Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VA Review
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VA ($999.99) is one of half a dozen or so premium compact cameras currently on sale as part of the RX100 series. It's an upgraded version of the RX100 V. The changes are minor, but the basic concept is the same. It's a pocketable camera with an integrated EVF, a bright zoom lens for better low-light imaging, and a 1-inch sensor to set it apart from smartphones. Its image quality and autofocus are standouts, but the competition has gotten stronger and other aspects of the RX100 VA are a bit dated.
The RX100 Concept
Sony didn't invent the premium pocket camera category, but it certainly set the precedent for what it is in today's market, where the 1-inch sensor size has become standard. This type of sensor is about four times the size (in terms of surface area) of imagers found in most smartphones and basic digital cameras. The original RX100, from 2012, was the first to use this sensor size.
Sony has kept older models on sale—the RX100 V was the fi...
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VA sports the same bright lens and image sensor as the RX100 V, with improvements limited to its menu system and JPG engine.
Larger sensor than smartphones; Wide aperture lens; Speedy autofocus and burst shooting; In-lens neutral density filter; 4K video
Restricted functionality after long bursts and slow-motion video capture; Not a touch screen; Expensive