Sony RX100II IN STOCK now!
Hello to all! Happy Friday and I hope everyone is enjoying their day. Just found that Amazon has the Sony RX100II IN STOCK, prime eligible, shipped by Amazon. Prime members can still have it delivered tomorrow if you choose Saturday delivery for $8.99 🙂 B&H Photo also has it in stock right now.
I have been shooting an RX100II for a few weeks now on and off and it is a worthy follow-up to the RX100 IF you desire a tilt LCD, EVF capability and a bump in high ISO performance (about 1 stop). Sony also added WiFi capability. The RX100II is a little thicker than the RX100 V1 but not by much. It will still fit in your pocket and give you some amazing quality. The sensor is the same size as the one in the Nikon V1, V2, etc. It is a 1″ sensor but provides an image less grainy and hard than the Nikon 1 gives. The built-in fast zoom starts at f/1.8.
If you have not seen my RX100 review, I suggest you read it here. Best pocket camera ever and now with the II you get more features packed into this little guy. So many choices these days I know, but if you want small, this is it. Again, same IQ as the RX100 but with slightly better low light high ISO, EVF capability, tilt swivel screen and WiFi. There is also a new zoom feature where you use the lens dial to switch between focal lengths like 28-35-50, etc. Nifty new feature.
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE RX100II at AMAZON NOW!
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE RX100II AT B&H PHOTO NOW!
Some images from the RX100II below. Same IQ as the RX100 but with the new features. Sony is selling the RX100II alongside the RX100 V1 for those that do not want the new features. The RX100II comes in at $748, not cheap but the price you pay for pocket QUALITY. 🙂 The RX1R was in stock but sold out quickly.
The RX100M2 is my first camera with WiFi. It is so much fun and so easy to transfer photos to my iPhone and to control the camera with my iPhone. I don’t think I will be using my iPhone to control the camera too often, but the ability to easily transfer photos to my iPhone is amazing and, alone, worth the the extra $100 to me.
Hello Steve,
I’ve been an avid reader at your site for quite some time. I’m still trying to decide on my first quality digital camera purchase (although I’ve been reading about cameras for a while, I’ll be new to digital photo/video when I finally decide on one). I was pretty set on the RX100, but decided to wait to see how the M II would compare. While I like the new features such as the tilting LCD and WIFI, they would not sway my decision to get the M II over the original, especially if the original sees a price drop in the coming months. However, the only upgrade that might get me to buy the M II is the 24p video capability. The reason that the RX100 is attractive to me is that both still and video are important to me, as is portability. I’ve done some research on frame rate and the “film” look online, but as I am new to all this, after a while my head starts spinning with all the conflicting info out there. In your, or any of your other readers opinions, is 24p video capability worth paying more for the M II (considering the other upgrades, while nice, don’t really matter much to me)? Is there a good online source for useful info on this subject (I’ve found plenty of info, but much of it seems conflicting)? Thanks for your time, and your site!
Matt
Id go for the II – offers the screen, wifi, EVF capable, better low light, etc.
I got my RX100 II last night and LOVE it. Image quality is excellent right up through ISO 3200 IMO. Love the tilt screen and the WiFi features work as advertised. Worth every penny IMO.
I also have the new Sony case (LCJ-RXC/B) and like it. Very expensive for non-leather, but it’s otherwise well-made and a good overall design for the camera.
Would love to get the EVF as well, but the $450 price is far too high. If Sony ever drops the price to something reasonable I will buy one.
FYI – the original Sony leather case (which is great) for the RX100 will NOT fit the RX100 II. There’s a new model of the case that will fit both cameras.
Hello Steve, Whats stopping them from installing installing a leica mount on this camera. Do you see it happening soon.
M
Not possible. This is not an interchangeable lens camera, it is a pocket cam with a built in zoom 🙂
I know it’s a fixed lens Steve the engineers at sony are focused on a consumerized pocket camera while back in 2005 Epson made the ccd sensor size 23.7 X 15.6 for a Leica mount camera the RD1. I just don’t understand why any of these companies have gotten around to answer the beauty of RD1 it’s still an solid workhorse with plenty of punch to a pixel and the additional Leica glass is just “pure art”. It just seems like a very long wait for this to happen. I know it will and with your news of one coming in October. Thanks for your blog Steve.What has been stopping them from making one?
The fact its got just a 1″ sensor which results in a 2.7x crop factor would be the main limitation as far as usefulness goes. Just wouldn’t be any point really either because the body isn’t any thinner than a NEX really, so a NEX5n or similar makes tons more sense, with just a 1.5x crop from a much larger sensor.
RX100’s advantage is that the lens retracts into the body so its pocketable.
I disagree. I also own a NEX and far prefer the RX as my always-carry camera. Try adding a lens with equivalent zoom range and equivalent speed to a NEX and see how small it is. NEX cameras are small but the lenses are not. When I want a compact, pocketable camera to take everywhere, it’s the RX100 II.
Jeff,
You are missing the point. A NEX has a big lens sticking out of the small body and cannot be carried in a regular pocket. The RX 100 fits easily in a coat or pants pocket. It also has a sharp Zeiss lens while the NEX isn’t as sharp using the regular Sony lenses made for that camera. You can buy Zeiss lenses for NEX and Leica lens adaptors but then the price is getting much higher than the RX 100. They are apples and oranges.
Ordered! Still the best concert photography camera for when they won’t let you bring in a large camera. Can’t wait to get it.
Besides the zoom, is there any other reason to get this over a Ricoh GR? How does the IQ compare in regards to sharpness and shallow DoF(I know there both not good for Shallow DoF but its good to know if theyre somewhat capable when you need them),
The GR will offer much nicer IQ and low light performance. If you are OK with 28mm only, the GR is the way to go. If you want a zoom and versatility, the RX100II is the way to go.
I just picked up a GR and the ergonomics are amazing, and the IQ is very good, but the RX100 is pretty close, especially if you down rez the files to 16meg. Smaller sensor is a little noiser, but its also f1.8 vs f2.8 at 28mm equiv on each, so that helps level the playing field a little bit.
I’m a bit torn which to keep as I probably shoot my RX100 at its widest setting 75% of the time, so the zoom while nice, isn’t all that useful in reality.
I really am curious to get the GW3 for the GR to have the 21mm equiv. That could prove rather useful as I don’t otherwise have any compacts that go that wide.
Both GR and RX100 are really exceptional cameras that just so happen to also fit into your pocket so really tough call
I was really looking forward to your review – but your Nikon V1 special had me pull the trigger. I still am looking forward to it, but just a little worried that perhaps I jumped the gun on the V1.
Well, the RX100II is nice but more for those wanting a pocket solution. I prefer the V1 as it feels and performs like a “camera” not a pocket camera. The IQ of the V1 in compared to the RX100 boils down to this:
Nikon V1 has Nikon colors, Sony has Sony colors
Nikon V1 has more noise at higher ISO
Nikon V1 has better lens options. The 6-7-13, 18.5 and 32 are STELLAR lenses
V1 is $269 with a 10mm, which is also a fantastic lens
RX100II is pocketable, V1 is not. That is what it boils down to. To me, the V1 has a little more something to the output but the RX100II offers things never available in a camera of its size.
The V1 at $269 is a no brainer. $500 less than the RX100II, built in EVF, solid build, long battery life, and IC capability.
If you want pocket, RX100II cant be beat though.
Don’t forget the V1 with electronic shutter has a max speed of 1/16,000th of a second, while the Sony tops out at 1/2000th. Also the V1 can do some kind of fun 30 and 60 fps shooting (help the golf swing perhaps) at full rez, which is probably worth half the price of admission right there, not to mention having some really outstanding (not just for a compact but for any camera) tracking AF too.