subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 5 October 2019 43
same 24-200mm equivalent
f/2.8-4.5 zoom, and the pop-up
viewfinder and tilting touchscreen
are unchanged. Indeed, in one
respect, the VII has gone slightly
backwards, with ‘just’ 20 frames
per second continuous shooting
rather than 24 (which is still twice
as fast as you’ll likely need).
So what has actually changed?
Importantly, Sony has combined
a new-generation sensor with its
latest Bionz X processor, and this
brings a significant update to the
camera’s hybrid AF system. It now
combines 357 on-chip phase-
detection points covering 68%
of the frame with 425 contrast-
detection areas. Sony claims that
the AF acquisition time has
reduced from 0.03sec to 0.02sec,
and while the 1/100sec difference
won’t be noticeable very often, it
should help with fast-moving
subjects. The new innards also
eliminate viewfinder blackout
during continuous shooting.
What’s more important in
practice is that you get the firm’s
impressive Real-time Eye AF and
Real-time Tracking systems,
which in its recent cameras have
proven to be incredibly effective
at holding focus on subjects as
they move around the frame. Set
the camera to continuous focus
and tracking, and you can almost
forget about moving the AF area
or changing focus modes
ever again.
Sony has also added an oddly
named ‘Single Burst Shooting’
option, which takes a burst of
seven frames from a single press
of the shutter button in very quick
succession – either 90fps, 60fps
or 30fps. The idea is that you then
select one frame that catches the
perfect moment, similar to
shooting modes we’ve seen on
some recent smartphones. Other
additions include a comprehensive
intervalometer function for
timelapse shooting.As usual from Sony, the RX100
VII has an impressive video
specification. It can record 4K
3840 x 2160 footage at 25fps
with full pixel readout, which
delivers highly detailed footage
with no field-of-view crop. There’s
a raft of additional advanced
features, including S-Log2 and
S-Log3 profiles for easier colour
grading in post-production, Hybrid
Log-Gamma for HDR recording,
and super-slow motion video at
250fps, 500fps, or 1000fps.
Real-time Eye AF is also available
during video recording, meaning
the camera should keep human
subjects in focus no matter how
they move. At long last, there’s a
microphone socket for recording
higher quality audio, but with
no hotshoe, you’ll need to use a
bracket to fix one to the camera.
Wi-Fi is built in for connecting to
your smartphone or tablet, using
Sony’s Imaging Edge Mobile app.
This allows remote control of thecamera from your phone, with
a live view display and the ability
to change most camera settings.
Inexplicably, though, you can’t set
the focus point by tapping on your
phone’s screen, which is generally
the second-most useful control
after the shutter button. Also,
while the app has a playback
option, it doesn’t show the pictures
on your camera’s memory card,
but instead only those already
transferred to your phone. To copy
images you’re expected to browse
them on the camera instead, and
push them over by pressing the Fn
button (which actually works well).
Sadly, there’s still no in-camera
raw converter for optimising your
images before sharing them.
Bluetooth is also on board, but
disappointingly is only used for
geotagging your images. Unlike
with Canon or Panasonic, you
can’t use your phone as a simple
remote release, or browse
through your photos whileThe lens is an excellent
performer, given its zoom
range and compact size
30mm equiv, 1/1250sec at f/4, ISO 100