It’s like having the compact, fixed-lens version of the A7R II with a ZEISS® Sonnar T* 35 mm F2 permanently attached. With a full-frame 42.4-MP sensor, you capture astounding amount of detail with wide dynamic range. An interesting feature is the world’s first optical variable low-pass filter. With 399 focal plane phase-detection AF points, AF is now fast and accurate in bright and low light. So, it looks like Sony fixed the main complaint of the previous R1XR (slow AF speed), while keeping the amazing image quality.
Add in a built-in pop-up/retractable OLED electronic viewfinder with 2.4-million-dot resolution and a tiltable 3″ LCD screen with 1.2-million-dot resolution (the LCD is not touch screen), and that little camera in your coat pocket becomes quite user-friendly.
Continuous AF is 5 fps with AF Tracking. Movie is Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 60p/60i/30p/24p and 1280 x 720 at 120 fps. It supports 14-bit uncompressed RAW files. ISO ranges from 100–25600 (expandable to ISO 50/64/80/32000/40000/51200/64000/80000/102400).
Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allows easy pairing and sharing with other compatible devices and remote control of the camera using the PlayMemories Camera Apps.
There is no built-in flash (space taken over by the pop-up viewfinder) but there is a hot shoe to attach an external flash. There is also no image stabilization for still photography (electronic SteadyShot image stabilization is for movie only) and, though rule of thumb says that you should theoretically be able to hand hold the camera steady at about 1/30 s, it all depends on how steady your hands are.
Improvement suggestions for the next model (to completely deserve that “pro” label):
– Longer battery life
– Weather sealing and freeze-proofing
– Touch AF
Looks like Sony has another winner on its hands. At a list price of US $3,300 / CAD $4,200, it’s not a cheap camera (but still about US $1,000 cheaper than its closest competitor, the Leica Q). For many enthusiast and pro photographers who can afford the hefty price tag, the amazing image quality (and much improved AF) may be reason enough to purchase this fixed-lens full-frame compact camera that they can easily carry into their coat pocket.
Related Links:
– Sony R1XR II Technical Specifications
– Sony R1XR II Press Release
You can buy the Sony RX1R II at B&H:
– Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II Digital Camera
