The Sony RX1R II is a compact point-and-shoot camera that features a 35mm full-frame sensor. It has been upgraded by the long-awaited RX1R III. Key features of this older version include:
42.4MP CMOS sensor
Improved autofocus system
Variable optical low-pass filter
Sharp, high-contrast images with excellent color rendition
What’s New. Say you were to take the 42.4MP full-frame sensor and advanced autofocus system from the Sony Alpha a7R II and put it in the Sony Cyber-Shot RX1R with a large retractable EVF and variable optical low pass filter. That’s what’s new. The RX1R was good, but the Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II is just plain better.
42.4MP CMOS Sensor. The DSC-RX1R II uses a full-frame 42.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor in conjunction with the BIONZ X image processor to offer high-resolution stills and video while minimizing noise and improving speed.
Variable Optical Low-Pass Filter. In order to maximize detail from the 42.4-megapixel sensor, Sony has implemented the world’s first variable optical low-pass filter. This filter allows users to control the amount of antialiasing needed for each specific image as they work via a variable density liquid crystal filter layer. Users will have access to three settings: Off, Standard, and Hi. This first-of-its-kind feature set allows the RX1R II to work in a variety of circumstances that normally would require separate cameras.
Zeiss 35mm f/2 Lens. The RX1R II produces sharp images with great contrast and color rendition thanks to its fixed Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2 lens. The f/2 aperture enables decent speed for low-light shooting, and great background blur for controlling depth of field. The seven-group/eight-element optical construction uses three aspherical elements—including one advanced aspherical element—that minimize aberrations and distortion. This lens also offers a dedicated macro mode that shortens the minimum focus distance from 11.8" to just 7.9".
Other Notable Features. While the physical layout and manual controls are largely the same as its predecessor’s, the RX1R II adds a retractable 2.4M-dot XGA OLED electronic viewfinder for rangefinder-esque shooting. You can use the built-in Wi-Fi feature for wireless image transfer and remote camera triggering, and you can capture Full HD 1080p video in XAVC S format. The camera records JPEG and RAW images (14-bit compressed/uncompressed) to SDHC/XC memory cards, while the same underwhelming NP-BX1 battery offers a paltry 220 shots per charge. If you can’t tell, we’re not big fans of this battery.
