Sony · Camera History

Sony RX100 Series

Sony's premium 1-inch compact — the benchmark for pocketable cameras.

The Sony RX100 series is the definitive premium compact lineup — combining a 1-inch sensor with fast lenses in a genuinely pocketable body. Each generation pushed the formula further: the RX100 VI introduced a 24-200mm zoom lens and a pop-up EVF, trading fast apertures for extraordinary reach; the RX100 VII added real-time tracking and 20fps burst. The series remains the benchmark for pocketable premium compact cameras.

📷 8 generations 💷 £ → £1099 current
1
RX100
Generation 1
Sony RX100
£144 Released 2012
20MP Full HD 1080p/60 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS 10fps (focus fixed at the first frame) ~330 shots (CIPA) 240g (with battery and card)
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2
Cyber-shot RX100 II
Generation 2
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II
£449 Released 2013
20MP Full HD 1080p/60 Contrast-detect AF, 25 areas, face detection and tracking Optical SteadyShot (in the lens) 10fps (2.5fps with continuous AF) ~350 shots (CIPA) 281g (with battery)
What's new in this generation
  • Price: +£305 vs previous
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3
RX100 III
Generation 3
Sony RX100 III
£538 Released 2014
20MP Full HD 1080p/60 (XAVC S) 25-point contrast-detect AF, Eye AF, Lock-on AF Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS 10fps (2.9fps with AF-S per frame) ~320 shots (CIPA) 290g (with battery and card)
What's new in this generation
  • IBIS added
  • Video: Full HD 1080p/60 (XAVC S)
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4
RX100 IV
Generation 4
Sony RX100 IV
£600 Released 2015
20MP 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2 25-point contrast-detect AF, Eye AF, Lock-on AF Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS 16fps (5.5fps with AF) ~280 shots (CIPA) 298g (with battery and card)
What's new in this generation
  • Burst rate: 16fps (5.5fps with AF)
  • Video: 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2
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5
RX100 V
Generation 5
Sony RX100 V
£637 Released 2016
20MP 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2 315-point phase-detect + 25-point contrast hybrid AF, Eye AF Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS 24fps with AF/AE tracking ~220 shots (CIPA) 299g (with battery and card)
What's new in this generation
  • Burst rate: 24fps with AF/AE tracking
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6
RX100 VI
Generation 6
Sony RX100 VI
£700 Released 2018 The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
20MP 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF Optical SteadyShot 24fps ~240 shots (CIPA) 267g (body only)
What's new in this generation
  • Video: 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR
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7
RX100 VA
Generation 7
Sony RX100 VA
£865 Released 2018
20MP 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2 315-point phase-detect + 25-point contrast hybrid AF, Eye AF Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS 24fps with AF/AE tracking ~220 shots (CIPA) 299g (with battery and card)
What's new in this generation
  • IBIS added
  • Video: 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2
  • Price: +£165 vs previous
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8
RX100 VII
Current generation
Sony RX100 VII
£1099 Released 2019 The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
20MP 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking 3-stop Optical SteadyShot 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) ~260 shots (CIPA) 302g (with battery and card)
What's new in this generation
  • Video: 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion
  • Price: +£234 vs previous
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All generations at a glance
Spec RX100 (2012) Cyber-shot RX100 II (2013) RX100 III (2014) RX100 IV (2015) RX100 V (2016) RX100 VI (2018) RX100 VA (2018) RX100 VII (2019)
Price £144£449£538£600£637£700£865£1099
Resolution 20MP20MP20MP20MP20MP20MP20MP20MP
Video Full HD 1080p/60Full HD 1080p/60Full HD 1080p/60 (XAVC S)4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log24K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log24K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log24K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion
Stabilisation Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBISOptical SteadyShot (in the lens)Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBISOptical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBISOptical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBISOptical SteadyShotOptical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS3-stop Optical SteadyShot
Burst Rate 10fps (focus fixed at the first frame)10fps (2.5fps with continuous AF)10fps (2.9fps with AF-S per frame)16fps (5.5fps with AF)24fps with AF/AE tracking24fps24fps with AF/AE tracking20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst)
Battery ~330 shots (CIPA)~350 shots (CIPA)~320 shots (CIPA)~280 shots (CIPA)~220 shots (CIPA)~240 shots (CIPA)~220 shots (CIPA)~260 shots (CIPA)
Weather Sealed NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Weight 240g (with battery and card)281g (with battery)290g (with battery and card)298g (with battery and card)299g (with battery and card)267g (body only)299g (with battery and card)302g (with battery and card)