In 2017, Sony released a very unusual, interesting, high-tech, and extremely expensive camera, the RX0. It captured attention due to its incredible functionality packed into a compact size, closely mirroring the then-current model from the famous Sony RX100 series. Externally, the RX0 resembled a typical action camera: it was water-resistant, drop-proof, and could easily support a person standing on it. However, Sony initially emphasized that this device could be anything but an action camera. The irony is that it performed—let’s say—less than optimally in that role. Now, almost two years later, a similar next-generation camera is coming out—the Sony RX0 II—which appears to be a modest cosmetic upgrade.
Among the main innovations is a new foldable screen and the ability to record 4K video using the camera itself, without the need for an external recorder. The potential uses of the new camera now include recording videos for vlogs and slow-motion shooting. The manufacturer is again reluctant to label the RX0 II as an action camera, but once again, this does not deter internet users from comparing it to GoPro and DJI. Previously, this comparison was clearly not in Sony's favor, but a lot could have changed in the past two years.
Technical Specifications
| Sony RX0 II | Sony RX0 | GoPro Hero7 Black | DJI Osmo Action | |
| Image Sensor | 1" (13.2 × 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS | 1" (13.2 × 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS | 1/2.3" (6.17 × 4.55 mm) CMOS | 1/2.3" (6.17 × 4.55 mm) CMOS |
| Effective Sensor Resolution | 15 MP | 15 MP | 10 MP | 12 MP |
| Built-in Image Stabilizer | digital | none | digital | digital |
| Lens | 24 mm equivalent, ƒ/4 | 24 mm equivalent, ƒ/4 | 17 mm equivalent, ƒ/2.8 | 16 mm equivalent, ƒ/2.8 |
| Photo Format | RAW, JPG | RAW, JPG | JPG | RAW, JPG |
| Video Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Photo Resolution | 4800 × 3200 | 4800 × 3200 | 3648 × 2736 | 4000 × 3000 |
| Video Resolution | up to 3840 × 2160 @ 30 fps | up to 1920 × 1080 @ 60 fps | up to 3840 × 2160 @ 60 fps | up to 3840 × 2160 @ 60 fps |
| Sensitivity | ISO 100–12800 | ISO 125–12800 | no data | ISO 100–3200 |
| Memory Card | microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC + Memory Stick Micro | microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC + Memory Stick Micro | microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC | microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC |
| Display | Tiltable, 1.5-inch diagonal, 230,400 pixels resolution | Fixed, 1.5-inch diagonal, 230,400 pixels resolution | Fixed, 2-inch diagonal, 320,000 pixels resolution | Main: Fixed, 2.25-inch diagonal, 230,400 pixels resolution Additional: fixed diagonal of 1.4 inches, resolution of 144,000 pixels |
| Viewfinder | — | — | — | — |
| Interfaces | microUSB 2.0, microHDMI, mini-jack | microUSB 2.0, microHDMI, mini-jack | microUSB 3.0, microHDMI | microUSB 3.0, microHDMI |
| Wireless modules | Bluetooth 4.1 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Bluetooth 4.1 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Bluetooth 4.1 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Bluetooth 4.2 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac |
| Power | Battery NP-BJ1, 700 mAh | Battery NP-BJ1, 700 mAh | Battery, 1220 mAh | Battery, 1300 mAh |
| Housing materials | Aluminum alloy | Aluminum alloy | Plastic | Plastic |
| Protection | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 59 × 41 × 35 mm | 59 × 41 × 30 mm | 65 × 45 × 35 mm | 65 × 42 × 35 mm |
| Weight | 132 g | 110 g | 117 g | 124 g |
| Current price |
It's easy to believe that the RX0 II is really not meant to compete with the mentioned GoPro and DJI. Just look at the line of true action cameras by Sony, specifically the FDR-X3000 and HDR-AS300 models. The new RX0 fits nowhere in that series, and it's unlikely the company would have allowed any internal competition. So here we have a camera truly designed for everyday shooting: very small, very rugged, and very peculiar, yet interesting.
Design and ergonomics
The RX0 II looks very stylish. Honestly, if any action camera manufacturers paid as much attention to design as Sony did in this case, we would be living in a much better world. I'm exaggerating, of course, but from an aesthetic point of view, the camera is excellent – it's pleasant to hold, looks interesting in operation, plus it feels very nice to the touch.
The main innovation – the flip screen – has led to a noticeable increase in the thickness of the body. While the design has hardly changed, being 5 millimeters thicker, the Sony RX0 II feels slightly different in hand. The screen itself remains compact, as do all the mechanical buttons around it, but now you can press them at different angles. This may sound silly, but working with this complicated interface has become a little bit easier.
The camera body is made from a solid block of aluminum with necessary cutouts for buttons and 'technical compartments'. One of these compartments is located on the right edge under a thick aluminum cover with a rubber gasket, housing the battery. The second is positioned at the back, left of the screen, concealing all communication ports (microUSB, microHDMI, mini-jack) and the memory card slot. It’s worth noting that the camera is very demanding on memory card speed and is not shy about cutting some features. For example, recording video in 4K and shooting at high frame rates.
At the bottom, there is a standard thread for mounting on a tripod. On the top edge, we have two large round buttons for power on/off and shooting. The right button is two-positioned – the first level activates autofocus, and the second captures an image in photo mode and starts recording in video mode.
Notably, the textured surface around the body enhances resistance to compression without overusing material thickness. Additionally, it makes the camera easier to hold in hand, which is particularly critical when working underwater without gloves. Given how the camera designers approached their tasks, underwater shooting is clearly one of its major advantages. The Sony RX0 II body has an IPX8 protection degree, making it completely dust and waterproof, capable of withstanding submersion to a depth of 10 meters without any additional accessories. For enhanced protection, a special case is available for purchase that allows operation at depths of up to 100 meters.
Moreover, the camera body is resistant to drops from heights of up to two meters – I have dropped the camera on various surfaces from my height several times without any consequences. The body may get slightly scratched if dropped on concrete or paving stones, but falling on a wooden floor or lawn from even greater heights poses no risk.
Before encountering the Sony RX0 II, I had not dealt with rugged cameras with flip screens. All underwater or pseudo-underwater devices always had fixed displays, as this makes it much easier to achieve waterproofing. So, this aspect raised some concerns. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to test its performance at a depth of 10 meters, but during the review preparation, the camera was in a children's pool, in the bathtub, and even in the washing machine (without spinning) – and nothing happened to it at all. Therefore, for protection and external execution, it deserves the highest praise. However, it has obvious and possibly insurmountable issues regarding ergonomics – this relates to the screen, the buttons around it, and the interface itself.
Display and Interface
As you may have gathered, the Sony RX0 II is a very controversial device overall, but if we break everything down, its most contentious element will definitely be the screen. Firstly, it is very small – it can be difficult to assess exposure settings correctly, let alone focus accuracy. While it doesn't have significant issues with either, the very fact is very important for professional use.
Secondly, the one-and-a-half-inch screen displays almost the same menu as the RX100 compact line and the full-frame Alpha A7 mirrorless cameras. The menu itself is fine; it has long been familiar and understandable – Sony professional cameras have gained popularity in recent years, so having a uniform menu style is a perfectly logical step. The problem is that the small screen cannot display much information, horizontal scrolling becomes practically endless, and there are no dial selectors for quicker navigation. Switching individual settings in between takes turns into a true nightmare, and if you have to do it on the go – it's a lost cause.
Source: 3dnews.ru
