Sony's RX100 created a frisson of excitement when it was announced on 6 June because of its 'winning' combination of a small camera body plus a relatively large, high-resolution sensor.

You're looking for a pocketable; large-sensor digicam with PASM shooting modes; You want raw file capture and Full HD video recording; You don't mind having to dive into menus to adjust camera settings; You want good-looking photos at high ISO settings; You'd like a built-in flash

You want an optical viewfinder; You want interchangeable lenses; You require quick access to key camera settings; You don't like  in-camera battery charging

The Sony DSC-RX100 has surpassed all our expectations for what a compact digital camera can do. It's tiny enough to be carried in a pants pocket (even if you prefer a tight style), yet it can produce image quality that some digital SLRs can't come close to.

Excellent image quality; High ISO performance; Small size

Menu could be a little better; Some trouble with auto exposures; Some noticeable lens distortion

When the Sony RX100 was announced, its one-inch sensor and f/1.8 aperture seemed too good to be true. Near-DSLR power packed into a body the size of a compact point-and-shoot camera? What's the catch? Turns out, this camera is a significant achievement for Sony.

When you first hear the $649 price tag for the Sony Cyber-shot RX100, $649 might seem over the top for a compact digicam.

Pretty much the best compact digicam ever (at least under $1k); Carl Zeiss optics; handsome retro-tastic design and great build-quality; excellent photo and video chops

Pricey; battery life could be better; we had an "incident" where the humid weather created condensation in the lens and temporarily resulted in blurry photos; no interchangeable lens system

Every new camera needs a unique selling point and with Sony's pocket-sized RX100 that is the holy grail of ‘DSLR quality in compact form'. Though the solid feel, aluminium build model resembles your average high-end snapshot from the outside, inside is a 20.2 megapixel sensor that at one inch is...

One of the largest image sensors to be found in a compact camera; high 20MP resolution; Full HD video with stereo sound; full manual controls and intelligent auto settings; solid aluminium construction and understated design

Very expensive for a pocket camera; backplate buttons are small enough to warrant fingertip precision; image quality not exact match for DSLR or system cameras offering even larger sensor for a similar cost

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 doesn't come cheap, but it looks great and produces consistently first-class stills. Low-light performance can't be faulted, colour reproduction is excellent and movies are crisp, with a well-captured soundtrack. This is the best compact you can buy right now.

Excellent stills; Impressive low-light results; Accurate colour reproduction; Large sensor; Movie mode; Wide aperture lens; Versatile control ring

Some wind noise on movies; Control ring can be a little slow; No bundled battery charging cradle; Extremely pricey

Sony cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is a point and shoot camera that every enthusiast has dreamed of. Featuring 20.2 megapixel 1" CMOS sensor cored with Carl Zeiss 28-100mm 3.6x zoom lens that opens up to f/1.8 on the wide end.

I've just got mine, but it's definitely a great piece of kit. I've always been a point-and-shoot camera user, who travels a lot, and wanted to get better images without lugging a big chunky SLR everywhere I go. I think this camera will fill a much needed gap in the market for people like myself.

Pocketable size with superior image quality; HD Movies.

Zoom is limited (x3.6

One of the largest image sensors to be found in a compact camera; high 20MP resolution; Full HD video with stereo sound; full manual controls and intelligent auto settings; solid aluminium construction and understated design

One of the largest image sensors to be found in a compact camera; high 20MP resolution; Full HD video with stereo sound; full manual controls and intelligent auto settings; solid aluminium construction and understated design

Very expensive for a pocket camera; backplate buttons are small enough to warrant fingertip precision; image quality not exact match for DSLR or system cameras offering even larger sensor for a similar cost

Sony hopes to challenge the big boys with its little compact. WE have heard a lot of good things about Sony's latest compact camera, the DSC-RX100. The camera has powerful features and it'll be interesting to see how it fares in a world dominated by DSLRs and mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras...

Great photo quality; compact size; smartly designed controls for manual shooting

Pricey; HD video recording not great