Miniature marvel
Let's get rid of the most obvious con with this camera; IT'S SOOO DAMNED EXPENSIVE! So why did I buy it, because for its diminutive size its a video and photographic powerhouse. Sure it has compromises; sensor size, max aperture, the list could go on if you want to get silly if you expect the magicians at Sony to quantum engineer a full frame megazoom camera into a pocket camera.
The image quality is as good as a 1" sensor currently gets, the zoom range is all you need for at least 90% of situations, the AF is amazing. The built in mics/audio not bad, plug in a decent external and its a game changer, I've used with a Rode stereo videomic pro, Zoom H1n and blink 500 wireless lavalier mics, all with great success. The 4k video is very good, and for me, even up to iso 1600/3200 acceptable for my life and holiday vlogging. I had been using a Panasonic FZ2000 with an Osmo Pocket and Insta360 One X but the Panny just added so much to my bag that it started to interfere with the spontaneity of life events, I aim to record these events well but not go for a Spielberg production, The sony is small and stealthy enough to do just that, but it's so damned expensive..., but it's the most compact photo/video powerhouse you can currently get, so yes, I bought it and the only regret is the kidney I had to sell to buy it 😭😭😭
As a final note, the build quality, as with all the RX100 series (from the original version I still have to this Mark 7), is excellent. The image quality is very slightly better than my original Mark 1 but we're talking pixel peeping here so unless you want the zoom range 4k video and mic input, look at the other RX100's or the ZV1 (I considered that for the latter two features but the short zoom range didn't cut it for me). Battery life is chronic, but having owned numerous compact and mirrorless system cameras over the years this becomes a fact of life but the greedy little Sony and its equally tiny battery warrants the need for backup batteries almost at all times.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New