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Sony RX1R II

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II front
 
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 507g - 113 x 65 x 72mm
  • Released October 2015
  • Superseded the Sony RX1R
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
78
Imaging
76
Features
65
Overall
71

Sony RX1R II summary

Sony RX1R II is Sony's Large Sensor Compact digital camera first launched on October of 2015. It uses a 42 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS Full frame size sensor with a max resolution of 7952 x 5304.

Sony released this model in order to update the earlier Sony RX1R (Read Full Comparison)

The RX1R II is positioned #6 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras & over all #158 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should test our Smart camera filter to see camera rankings based on your personalized factors.

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Here is a diagram of different factors used in the rating system.

Sony RX1R II history

The Sony RX1R II is part of a family of digital cameras. You can see the full list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX1R-II front thumbnailSony RX1R II35mm
F2.0
42MPFull frame2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX1R front thumbnailSony RX1R
RX1R II vs RX1R
35mm
F2.0
24MPFull frame2013
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX1 front thumbnailSony RX1
RX1R II vs RX1
35mm
F2.0-22.0
24MPFull frame2013

Sony RX1R II Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of pluses and minuses of the Sony RX1R II based on criterias which are generally considered important in a digital camera.

above average flash sync speed (1/4,000 seconds)
does not have low pass filter
fantastic sensor resolution (42MP)
features face detect focusing
features tracking focus
focusing manually
has HDMI port
has microphone port
has phase detect AF
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
NFC support
nice clear screen (1,229 thousand dot)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW files
tilting screen
very good high ISO (25,600)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
very good minimum ISO (50)
bad battery pack (220 shots)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
does not have image stabilization
focal length is fixed (35mm)
missing headphone port
missing Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (507g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
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Sony RX1R II Sensor information

The Sony RX1R II is run by the BIONZ X chip. The specification of the sensor in the Sony RX1R II is 35.9mm x 24mm (Full frame). The 862 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 7952 x 5304 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 42MP and supports a standard ISO range of 50 - 25600. The ISO can be widened digitally to a maximum of 102400. RAW files are saved so you have more room to maneuver in post.

Sony opted to omit the low pass filter in the Sony RX1R II. This can result in more sharp photos but may cause moire in some situations.

The picture underneath displays the RX1R II's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The RX1R II sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is highlighted in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II sensor size C500 Mark II gets new Cinema RAW Light modes from Canon

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony RX1R II dimensions

Sony RX1R II weighs 1.12 lbs (507g / 17.88 ounces) & has exterior size of 113mm x 65mm x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8"). The weight of typical Large Sensor Compact camera is 396g so the Sony RX1R II is weightier as compared with its competitors.

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Here is a shot of the Sony RX1R II besides a soft drink to help you get a feel for its size.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II dimensions scale

The top view under will provide the button design on the RX1R II.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II topview buttons dials

Sony RX1R II Lens information

The RX1R II comes with a fixed lens having a constant focal length of 35mm which means you have no option to zoom.

At it's widest 35mm, the lens features an aperture of f2.0 which will be useful for low light occasions and getting good bokeh. It will also enable you to choose a much lower ISO to capture crisper images.

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Sony RX1R II Connectivity

The RX1R II has the following connectivity:

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

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can easily copy files and oftentimes alter camera settings with no need to connect physically with the camera.

Several apps also stream a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external display. Many cameras enable you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Sony RX1R II Video information

The max video resolution in the Sony RX1R II is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution can provide a good balance for video quality and file size but 1080p will not give you any room to downsample. Even though the body offers a microphone port, it is missing a headphone port so you won't be able to keep an eye on your audio levels.

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Sony RX1R II Weather Sealing

Sony RX1R II does not have environment proofing so rainy conditions may ruin the camera.

Sony RX1R II Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony RX1R II houses a 3 inch tilting display screen having a resolution of 1,229 thousand dots.

Sadly the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II screen and viewfinder Leica to Release Innovative Hybrid Medium Format Camera in 2 Years

The View Finder details for Sony RX1R II are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 2,359 thousand dots
  • Coverage 100%
  • Magnification 0.74x

For sunny outdoor situations that make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders are very helpful.

Sony RX1R II Shutter information

Sony RX1R II has the ability to shoot continuously at 5.0 fps. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Sony RX1R II Flash and Hot shoe information

Sony RX1R II features external flash support but does not have built-in flash. The maximum flash sync is 1/4000s.

Sony RX1R II Autofocus information

Sony RX1R II features both Phase Detect Auto Focus as well as Contrast Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster & precise as compared with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which makes it helpful for portraits.

The Sensor boasts 25 focus points to select from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for subjects that move. Sony RX1R II has manual focus if needed for low light or you require more exact focus control.

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Sony RX1R II Battery life

The battery pack (NP-BX1) on the Sony RX1R II is designed to last for 220 pictures as per the CIPA standards which is lower when compared with it's competitors. The usual Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U has got the maximum (450) battery life for this class of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Large Sensor Compact cameras that come with the best battery life:

Sony RX1R II for different forms of photography

The following chart displays a summary of the Sony RX1R II for different forms of photography. To view more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Sony RX1R II as a Portrait photography camera

The Sony RX1R II gets a score of 85 which is excellent, meaning that it is a fantastic option to use for portrait photos. Taking portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimension, RAW support and potential to utilize off-camera lighting.

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has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
great MP (42 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detection focus
saves RAW files

Street photography with Sony RX1R II

Coming in at a nice points total of 73, the Sony RX1R II is a good pick to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera offers a perfect balance of image quality plus portability.

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screen tilts
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (507 grams)

Sports photography with Sony RX1R II

A nice sports photography rating of 63 suggests the Sony RX1R II is a good fit for taking pictures of sports. A camera should have very good autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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megapixel count great (42 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (220 CIPA)

Sony RX1R II Travel photography factors

Portability is extremely crucial in choosing a camera for travel. On the whole, the Sony RX1R II gets a average 59 for a travel camera which makes it somewhat acceptable to take with you on your vacations.

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sensor resolution is excellent (42 megapixels)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (220 CIPA)
heavier than competition (507g)
screen isn't selfie friendly

Sony RX1R II Landscape photography details

If you find yourself planning to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most important aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Sony RX1R II at it's nice score of 68 for a landscape camera is a fine option compared to it's competition.

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focusing manually
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
high MP (42MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
low battery (220 shots)
missing Time Lapse function

Vlogging with Sony RX1R II

A vlogging camera should posses a moving screen, microphone input and ideally IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Sony RX1R II is just not suitable as a vlog camera as it delivers a bad rating of 34.

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great maximum aperture (f2.0)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (507 grams)

Sony RX1R II Alternatives

If you are looking for replacements to the RX1R II, below is a range of the top rated cameras which fall within the category of Large Sensor Compact.

The graph just below offers you a summary of the RX1R II vs it's top scoring competitors shown above.

Following are several cameras you might consider as alternate options. To read a comprehensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Type
Large Sensor Compact
Released
2015-10-13
Body design
Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
BIONZ X
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor measurements
35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area
861.6mm²
Sensor resolution
42 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
7952 x 5304
RAW images
Highest native ISO
25600
Highest enhanced ISO
102400
Minimum native ISO
50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
25
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
35mm (1x)
Maximum aperture
f/2.0
Macro focus range
14cm
Focal length multiplier
1
Screen
Range of screen
Tilting
Screen size
3 inches
Resolution of screen
1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.74x
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
97
DXO Color Depth score
25.8
DXO Dynamic range score
13.9
DXO Low light score
3204
Features
Min shutter speed
30 secs
Max shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash settings
Off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync
1/4000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 30p)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
507g (1.12 lb)
Dimensions
113 x 65 x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
Other
Battery life
220 pictures
Battery form
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-BX1
Self timer
Yes (2,5, 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots
One
Launch pricing
$3,300