Upgrade Guide
Sony RX1→Sony ZV-1 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The ZV-1 II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most RX1 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the ZV-1 II
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Burst rate15fps vs 5fps (2.5fps with AF-S per frame)
-
Battery life~260 shots (CIPA) vs ~220 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation11 years newer (2023 vs 2012)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | RX1 | ZV-1 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.3 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +1.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.9 | ||
| Documentary | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | +3.7 | ||
| Food | +1.7 | ||
| Macro | +0.9 | ||
| Architecture | +0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | RX1 | ZV-1 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £336 used | £699 | |
| Released | 2012 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/60 | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF | |
| Stabilisation | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps (2.5fps with AF-S per frame) | 15fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 482g (with battery and card) | 292g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optional EVF (FDA-EV1MK) or optical finder | No viewfinder | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Fixed Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD / Memory Stick slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See RX1 and ZV-1 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the ZV-1 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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