WHAT’S NEW
IT MAY BE pocket-sized, but the seventh
generation of Sony’s Cyber-shot RX
is packed with big camera features... in
fact, Sony is claiming it delivers “Alpha 9
performance in your pocket”.
The new RX100 VII is built around
a ‘1.0-type’ format stacked ‘Exmor RS’
CMOS sensor with an effective
resolution of 20.1 megapixels and a
sensitivity range equivalent to ISO 100
to 12,800 (extendable to ISO 25,600).
It’s mated with Sony’s latest-generation
‘Bionz X’ image processor which
enables continuous shooting at 60 fps
withframe-by-frame adjustment of AF
andAEandat 20 fps with no black-out
(both A9-equivalent specs).
e mode called ‘Single Burst
captures at 90 fps, but only
ofseven images (either
AW),and is designed to
heshooting of fast-paced
s uses the camera’s sensor
ich,as on the A9, has
forrolling distortion and a top
/32,000 second.
X100VII’s Zeiss Vario-Sonnar
00mm f2.8-4.5 zoom lens
d toa hybrid autofocusing
mwhich uses 357 phase-
ncedetection measuring
and425 contrast-detection
andhas what Sony claims is
ld’sfastest AF speed of 0.
Sony’s ‘Real-Time Tracking’
TimeEye AF’ capabilities
ppearance for the first timeon a compact camera. Both employ
AI-based object recognition to enhance
tracking accuracy and speed. Both are
also available when recording video,
and the RX100 VII gets a number of
new features to enhance its appeal
to video-makers including a standard
3.5mm stereo audio input, an HLG
profile for a smoother HDR workflow
(plus the S-Gamut3.Cine. S-Log3, S-
Gamut3 and S-Log3 profiles), uprated
‘4K Active SteadyShot’ hybrid image
stabilisation, extended recording dura-
tions for 4K, and vertical-position data
recording for movies. The RX100 VII
records 4K UHD footage using the
sensor’s full pixel readout (i.e. with no
pixel binning) with a bit-rate of up to
100 Mbps using the XAVC S codec.
An intervalometer is provided for
making time-lapse movie sequences,
and Full HD footage can be recorded at
100 or 120 fps for slow-mo effects.
Like the previous model, the RX
VII has an aluminium bodyshell with a
pop-up type OLED EVF with a resolu-
tion of 2.36 megadots and a 7.5 cm
tilt-adjustable (including a 180-degrees
flip) TFT LCD monitor screen with touch
controls. It also has a pop-up flash, opti-
cal image stabilisation (giving up to four
stops of correction for camera shake at
200mm) and both WiFi (with NFC) and
Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity
The Sony RX100 VII is priced at
$1999. For more information visit
http://www.sony.com.auSEVENTH HEAVEN FOR
SONY’S RX100 COMPACT
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make anapOLYMPUS UPGRADES
E-M1 II AUTOFOCUSING
AND MORE
OWNERS OF OLYMPUS’S OM-D E-M1 Mark II M
mirrorless camera have no doubt been a bit envious of the
E-M1X’s turbocharged autofocusing capabilities, but a
firmware upgrade for the earlier model helps close the gap.
Firmware Version 3.0 upgrades the E-M1 II to the same
advanced autofocusing algorithm which drives the E-M1X’s
system, including for Movie AF. It also adds the latest
features such as C-AF Centre Priority, 25-points ‘Group’
area mode and C-AF+MF. Additionally, low-light sensitivity
is extended down to -6.0 EV (at ISO 100). In other areas
of performance Olympus
says that noise levels at
the higher ISO settings is
reduced by around a third
of a stop, and Low ISO
Processing (Detail Priority)
is added to enhance
resolution. The low-end of
the sensitivity range can
be extended down to ISO 100. Added features include
anti-flicker detection and correction, OM-Log400 gamma
profile (for an extended dynamic range with video record-
ing), between three and 15 frames selectable with Focus
Stacking, a new ‘Art Filter’ called Instant Film, and acces-
sibility to the menus or playback when the camera is writing
to the memory. The E-M1 II firmware upgrade is available as
a free download from https://cs.olympus-imaging.jp/jp/sup-
port/cs/dslr/fw/index.html#omd
The upgrade also provides support for the new M.Zuiko
Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20. This is a 2.0x converter
that’s compatible with three current M.Zuiko PRO series
lenses – the ED 45-150mm f2.8, the ED 300mm f4.0 IS and
the ED 150-400mm f4.5 TC1.25x IS supertelephoto zoom
which will be launched in 2020. Like these lenses and the
higher-end OM-D camera bodies, the MC-20 has a fully
weather sealed design and can also operate in subzero
temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. It has a
nine-element optical construction which includes one
element made from glass with a high refractive index.
It weighs 150 grams and is compatible with the five-axis
in-body image stabilisation in the likes of the E-M1X, E-M
Mark II and E-M5 Mark II. It’s priced at $699. For more
information visit http://www.olympus.com.au