Sony RX10 II vs RX100 VII

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2015 and July 2019. Both the RX10 II and the RX100 VII are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with an one-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Sony RX10 II		Sony RX100 VII
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24-200mm f/2.8		24-200mm f/2.8-4.5
20 MP – 1" sensor		20 MP – 1" sensor
4K/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (64 - 25,600)		ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1229k dots		3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen)		Tilting touchscreen
14 shutter flaps per second		90 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
400 shots per battery charge		260 shots per battery charge
129 x 88 x 102 mm, 813 g		102 x 58 x 43 mm, 302 g

Check RX10 II offers at
ebay.com
Check RX100 VII price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony RX10 II and the Sony RX100 VII. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX100 VII is considerably smaller (48 percent) than the Sony RX10 II. Moreover, the RX100 VII is substantially lighter (63 percent) than the RX10 II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the RX10 II is splash and dust resistant, while the RX100 VII does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

Concerning battery life, the RX10 II gets 400 shots out of its Sony NP-FW50 battery, while the RX100 VII can take 260 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Sony RX10 II	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	400	Y	Jun 2015	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
2.		Sony RX100 VII	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	302 g	260	n	Jul 2019	EUR 1 299	amazon.com
3.		Canon 80D	139 mm	105 mm	79 mm	730 g	960	Y	Feb 2016	EUR 1 285	ebay.com
4.		Canon G3 X	123 mm	77 mm	105 mm	733 g	300	Y	Jun 2015	EUR 899	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D500	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	860 g	1240	Y	Jan 2016	EUR 2 399	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D7200	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	1110	Y	Mar 2015	EUR 1 179	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic FZ2000	138 mm	102 mm	135 mm	915 g	350	n	Sep 2016	EUR 1 249	amazon.com
8.		Sony A6300	120 mm	67 mm	49 mm	404 g	400	Y	Feb 2016	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
9.		Sony A6500	120 mm	67 mm	53 mm	453 g	350	Y	Oct 2016	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
10.		Sony RX10	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	420	Y	Oct 2013	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
11.		Sony RX10 III	133 mm	94 mm	127 mm	1051 g	420	Y	Mar 2016	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
12.		Sony RX100 II	102 mm	58 mm	38 mm	281 g	350	n	Jun 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
13.		Sony RX100 III	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	290 g	320	n	May 2014	EUR 849	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	EUR 1 149	ebay.com
15.		Sony RX100 V	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	299 g	220	n	Oct 2016	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX100 VI	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	301 g	240	n	Jun 2018	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The RX100 VII was somewhat cheaper (by 8 percent) than the RX10 II at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an one-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.7. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 20 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the RX10 II and the RX100 VII have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the RX100 VII is much more recent (by 4 years and 1 month) than the RX10 II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The RX100 VII has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 64-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under review, the RX10 II has a notably higher overall DXO score than the RX100 VII (overall score 7 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 1.2 bits higher color depth, 0.2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
2.		Sony RX100 VII	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.8	12.4	418	63
3.		Canon 80D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.2	1135	79
4.		Canon G3 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	521	63
5.		Nikon D500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.0	14.0	1324	83
6.		Nikon D7200	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.5	14.6	1333	87
7.		Panasonic FZ2000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	538	70
8.		Sony A6300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.4	13.7	1437	85
9.		Sony A6500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.5	13.7	1405	85
10.		Sony RX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.9	12.6	474	69
11.		Sony RX10 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.1	12.6	472	70
12.		Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67
13.		Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67
14.		Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
15.		Sony RX100 V	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	586	70
16.		Sony RX100 VI	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	12.3	478	64
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The RX10 II and the RX100 VII are similar in the sense that both feature an electronic viewfinder, which is helpful when framing images in bright sunlight. Moreover, their viewfinders offer an identical resolution of 2359k dots. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony RX10 II and Sony RX100 VII along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0/s	Y	Y
2.		Sony RX100 VII	2359	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	Y	1/2000s	90.0/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon 80D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon G3 X	optional	n	3.2 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
5.		Nikon D500	optical	Y	3.2 / 2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
6.		Nikon D7200	optical	Y	3.2 / 1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	Y	n
7.		Panasonic FZ2000	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Sony A6300	2359	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	n
9.		Sony A6500	2359	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Sony RX10	1440	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Sony RX10 III	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	14.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0 / 1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Sony RX100 V	2359	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX100 VI	2359	n	3.0 / 1229	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the RX10 II, but is missing on the RX100 VII is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Sony RX100 VII has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the RX10 II and the RX100 VII have zoom lenses built in. The RX10 II has a 24-200mm f/2.8-2.8 optic and the RX100 VII offers a 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the RX10 II and the RX100 VII write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
2.		Sony RX100 VII	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
3.		Canon 80D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon G3 X	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Nikon D500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Nikon D7200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Panasonic FZ2000	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Sony A6300	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Sony A6500	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Sony RX10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Sony RX10 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Sony RX100 III	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Sony RX100 V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX100 VI	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the RX10 II has a hotshoe, while the RX100 VII does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

The RX100 VII is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the RX10 II has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the RX10 II was succeeded by the Sony RX10 III. Further information on the features and operation of the RX10 II and RX100 VII can be found, respectively, in the Sony RX10 II Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony RX100 VII Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Sony RX10 II better than the Sony RX100 VII or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II:

• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (7 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• Richer colors: Generates images with noticeably better colors (1.2 bits more color depth).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.3 stops ISO advantage).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.59x).
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 921k dots).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/3200s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (400 versus 260) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in June 2015).

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII:

• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (90 vs 14 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 129x88mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 511g or 63 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 1 month of technical progress since the RX10 II launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX10 II emerges as the winner of the contest (12 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony RX10 II and the Sony RX100 VII place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the RX10 II or the RX100 VII. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Sony RX10 II	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
2.		Sony RX100 VII	4.5/5	..	4/5	..	4/5	5/5	Jul 2019	EUR 1 299	amazon.com
3.		Canon 80D	4/5	+ +	4.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	EUR 1 285	ebay.com
4.		Canon G3 X	3.5/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	EUR 899	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D500	5/5	+ +	4.7/5	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	EUR 2 399	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D7200	4/5	+ +	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2015	EUR 1 179	ebay.com
7.		Panasonic FZ2000	..	+	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2016	EUR 1 249	amazon.com
8.		Sony A6300	4.5/5	+	..	85/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2016	EUR 1 099	ebay.com
9.		Sony A6500	5/5	+ +	3.5/5	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
10.		Sony RX10	5/5	+	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
11.		Sony RX10 III	5/5	+	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2016	EUR 1 599	ebay.com
12.		Sony RX100 II	5/5	+ +	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
13.		Sony RX100 III	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	EUR 849	ebay.com
14.		Sony RX100 IV	4.5/5	+ +	..	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	EUR 1 149	ebay.com
15.		Sony RX100 V	4.5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX100 VI	4.5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2018	EUR 1 299	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Check RX100 VII price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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