A few weeks ago I reviewed the Ricoh GR IIIx and shared my thoughts on why it’s a perfect point and shoot camera for fine art photographers and those who want to create gorgeous, high quality photos in a pocket-sized camera. Today I’m going to be reviewing a similar, but more approachable point and shoot camera, the Sony RX100 VII. I was actually shooting with the Sony RX100 VII and Ricoh GR IIIx at the same time on my recent trip to Miami, so I could test them against each other and decide which one I liked best. The Sony RX100 VII is definitely a bit less intimidating and easier to use for those who might not have as much experience with photography or who don’t want to spend too much time flipping through a menu screen to get the shots that they want. The Sony RX100 VII is filled with features that make it a great versatile, travel camera, especially if you want something that is an all-in-one point and shoot with amazing photo and video features. Both of these cameras are incredible for how small they are, but I recommend reading both blog posts so you can fully understand each camera for what they offer. The Canon G7X Mark II and Mark III are also extremely popular (and almost cult-y!) point and shoot cameras but they can be difficult to get your hands on, especially without paying an inflated price. The Ricoh and Sony are currently not sold out everywhere so you can get them for a standard price, and in my opinion, offer just as many great features and are capable of gorgeous photos too! I wanted to share a few of my favorite features of the Sony RX100 VII, along with tons of sample photos so you can decide if this is the camera for you!
STANDOUT FEATURES OF THE SONY RX100 VII
24-200MM ZOOM LENS
One of the main features that differentiates the Sony RX100 VII from the Ricoh GR IIIx is that the Sony has a 24-200mm zoom lens and the Ricoh has a 40 mm fixed lens. A zoom lens comes in handy in so many situations if you’re using it as a travel camera. Personally, I often find myself on boat rides or tours or hikes where I need to zoom in to capture an animal or a monument off in the distance. I’m always surprised by how much I use a zoom lens when I’m traveling, but it’s because I’m constantly switching between taking landscapes and portraits or trying to capture architecture or animals. It just makes it a super versatile camera because you can use it in pretty much any situation. I tend to shoot wide, especially when I’m traveling, which makes the fact that the lens goes as wide as 24 mm a huge plus for me. I have a professional lens that is only 28-70mm and I truly do notice the difference when I’m missing that extra 4 mm of focal length. Over the years, I’ve learned that I need a zoom lens in my life at all times. It’s just a necessity! It allows you to capture such a variety of photos in a short period of time without having to switch to other cameras to get what you need.
POP-UP FLASH
I love a tiny camera with a pop-up flash. First of all, it’s just cute, but second of all, it adds another layer of potential for a camera. It means you can take it with you out to dinner, or on a nighttime walk, or to a party with your friends. It means you’re not limited just because you’re in a dark environment. Not to mention, flash photos in general have been having sort of a reemergence in popularity over the last few years. For a while it seemed like natural lighting was all the rage, but it’s fun to see flash photography come back into style like it was in the 80s and 90s. Since the Sony RX100 VII can shoot in full auto or full manual, you can have complete control over the flash and whether you want it to come on automatically or not. It’s pretty rare that I use the flash, but I do love to have the option. It’s great for candid and lifestyle photography, or for a fill-flash if you’re in an environment with dark or unusual shadows.
AMAZING VIDEO CAPABILITIES
It’s hard to believe this little camera can do 4K video, but leave it up to Sony to make great video accessible with even a miniature pocket camera. The Sony RX100 VII can shoot up to 4K at 30 fps and is perfect for vlogging or shooting at unusual angles because of it’s articulating screen. It also has an Active Steadyshot mode that helps with smoother video and reducing camera shake. Sony is always competitive and top of the line when it comes to video, so you won’t really find better video in a point and shoot at this pricepoint.
F/2.8-4.5 WIDE APERTURE ZEISS LENS
At this point in my career, I’ll rarely ever buy a camera if it doesn’t have a lens with at least an f/2.8 aperture capability. I find myself shooting in low light more than I’d like, so I absolutely need a lens that can handle it. Just as a general rule, I pretty much shoot with as wide of an aperture as my lenses can offer. This means I prefer shooting in aperture priority so I can leave the aperture at f/2.8 and the camera handles the rest. I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you have some experience because it will often lead to overexposed images. If you’re ready to experiment though, try it out and adjust the exposure compensation if you’re getting blown out highlights. You will likely have to adjust the exposure for each lightling scenario. Once you get used to it, it’s not too much of a hassle to change the exposure constantly because it’s totally worth it. Using the widest aperture of the lens will get you gorgeous portraits though, and is perfect for photographing food, flowers, or other close-up subjects. It will give you a nice, dreamy background and makes your photos immediately look more expensive. For wide landscapes or wide street shots, I will usually change the aperture to f/5.6 or 6.3 to get more of the image in sharp focus. The fact that this camera offers a Zeiss f/2.8 lens means it’s serious business though. Zeiss lenses are known to be super sharp and have a great reputation for being some of the best glass out there. You can’t go wrong with a Zeiss lens.
COMPLETE CREATIVE CONTROL WITH AUTO AND MANUAL OPTIONS
What I love most about all three of the point and shoot cameras I’ve mentioned is that they all include an option to shoot in full manual. They aren’t just point and shoot cameras. You can adjust each and every setting to your liking and use it just as intricately and specifically as you might with an expensive DSLR or mirrorless camera. They also all have the option of shutter priority, aperture priority and full auto mode, so they cater to every kind of photographer, from beginner to professional. You don’t have to be a camera genius to work these little point and shoots. I do find the Ricoh GR IIIx to be a little more complicated to use for the average consumer, but both the Canon G7X Mark II and the Sony RX100 VII can be as simple as you want it to be. You can pull it out, turn it on and snap a photo in 2 seconds, or you can spend 30 minutes adjusting the camera settings to your liking before capturing the perfect, planned pro-level photo. There’s just no limit to who can use this camera. They all include some interesting in-camera creative modes like black and white, sepia, and various color tones, so you could spend days testing out all of the options and creating some unique photos.
RICOH GR IIIX AND THE SONY RX100 VII
ANY NEGATIVES?
The Sony RX100 VII is an amazing little camera, but for me personally one of the main features I need in a camera is a multiple exposure function (you can read more about what a multiple exposure is here). I love layering images and creating unique and strange photos, but for most people, this is not a deal breaker. You always have the option of experimenting with something like this in photoshop later if multiple exposures are something you’re interested in trying out.
There isn’t anything else really that I didn’t love about this camera. I actually used this one more than the Ricoh GR IIIx on my trip because it was just easier to use. The zoom lens came in handy quite a bit, and I didn’t feel the need to go into the menu screen too often to adjust settings. It’s just a great all-around camera for all experience levels. If I had to be nit-picky, I’d say the camera could be a bit slow turning on and off, which was an issue when I was on a boat tour in the everglades attempting to catch alligators as we drove by them on the boat. But in most scenarios, the camera was plenty fast enough to capture the photo I needed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I find the Sony RX100 VII to be similar to the Canon G7X Mark II that I have in a lot of ways. They both take beautiful photos for their size and do surprisingly well in their full auto modes. They are incredibly travel-friendly and small, but also feel fancy in your hand. They both have zoom lenses that make them versatile and multi-functional. The Sony definitely wins in the video category though, as the Canon G7X Mark II and Mark III are a bit more dated, so if you think you’ll be doing more video, I’d recommend the Sony. The Ricoh GR IIIx is really the one that’s the most different than the Sony and Canon, and would take a bit more getting used to. I would recommend the Ricoh for photographers who are maybe more advanced and are in need of higher quality images from a better sensor. If you’re just hoping to capture photos from your travels for sharing to your blog or social media, or you want a camera that covers a lot of ground but is small and compact, the Sony RX100 VII and Canon G7X Mark II are great options. So… which one would I choose? There’s nothing inherently wrong with the Sony in any capacity, I just personally would prefer the Canon G7X Mark II because I prefer the color tones of Canon, or the Ricoh GR IIIx because it includes a multiple exposure function. These are just personal preferences though, and come from years of experience of knowing which brands and features I prefer. Sony cameras are just as reliable though and it really all comes down to your personal style. I’d definitely recommend browsing through the images in this blog post to decide if this camera matches your personal style. :) All of the images I included below are edited very lightly in order to preserve the true aesthetic of the images right out of camera. I have a full YouTube video coming soon too so stay tuned!
Don’t forget to check out my blog posts about the Canon G7X Mark II and the Ricoh GR IIIx too. I also have a blog post about the 15 Best Digital Cameras for Beginner Photographers Under $1500 if you’re looking for even more options!
WHERE TO BUY THE SONY RX100 VII CAMERA
I always recommend B&H Photo because they have competitive prices, but with crazy fast shipping and excellent customer service!
SONY RX100 VII: B&H Photo
RECOMMENDED CARRYING CASE: MegaGear Ever Ready PU Leather Camera Case
WHERE TO BUY THE RICOH GRIIIx:
RICOH GR IIIX: B&H Photo
RECOMMENDED CARRYING CASE: Ricoh GC-12 Soft Case
WHERE TO BUY THE CANON G7X MARK II:
(a bit harder to find but you can typically find gently used options or refurbished ones)
Amazon (usually renewed or refurbished)
KEH Camera (used options)
eBay (used options)
(By using the affiliate links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)
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If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
(click to enlarge images)
