II sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.7 and is displayed in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II sensor size Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony RX100 II dimensions

Sony RX100 II weighs about 0.62 lbs (281 gr or 9.91 oz) and the size of the camera is 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5"). The weight of normal Large Sensor Compact camera is 396 gr and the Sony RX100 II is lighter compared to various rivals.

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The following is a pic of the Sony RX100 II besides a soft drink so you're able to have a sense of its size.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II dimensions scale

The top view here will show you the button layout on the RX100 II.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II topview buttons dials

Sony RX100 II Lens information

The RX100 II offers a built in lens giving a focal range of 28-100mm making it a 3.6 x zoom which won't be great nevertheless it would certainly be invaluable in certain circumstances.

At it's widest 28mm, it offers an aperture of f1.8 which will be awesome in low light occasions and capturing a shallow depth of field. It is going to also let you go with a lower ISO to have clearer photographs. On the long end, 100mm comes to f4.9 which is quite slow and you will have to apply slow shutter speeds.

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Sony RX100 II Connectivity

The RX100 II has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth support can be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You can send photos and oftentimes alter settings with no need to connect straight with the camera.

Many apps also give a Liveview and click the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. A lot of cameras will allow you to recharge the battery using the USB socket.

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Sony RX100 II Video information

The maximum video quality on the Sony RX100 II is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p quality is an excellent balance between quality versus file size but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with much room to crop. The body doesn't feature a mic and headphone socket so you have got zero control over your sound. It is perhaps a better idea to consider another camera in case you need decent sound in your video clips.

Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 II Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing in the Sony RX100 II so you have to be cautious in rainy and dusty conditions.

Sony RX100 II Display and Viewfinder

The Sony RX100 II includes a 3" tilting display with a resolution of 1,229k dots.

Sadly the display is not a touch screen.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II screen and viewfinder Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Sony RX100 II are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic (optional)

In those bright outdoor conditions that make the camera screens washed out and hard to view, viewfinders are rather useful.

Sony RX100 II Shutter information

Sony RX100 II continuous shooting speed is 10.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Sony RX100 II Flash and Hot shoe information

Sony RX100 II includes both in-built flash plus external flash ability. The maximum flash sync speed is 1/2000 sec.

Sony RX100 II Autofocus information

Sony RX100 II includes only Contrast Based Autofocus and doesn't have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier and exact compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera includes Face detect which is handy for portraits.

It includes 25 focus points to select from. It also has Tracking Autofocus for subjects that move. Sony RX100 II has got manual focusing when required during low light or you require more accurate control on focusing.

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Sony RX100 II Battery life

The battery (NP-BX1) in the Sony RX100 II is made to last for 350 clicks based on the CIPA measurements which is above the usual for its category. The general Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U has the highest possible (450) battery life within this type of cameras.

Here is a collection of Large Sensor Compact cameras having the highest battery life:

Sony RX100 II for different styles of photography

The following bar chart indicates a summation of the Sony RX100 II for different styles of photography. To find out more, have a look at the specific section below.

Portrait photography with Sony RX100 II

The Sony RX100 II has a points total of 70 which is above average, and means the camera is a good option for portrait photography. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support in addition to the option to utilize external flash.

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has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files

Sony RX100 II as a Street photography camera

With a impressive score of 85, the Sony RX100 II is a wonderful option for street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (281g)

Sony RX100 II as a Sports photography camera

A very good sports photography points tally of 67 indicates the Sony RX100 II is a good fit for taking pictures of sports. A camera really should have excellent autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
features tracking focus
great battery life (350 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus

Sony RX100 II as a Travel photography camera

Weight is pretty important when choosing a camera for travel. Over-all, the Sony RX100 II gets a very high 80 as a travelling camera which is a great choice to take on your travels.

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great battery (350 shots)
lighter than competitors (281g)
decent megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen

Sony RX100 II Landscape photography advice

For anybody who is planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most significant factor is going to be image quality. The Sony RX100 II at it's above average grade of 74 as a landscape camera is a very decent choice within the current marketplace.

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you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
better than average battery (350 per charge)
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)

Sony RX100 II Vlogging features

A vlogging camera should really come with a articulating screen, microphone port and preferably IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Sony RX100 II is not appropriate as a vlog camera as it comes to a lousy score of 37.

Photography Glossary
quite wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (281 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack

Sony RX100 II Alternatives

If you need replacements to the RX100 II, here is a number of the top scored cameras which fall under the category of Large Sensor Compact.

The chart down below offers you a summary of the RX100 II compared to it's top ranking competitors suggested previously.

Here are a few more cameras you might have a look at as alternative options. To see a detailed comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Type
Large Sensor Compact
Announced
2013-06-27
Body design
Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
1"
Sensor dimensions
13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area
116.2mm²
Sensor resolution
20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
5472 x 3648
RAW support
Max native ISO
12800
Max boosted ISO
25600
Minimum native ISO
160
Minimum boosted ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points
25
Lens
Lens mount type
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
28-100mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture
f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing distance
5cm
Crop factor
2.7
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display diagonal
3 inch
Display resolution
1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology
Xtra Fine WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic (optional)
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
67
DXO Color Depth rating
22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating
12.4
DXO Low light rating
483
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30s
Maximum shutter speed
1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed
10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync
1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
281 grams (0.62 lb)
Dimensions
102 x 58 x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5")
Other
Battery life
350 pictures
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NP-BX1
Self timer
Yes (10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots))
Time lapse feature
With downloadable app
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots
One
Pricing at launch
$598