Sony RX100 VII Brings Advanced Video Features In A Compact Point-And-Shoot

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These days, no one really looks at a point-and-shoot and thinks of it as a powerhouse. If you spend much of your days creating video and photographic content, though, the Sony RX100 VII could very well qualify for one as far as your gear requirements are concerned.

The latest version of Sony’s compact shooter, the point-and-shoot retains the pocket-friendly size of its predecessors, all while integrating several video capture capabilities previously found only in the outfit’s larger SLRs. That means, you get premium features normally available only in Sony’s bigger and more expensive consumer models, making it a great option for content creators looking at more affordable hardware.

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The Sony RX100 VII is equipped with a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor and the outfit’s latest BIONZ X image processor, a combo that gives it shooting speed and autofocus capabilities on par with those on full-frame cameras. It pairs that hardware with a 24-200mm optics made up of four AA lenses and two ED glass elements, all of which work together to achieve superb resolution throughout the entire telephoto range. The sensor can perform continuous shooting at up to 20fps for some serious high-speed image capture, while the autofocus can track subjects at a rate of 60 times per second, making it ideal for use when taking action shots.

Sony claims the new camera boasts the fastest autofocus in the world, locking in subjects in as little 0.02 seconds, all while covering 357 focal-plane phase detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points. It also integrates the real-time tracking found in the outfit’s mirrorless and DSLR models, using AI to track subjects on the move, helping you maintain a constant and steady focus while your subject moves around freely.

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The Sony RX100 VII has optical image stabilization to ensure it can properly compensate for shaky movements, along with an image stabilization algorithm that, the outfit claims, is equivalent to a 4-stop faster shutter speed at 200mm for even steadier results. While it doesn’t have the ridiculous zoom of the Mark VI, the integrated lens has 8x optical zoom, so you can close in on subjects at quite a far distance, while the 3-inch touchscreen display in the rear can be adjusted upward 180 degrees and downward by 90 degrees, giving you plenty of options in shooting angles.

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It can record video footage at up to 4K resolution, complete with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, as well as do it with both real-time eye autofocus and subject tracking on, so you can really make the most of the camera’s integrated talents. There’s a mic input, so you can plug in your sound pickup hardware of choice, along with a vertical shooting option for those who create content for Snapchat, Instagram Stories, and similar platforms. Sony is also offering an optional shooting grip that’s tailor made for the camera’s dimensions, allowing for more convenient handling, whether you’ve got the lens pointed in your direction or elsewhere.

Slated to come out next month, the Sony RX100 VII is priced at $1,200, although you can buy it along with the shooting for just an extra $100 more.

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