Noise and JPEG processing, low ISO sensitivities
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II delivers excellent JPEG quality through ISO 400, with just a little bit of detail degradation by ISO 800.
Noise and JPEG processing, higher ISO sensitivities
You can see artifacts at ISO 1600 in shadow areas (look at the text in the shadow under the bill), but properly illuminated areas still look pretty good.
RX100 vs. RX100 II, ISO 200
The RX100 II renders cleaner JPEGs at all ISO sensitivities than the RX100.
RX100 vs. RX100 II, ISO 1600
At ISO 1600 you can see a significant improvement in image quality over the RX100.
ISO 100 JPEG
ISO 100 is in the expanded range for the RX100 II, but the image quality looks about the same as ISO 200.
(1/80 sec, f6.3, multi metering, AWB, ISO 100, 40mm)
(1/80 sec, f6.3, multi metering, AWB, ISO 100, 40mm)
ISO 200 JPEG
Images look pretty natural, with no oversharpening problems.
(1/80 sec, f4.5, multi metering, AWB, ISO 200, 28mm)
(1/80 sec, f4.5, multi metering, AWB, ISO 200, 28mm)
ISO 400 JPEG
The camera delivers excellent detail resolution at ISO 400.
(1/50 sec, f2.8, center metering, AWB, ISO 400, 28mm)
(1/50 sec, f2.8, center metering, AWB, ISO 400, 28mm)
ISO 800, raw vs. JPEG
You can start seeing a little mushiness in ISO 800 JPEG shots, but there isn't much you can do to clean them up in the raw file without exchanging softness for grain. You do gain back some detail using raw, though.
(1/40 sec, f3.2, center metering, AWB, ISO 800, 28mm)
(1/40 sec, f3.2, center metering, AWB, ISO 800, 28mm)
ISO 1600 JPEG
Depending upon scene content, ISO 1600 can be quite usable. You can see some artifacts around the text edges and the texture of the pattern is lost in places, but it's still quite acceptable.
(1/60 sec, f3.5, center metering, AWB, ISO 1600, 28mm)
(1/60 sec, f3.5, center metering, AWB, ISO 1600, 28mm)
ISO 3200 JPEG
At ISO 3200, large areas look fine but you lose a lot of detail.
(1/60 sec, f4, spot metering, AWB, ISO 3200, 62mm)
(1/60 sec, f4, spot metering, AWB, ISO 3200, 62mm)
ISO 3200 JPEG
ISO 3200 JPEGs are fine for viewing scaled down.
(1/60 sec, f4, spot metering, AWB, ISO 3200, 62mm)
(1/60 sec, f4, spot metering, AWB, ISO 3200, 62mm)
Color
The camera delivers attractive and only slightly oversaturated colors. It lacks a neutral option, which at this price I really expect to have.
Effects
I still think Sony has some of the nicest in-camera effects. Shown here: Illustration (left) and Watercolor (right).
Flash
The tilting flash is invaluable for quickly controlling intensity and direction. On the left is the normal straight-on flash; on the right, flash tilted up.
(1/60 sec, f1.8, spot metering, AWB, ISO 1600, 28mm)
(1/60 sec, f1.8, spot metering, AWB, ISO 1600, 28mm)
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