Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 user reviews

Pros Superb automatic functions.
LCD display is excellent.
Build quality is great.
Built-in flash works well.

Cons Optical zoom is just 3.6x.
There's no Macro button.

Summary I wanted a compact camera that I could carry everywhere, all the time, with ease. What I read about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R100 sounded really good, so I ordered one plus a Lowepro pouch to keep it safe. The camera is considerably better than I expected. It produces absolutely stunning photographs so I am completely delighted with it.

I really don't find the lack of a view finder any hindrance as the screen brightness can be turned up enabling it can be viewed in sunlight. The only thing that I miss is a fully articulated screen like the Nikon D5100 has, or a tilting screen like the Sony NEX cameras have, but I suppose it would have increased the front to back thickness.

The camera's on-line user guides leave some room for improvement so I look forward to a good book becoming available. I'm still trying to get my head around the differences between the dial settings of Intelligent Auto ("Automatically identifies the scene's characteristics and shoots a photo") and Superior Auto ("The device beautifully shoots automatically while reducing blurring and noise") - why and when you should use either!

The camera's superb automatic functions and its provision for full manual control is a powerfully enticing combination for such such a tiny package. One minor criticism, the blue Zeiss label on the front of my camera is coming unpeeled. I haven't had the camera long though it has been in daily use. I have taken hundreds of photos with it. The camera is both delightfully easy to use and yet very versatile. I love it.

Unfortunately Sony's software only supports Windows or Mac, which is not a lot of use to me as my OS is Linux. Nevertheless, Ubuntu 12.04 detects the camera automatically and Shotwell 0.12.3 imports photos without any difficulty.

I still find the camera's menu a bit baffling though. For example, no matter which setting the top dial on the right is turned to (P, A, S, M, MR, and so on), the DRO/Auto HDR option (under the camera icon, in menu 3) remains permanently greyed out. So I fail yet to understand its purpose, or how it can be selected. Nevertheless, the camera is really wonderful, so I can recommend it most highly. I'm glad I chose this one rather than the NEX 5N that I contemplated buying. The RX100 complements my DSLR perfectly.

ADDENDUM/ERRATUM
The DRO/Auto HDR option was re-enabled when I reset the camera to its default settings, so I must have inadvertently changed some setting to disable it in all modes. I still haven't figured out what I did! I really don't find Sony's user guide or manual () very helpful and hope someone (eg David D Busch) will produce a book soon. Concerning the Zeiss label, it seems that I was mistaken because what unpeeled appears to have been a protective film leaving the label itself intact on the camera. I have managed to find an external charger for NP-BX1 batteries via Google.

*See more information & take more profit for the RX100 at: Digicams2012.wordpress.com/sony-dsc-rx100/

Hope my review is helpful.