Sony RX100 III

[WebmasterPete]

So, I've had this camera for a little while, but having the attention span of a toddler, I found the user interface a little frustrating, so I didn't play with it too much. The DIS team was out in Disneyland to gather content for an event we're doing on the site starting May 22nd, and I decided to really put this camera through its paces. I really didn't think I'd ever use a compact camera that could (in certain ways) rival my DSLR, but sure enough this one did.

I used no 'automatic' settings for this - I'm so used to manual and I feel like I'm cheating if use any of the auto modes. These photos have been touched up in Lightroom, but still, I was pretty happy.

Outdoors in sunlight always yielded pleasant results:













It also did a fairly good job with 'food porn' - but I wasn't happy with the results shot inside. These photos were taken at the Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel (outside):







...Continued below ...

 

[WebmasterPete]

It also handled really well at night, but noise can be an issue. You really need to bump the ISO to get anything close to acceptable.





One area where I was really impressed was doing some long exposure night shots with this camera. Long exposure is my favorite and while it doesn't beat my D800E, it really did a nice job. I used a Manfrodo mini-tripod that I set up on trash cans and other flat surfaces to take these shots.






Where I was disappointed with the camera was in the limited zoom and its performance inside dark rides. I tested it out inside Small World and while I got a few good shots, it was clear to me that this camera wasn't going to do well in low-light, moving environments. Beyond those two issues - this is a great camera to play with when you don't feel like lugging your DSLR around the parks!!

Pete

 

[SkaGoat]

some great shots Pete! I've read a lot of good thing about it, it's good to know I'm ok recommending it to any friends or family when they ask which higher end P & S they should get.

 

[Landslide305]

I'm torn between the Rx100, ii or iii. I have a Canon dslr but I'm going to WDW in a couple of weeks and I've narrowed it down to the Rx100, just not the model.

 

[SkaGoat]

I'm torn between the Rx100, ii or iii. I have a Canon dslr but I'm going to WDW in a couple of weeks and I've narrowed it down to the Rx100, just not the model.

Personally, I think the III is worth the extra $150. It's got a better lens, and a faster processor.

 

[WebmasterPete]

I think you'll be amazed at how well the III handles. Never worked with the II, so I can't say.

 

[havoc315]

Go with the original, to save money, or go with the iii. The ii doesn't have a whole lot to make it worth more than the original. (Unless you really need the hotshoe or wifi).
The iii has 3 big upgrades: 1 -- EVF. I tried it in the store, found it to be small and uncomfortable. But certainly better than no viewfinder.
2 -- 24-70/1.8-2.8 lens. A much wider and faster lens. Though if you prefer having more on the telephoto end, it is possible to prefer the 28-100 of the original. But I think most enthusiasts would prefer the faster and wider lens.
3-- Greatly improved stabilization. I have one issue with the original RX100 -- it defaults to a slightly slow shutter speed, and I get a fair amount of camera-shake blur. The stabilization appears much better on the newest model, which may alleviate this issue.

 

[grecorj]

Great pics thx for sharing.

I just ordered the RX100 II. Super excited to play with it on upcoming trip!

 

[dmaxphil]

Well done. Looks like you found a keeper there.

 

[Pooh2]

Beautiful photos!