Review: Sony rx100 I (the original) - The Best Deal in Photography?
Introduction:
I typically shoot with a Ricoh GR III, but before purchasing my Ricoh, I used the Sony rx100 series extensively. I owned the rx100 vii for several years before selling it to buy my Olympus. After missing the pocketability, I purchased the original rx100. Is the rx100 still worth buying in 2023 and beyond? Hopefully the images in this review will help you answer that question.
After shooting with the Sony rx100 for almost a year, I’ve been very impressed with the results. If you judge the camera solely on it’s spec sheet, you probably won’t get too excited about it, but if you look at the images it produces, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Key Specs:
20.2 MP 1” sensor
28mm-100mm zoom lens with variable aperture of f1.8-f4.9
240g
3 inch fixed LCD screen
Contrast detect auto-focus
1080p at 60fps video
Optical image stabilization
Gelateria in Tirana, Albania
Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania
Et`hem Bey Mosque
Build Quality:
The first time I picked up a Sony rx100 I was surprised by it’s weight and the quality of the construction. The original rx100 is the lightest and the thinnest of the 7 generations weighing 240g. My only nit-pick is that the back control dial feels a little plasticy. That said, after 10 years and a lot of abuse, every component continues to function properly.
Size:
The rx100 is a truly pocketable camera. I regularly slide mine into the front right pocket of my jeans or khakis. It is slightly thicker than my Ricoh GR III due to the protrusion of the zoom lens.
Tirana, Albania
Versatility:
If I had one word to explain why I like the Sony rx100 it would be “versatility.” The 28-100mm zoom lens offers an extremely useful range and the camera is small enough to fit in a medium sized pocket. I can take this Sony everywhere and collect a wide range of images.
Props to Sony for expanding the versatility of the rx100 as it matured through its 7 generations. Later models added a tilt screen, pop-up EVF, touch screen, and a 200mm zoom range.
Auto Focus:
This camera came out before Sony built their reputation for the best autofocus in the world. The rx100 mark I has contrast detect autofocus. I primarily shoot in single point auto focus and the camera is fast and snappy. It is just as fast (sometimes faster) than my Ricoh GR III. In low light it sometimes struggles to lock focus confidently. It does feature a continuous auto focus mode, but I don’t have any experience with it.
As someone who has photographed with a number of modern “faster” cameras, I haven’t found the 10 year old auto focusing system limiting or prohibitive to my type of photography.
Seagull in flight using single point auto focus
A duck in flight
Seagulls in Vlorë photographed with single point auto focus
An angry bird in flight… does this count as wildlife photography?
Image Quality:
Let’s make this quick…
This 1” sensor has given me better image quality than I ever expected. The RAW files are surprisingly flexible with good dynamic range, and the 20.2 MP sensor retains considerable detail.
I hope the images (see below) will speak for themselves. Image quality is a subjective thing. Personally, I love sharp photos, and the rx100 hasn’t disappointed me.
*The images contained in this review were exported from Lightroom at 90% of their original quality.
I took this image of a hornet out of my kitchen window. He was approximately 12 feet (4 meters) away.
A 100% crop of the original image.
A 200% crop of the original image. Not to shabby for 10 year old 1” sensor and a zoom lens.
Black & White Picture Profile:
One of my favorite features on the Sony rx100 is the black and white picture profile. I often take this camera out and shoot exclusively black and white JPEGs. The contrast and tone are pleasing to my eye and they require no post-processing.
Conclusion:
I have been very pleased with my $150 purchase and I intend to keep using the Sony rx100 in 2023. I highly recommend all of the generations of the rx100.
Cameras with 1” sensors aren’t very trendy these days. Camera marketing departments and online reviewers sing the praises of their aps-c and full-frame sensors and rarely acknowledge that a camera like this one is more than enough for 90% of people interested in capturing high quality memories.
Before you drop thousands of dollars on a brand new camera, give an older and cheaper camera a test run. I think you’ll be surprised at how capable many of them are… even in 2023.
If you are interested in buying a Sony rx100 of any generation please consider buying through my affiliate link on Amazon: here
The affiliate link cost you nothing extra and I get a little commission to help keep this site going… Thanks!
