Sony announce RX100 VI: bigger zoom, amazing AF speed
Sony has announced the latest model in the RX100 series of compact cameras, the RX100 VI.
Sony's RX100 series have been hugely popular largely due to their compact size, great image quality and fast lenses. The standout feature of the sixth-iteration is a 24mm to 200mm equivalent lens, providing huge magnification, and a greater focal length than the previous model's 24-70mm equivalent range.
The downside of this extra focal length is physics - and as a result the camera’s aperture has changed from f/1.8-2.8 to the slower f/2.8-4.5. But Sony says it’s made leaps in the lens' optical image stabilization, which is now supposed to be good for four stops.
A lot of other specs are the same as the fifth-generation RX100. You get the same 1-inch sensor with 20.1-megapixel resolution, 315 phase-detect autofocus points, 24 fps, high-speed filming of up to 960 fps, and the ability to capture 4K with full pixel readout and no binning.
Unfortunately there's no microphone port, but you do get a touch responsive LCD screen with touchpad focus point control that will let you drag your fingers to your ideal focus point.
Sony say they have made big improvements in AF performance, with Eye AF technology sped-up and now offering approximately two times the tracking performance of the current RX100 series models. There's a Fast Hybrid AF system that allows the camera to lock focus in as little as 0.03 seconds, and 315-point focal-plane phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 65% of the sensor.
The RX100 VI also has a high speed Anti-Distortion Shutter (maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32000 second) that reduces the ‘rolling shutter’ effect commonly experienced with fast moving subjects, and can shoot completely silently in all modes, including continuous high speed shooting, when the electronic shutter is engaged. A mechanical shutter mode is also available.
Pricing and Availability
The RX100 VI will be available in Australia from late June for SRP$1,699, a considerable price increase on the previous RX100 models, like the IV, which retails for $1,499. If you'd like to know more, visit www.sony.com.au.