In 2017, Sony released a very unusual, interesting, fancy and insanely expensive RX0 camera. It aroused interest due to its incredible functional saturation with a modest size, and on the technical side, it repeated the current compact from the famous Sony RX100 series at that time. Outwardly, the RX0 looked like a typical action camera: it was protected from water, from falls, and a person could stand on its body without consequences. But Sony initially diligently emphasized that this device could be anything but an action camera. The joke is that it was in this capacity that the RX0 showed itself, to put it mildly, not in the best way. And now, almost two years later, a similar new-generation camera comes out - Sony RX0 II, which is very similar to a small, purely cosmetic update.
Key innovations include a new flip screen design and the ability to record 4K video from the camera itself, without the need for an external recorder. And among the possible applications of the new camera is now called recording videos for vlogs and slow motion. The manufacturer is again in no hurry to call the RX0 II an action camera, but this is again not enough to discourage Internet users from comparisons with GoPro and DJI. Previously, this comparison was obviously not in favor of Sony, but over the past two years, a lot could change.
Technical specifications
| Sony RX0 II | sony rx0 | GoPro Hero7 Black | DJI Osmo Action | |
| Image sensor | 1" (13,2 Γ 8,8 mm) BSI-CMOS | 1" (13,2 Γ 8,8 mm) BSI-CMOS | 1/2,3" (6,17 Γ 4,55 mm) CMOS | 1/2,3" (6,17 Γ 4,55 mm) CMOS |
| Effective sensor resolution | 15 MP | 15 MP | 10 MP | 12 MP |
| Built-in Image Stabilizer | digital | no | digital | digital |
| Lens | EGF 24 mm, Ζ/4 | EGF 24 mm, Ζ/4 | EGF 17 mm, Ζ/2,8 | EGF 16 mm, Ζ/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 Γ 3200 | 4800 Γ 3200 | 3648 Γ 2736 | 4000 Γ 3000 |
| Video resolution | up to 3840Γ2160 @ 30 fps | up to 1920Γ1080 @ 60 fps | up to 3840Γ2160 @ 60 fps | up to 3840Γ2160 @ 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 | Tilt, 1,5" diagonal, 230 pixels | Fixed, 1,5" diagonal, 230 pixels | Fixed, 2" diagonal, 320 pixels | Primary: fixed, 2,25" diagonal, 230 pixels optional: fixed diagonal 1,4 inches, resolution 144 pixels |
| Viewfinder | β | β | β | β |
| Interfaces | microUSB 2.0, microHDMI, minijack | microUSB 2.0, microHDMI, minijack | micro USB 3.0, micro HDMI | micro USB 3.0, micro HDMI |
| 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 |
| Food | Battery NP-BJ1, 700 mAh | Battery NP-BJ1, 700 mAh | Battery, 1220 mAh | Battery, 1300 mAh |
| Body materials | Aluminium alloy | Aluminium alloy | Plastic | Plastic |
| DEF | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 |
| Dimensions | 59 Γ 41 Γ 35 mm | 59 Γ 41 Γ 30 mm | 65 Γ 45 Γ 35 mm | 65 Γ 42 Γ 35 mm |
| Weight | 132 g | 110 g | 117 g | 124 g |
| Actual price |
It is very easy to believe that the RX0 II does not really imply competition with the mentioned GoPro and DJI. Just look at Sony's lineup of true action cameras, namely the FDR-X3000 and HDR-AS300 models. The new RX0 does not fit into this series at all, and it is unlikely that the company would have allowed internal competition in any form. So what we really have here is a camera for everyday shooting: very small, very durable and very strange, but therefore also arousing interest.
Design and ergonomics
The RX0 II looks very stylish. By God, if one of the action camera manufacturers bothered with the design as much as Sony in this case, we would live in a much more beautiful world. I'm exaggerating, of course, but from an aesthetic point of view, the camera is very good - it's nice to hold it in your hands, it looks interesting in the working position, plus it's very pleasant to the touch.
The main innovation - a folding screen - entailed a noticeable increase in the thickness of the case. And if the design hasn't changed much, but being 5 millimeters thicker, the Sony RX0 II feels a little different in the hands. The screen itself remains as compact as all the mechanical buttons around it, but now you can press them from different angles. It may sound silly, but working with this confusing interface just got a little easier.
The body of the camera is made from a single piece of aluminum with the necessary cutouts for buttons and "technical compartments". One of these compartments is located on the right side - under a thick aluminum cover with a rubber gasket and there is a battery. And the second is located behind, to the left of the screen and hides all communication connectors (microUSB, microHDMI, mini-jack) and a slot for a memory card. And here, perhaps, it is worth clarifying right away that the camera is very demanding on the speed of memory cards and does not hesitate to cut some functions. For example, shooting video in 4K and recording at a high frame rate.
Below is a standard thread for mounting on a tripod. And on the top end we have two large round buttons responsible for turning on / off and shooting. The right button is two-position - the first level of pressing activates autofocus, the second takes a frame in photo mode and starts recording in video mode.
Separately, it should be noted the corrugated texture of the surface of the case around the perimeter. Firstly, it allows you to increase the resistance to compression without abusing the thickness of the material. And secondly, itβs just more convenient to hold the camera in your hand, which is especially critical when working underwater without gloves. And judging by the way the camera designers approached their tasks, underwater shooting is clearly one of the main advantages. The Sony RX0 II has an IPX8 rating, is fully dust and water resistant, can withstand 10 meters of water immersion, and that without any additional accessories. For better protection, a special case is provided that allows you to work at depths up to 100 meters, but you will have to buy it separately.
Moreover, the camera body is resistant to drops from a height of up to two meters - I dropped the camera several times on different surfaces from the height of my height without any consequences. The case may scratch slightly if you throw the camera on concrete or paving slabs, but falling on a wooden floor or lawn, even from a greater height, does not threaten anything.
Before getting to know the Sony RX0 II, I had never dealt with rugged cameras with flip screens. All underwater or pseudo-submersible devices have always had fixed displays, because in this case it is much easier to implement water resistance. So this element inspired some concerns. Alas, I did not have the opportunity to test the work at a 10-meter depth, but in the process of preparing the review, the camera was in the children's pool, in the bathroom, and even in the washing machine (without spinning) - and absolutely nothing happened to it. So for protection and external performance, she deserves the highest praise. Although it has obvious and perhaps insurmountable problems in terms of ergonomics - this applies to the screen, the buttons around it and the interface itself.
Display and interface
As you already understood, the Sony RX0 II as a whole is a very ambiguous device, but if you take everything apart piece by piece, then its most controversial element will definitely be the screen. Firstly, it is very small - it can be difficult to assess the correct exposure setting on it, not to mention the accuracy of focusing. And although she has no particular problems with either, the fact itself is very important for professional use.
And secondly, on the screen with a diagonal of one and a half inches, almost the same menu is displayed as in the RX100 line of compacts and Alpha A7 full-frame mirrorless cameras. The menu itself is normal, it has long become familiar and understandable - Sony professional cameras have been on the wave of popularity in recent years, so the menu in the same style is a completely logical step. The only problem is that not much information fits on a small screen, horizontal scrolling becomes almost infinite, and there are no dial selectors for faster navigation. Switching individual settings between takes becomes a real hell, and if you also have to do it on the go - write wasted.
Source: 3dnews.ru