Sony RX0 Review | 96 Data compared

The Sony RX0 is a matchbox-sized production camera featuring a large 1.0-type Exmor CMOS sensor, a high-quality rectilinear 24mm ZEISS lens, and a rugged duralumin body that is water, shock, and crushproof. Designed to serve as a compact B or C camera for professional setups, it offers extensive production tools like full manual video controls, S-LOG 2, zebra patterning, focus peaking, and a dedicated external microphone input with manual level adjustments. It is capable of recording Full HD internally up to 120p and outputting clean 4K video externally via HDMI, distinguishing itself from typical action cameras by prioritising multi-perspective symmetry and pro-level audio/video customisation. However, the reviewer notes major limitations regarding image quality and usability in documentary environments. The camera lacks any form of internal image stabilisation or continuous autofocus during video recording, making manual focusing on the tiny rear screen quite difficult. Furthermore, its fixed f/4 aperture restricts low-light performance, while internal Full HD down-scaling creates highly distracting noise patterns, noticeable moiré, and aliasing artifacts. The physical design also presents issues, including a highly sensitive power button that drains...

The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX0 is a pocket-sized, $700 camera that blends the rugged build of an action camera with high-end imaging hardware. It features a large 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor—the same sensor used in Sony’s premium RX camera line—allowing it to capture 1080p HD video internally at up to 60 fps, as well as ultra-high frame rate (HFR) slow-motion at up to 960 fps. It is equipped with a fixed 24mm f/4 lens and is robustly built to be waterproof down to 33 feet, shockproof from 6 feet, and crushproof up to 440 foot-pound force. While it cannot record 4K video internally, it can output uncompressed 4:2:2 UHD 4K video via its HDMI port to an external recorder. A major standout feature is its multi-camera timecode synchronization, which allows creators to link and remotely trigger up to 15 cameras simultaneously using a wireless radio commander, making it highly useful for complex bullet-time or 360-degree array setups. The camera's primary strengths lie in its excellent image quality, strong low-light performance (maintaining clean images up to ISO 1000), and a fast sensor...

In his December 2017 review, the author evaluates the Sony RX0 as a unique, ultra-compact camera, highlighting its exceptional build quality, durability, and superior image quality due to its large 1.0-type sensor and ZEISS lens. The device is praised for its portability and professional-grade RAW photo capabilities. Conversely, the review identifies significant limitations, including a tiny, non-tiltable screen, a difficult button interface, and lack of internal 4K recording. Additional cons include short battery life, no built-in stabilization, and a restrictive minimum focus distance.

The Sony RX0 is a remarkably compact and durable system camera weighing just 110 grams, built to withstand water up to 10 metres, drops from 2 metres, and crushing forces of up to 2000N. Despite its action-cam size, it operates like a professional production tool, featuring a high-quality 1-inch, 15.3-megapixel Exmor RS CMOS sensor and a fixed ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm F4 lens. Key strengths include professional video capabilities like S-Log2 gamma settings, 4:2:2 4K image output via micro-HDMI, and multi-camera array synchronisation that allows an operator to control up to 15 cameras simultaneously using a wireless radio commander. It also impresses with its 1/32000 second maximum shutter speed to combat rolling shutter, customizable focus peaking, and an automated Preset Focus mode. However, the camera has notable limitations, starting with a very short battery life of only 35 minutes for actual shooting time. The physical design features highly fiddly buttons arranged around a tiny LCD display, and users must navigate a complex 23-page menu system for almost every configuration change. Its fixed F4 aperture restricts artistic flexibility for photographers looking...

The Sony RX0 is a miniaturised, ultra-rugged fixed-lens camera featuring a large 1-inch, 21-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor and a 24mm-equivalent Zeiss lens with a fixed f/4 aperture. Built like a tank, the camera is exceptionally durable, boasting an IP68 rating that makes it waterproof down to 33 feet (10 metres) and shockproof up to 6.6 feet (2.0 metres) without external housing. It excels as a highly portable "B-roll" or action camera capable of capturing RAW images with great dynamic range, and it can be paired with a smartphone or a wired control box to manage multi-camera arrays for advanced visual effects. However, the camera's compact design introduces significant usability challenges, most notably tiny, cramped physical buttons and a minuscule 1.5-inch non-touch display that is very difficult to read in bright daylight. The user interface is further complicated by complex menus inherited from larger Sony cameras, which are scaled down to almost unreadable text sizes. Additionally, the RX0 suffers from a weak battery life that yields only around 35 minutes of video recording or 240 stills, does not support internal 4K...

The Sony RX0 is a highly durable, ultra-compact camera designed to challenge traditional action cameras by offering premium image quality. It is equipped with a large 1.0-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor and a fixed ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm equivalent lens with a maximum f/4 aperture, packed into a rugged duralumin body. The camera excels in durability, boasting waterproof capabilities down to 10 metres, shockproofing up to drops of 2 metres, and crushproofing up to 200kgf. Additionally, it features professional-tier controls like manual exposure modes (PASM) and 4K video capabilities within a tiny 110-gram frame. The reviewer highlights several major pros, including exceptional dynamic range that outperforms typical action camera rivals and an impressive lack of lens distortion despite the miniature optics. Its "kid-proof" ruggedness and simple two-button physical interface (power and shutter) are also praised as highly practical. On the downside, the camera has notable cons: its image quality only truly shines in good lighting conditions, and the menu system is not intuitive to navigate. Furthermore, some users might consider its 15.3-megapixel resolution to be low, and its high price...

The ePHOTOzine review of the Sony DSC-RX0 highlights the device as a premium, ultra-rugged, and waterproof compact camera featuring a 1-inch 15.3-megapixel sensor paired with a Zeiss Tessar T* 24mm f/4 lens. It excels in producing high-quality still images and, with its compact, durable design, it offers a robust alternative to standard action cameras. Key drawbacks include limited, non-touch 1.5-inch screen navigation, a fixed f/4 aperture that restricts low-light performance, and limited internal video recording capabilities, requiring an external recorder for 4K footage. Additionally, the camera requires a spare battery for extended shooting due to a short battery life.

The Sony RX0 is a highly unique, ultra-compact action camera that resembles a GoPro but is built to a much higher standard like a miniature metal brick. Tested by reviewer Steve Huff as a travel vlog camera in Hawaii, it stands out for its powerhouse construction, housing a 1-inch sensor and a high-quality Zeiss 24mm-equivalent f/4 lens. Major pros highlighted in the review include its exceptional durability—being waterproof up to 33 feet and shockproof—and its superb built-in microphone, which easily outperforms GoPro audio and rivals dedicated external mics. Additionally, its tiny form factor makes it effortless to carry everywhere, while its pro-level feature set allows for advanced tricks like S-Log2 profiles and syncing multiple cameras for bullet-time effects. However, as a first-generation product, the RX0 suffers from several distinct drawbacks that ultimately prevented it from replacing a GoPro for casual video use. The most significant cons are its complete lack of internal image stabilization and its relatively narrow 24mm field of view, which lacks the traditional ultra-wide action camera aesthetic. Furthermore, the camera cannot record 4K video internally, requiring an...

The Sony RX0 is a small, rugged camera designed for professional photographers that features a 15.3MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor, a fixed ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm f/4 lens, and a robust waterproof and shockproof body. In DXOMARK testing, its sensor achieved an overall score of 68, placing it firmly in the middle of the 1-inch sensor category and vastly outperforming standard action cameras like the GoPro Hero5 Black in color depth, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities. Key advantages of the RX0 include its excellent 12.4EV dynamic range that preserves highlights, slightly superior mid-range color depth and dynamic range (specifically around ISO 400–1600) compared to rivals, and an advanced suite of high-frame-rate video capabilities ideal for tough shooting environments. However, the camera has notable limitations when weighed against conventional high-end compacts. Its sports and low-light ISO score is relatively modest, meaning users need to keep sensitivity at or below ISO 500 to ensure optimal, noise-free image quality. At the lowest ISO ranges, its overall signal-to-noise ratio and color sensitivity actually lag slightly behind older models like the Sony RX100 II. Additionally,...

The Sony RX0, reviewed on Have Camera Will Travel, functions as a high-end, miniaturized Alpha-series camera in a rugged, waterproof 1-inch sensor body featuring a 24mm f/4 Zeiss lens, minimal distortion, and 10-bit 4:2:2 4K video output. The camera is noted for its suitability as a professional B-roll tool with a fast 1/32,000s shutter speed, though it is not a traditional action cam. Have Conversely, significant drawbacks include a lack of internal 4K recording, no image stabilization, short battery life, and overheating issues, particularly when using the mobile app. Usability is restricted by a tiny screen, complex menus, a fixed f/4 aperture, and a lack of continuous autofocus.

The KelbyOne Insider review highlights the Sony RX0 as a rugged, miniature, and highly specialized tool featuring an accurate autofocus system, impressive image quality, and professional-grade options like 4:2:2 4K HDMI output and S-Log2, alongside a 1/32,000s shutter speed. However, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a tiny screen with difficult-to-use buttons, a complex 23-page menu system, weak battery life, and potential image noise issues that require careful handling.

The Sony RX0 is a micro-compact camera featuring a 1-inch sensor, the same matrix found in the acclaimed Sony RX100, packing advanced manual controls into a rugged body the size of a GoPro. The reviewer evaluates it strictly as a "point-and-shoot" pocket camera for cycling rather than a video device, highly praising its waterproof, shockproof build and its exceptional, lag-free startup and shooting speeds that allow photos to be captured multiple times faster than a phone or GoPro. When the focus accurately locks, the resulting image quality—especially regarding tonal range—is excellent and far superior to any smartphone or action camera. However, the device suffers from major operational flaws that hinder on-the-bike usability, most notably the lack of a continuous autofocus mode for photography. Cyclists must halt or slowly half-press the shutter to avoid blurry, out-of-focus shots, which defeats the camera's speed advantage while riding. Additional drawbacks include a tiny, basic screen that makes precise framing nearly impossible on the move, a narrow lens angle that lacks the forgiving "fisheye" coverage of traditional action cameras, a total absence of image stabilisation,...