Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II

Released November 2015

A 42.4 MP full-frame compact with a fixed 35 mm f/2 lens, adjustable optical low-pass filter and retractable electronic viewfinder.

Type: Compact
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 42.4
Lens: 35 mm equivalent
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Body weight: 480 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised detailed images, dynamic range and improved autofocus, while criticising battery life and awkward focus-point selection. PhotographyBlog found the low-pass filter’s effect subtle and processing slow; Amateur Photographer demonstrated clearer differences in resolution tests. PhotographyBlog welcomed the viewfinder; Amateur Photographer found its contrast excessive in dark interiors.

From photographyblog.com and amateurphotographer.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: Back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution: 42.4 MP
Largest image: 7952 × 5304
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–25600
Sensor detail: 43.6 million total pixels; variable optical low-pass filter with Off, Standard and High settings, plus filter-effect bracketing for still images
Image formats: JPEG and compressed or uncompressed 14-bit RAW (Sony ARW 2.3); XAVC S, AVCHD 2.0 and MP4 movies
ISO detail: Standard single-frame ISO 100–25600; extended still-image ISO 50–102400; movie ISO 100–25600. Multi-frame noise reduction is a separate combined-exposure mode.
Image processor: BIONZ X

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 35 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/2
Stabilisation: Electronic only
Maximum continuous burst: 5 fps
Lens detail: ZEISS Sonnar T* fixed 35 mm f/2 prime; eight elements in seven groups, nine aperture blades and 49 mm filter thread. Macro mode focuses from 20 cm measured from the sensor plane or 14 cm from the lens front.
Autofocus: Fast Hybrid AF with 399 phase-detection points covering approximately 45% of the image and 25 contrast-detection points; AF-S, AF-C, direct manual focus and manual focus; Eye AF and Lock-on AF
Shutter: Leaf shutter; 30 seconds to 1/4000 second and Bulb. The 1/4000 limit requires f/5.6 or a smaller aperture; the fastest speed at f/2 is 1/2000 second.
Burst detail: Up to 5 fps in speed-priority mode; Sony’s launch release explicitly supports AF tracking. Normal continuous mode up to 2.5 fps with AF-S; burst speed eventually slows.
Stabilisation detail: Electronic stabilisation for movies only, with a cropped field of view; no optical lens or sensor-shift still-image stabilisation
Flash: No built-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible optional external flash
Exposure controls: 1200-zone evaluative metering; program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual controls; compensation ±5 EV through menus or ±3 EV using the dial

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detail: Internal 1920 × 1080 at up to 60p NTSC or 50p PAL in XAVC S at 50 Mbit/s. 1280 × 720 supports 120p NTSC or 100p PAL. No 4K video; maker’s 4K output applies only to still images. Approximately 29-minute clip limit; MP4 28M recording ends around 20 minutes or 4 GB.
Audio: Stereo LPCM in XAVC S, Dolby Digital in AVCHD and AAC in MP4; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,228,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: WhiteMagic TFT LCD tilts approximately 109° up or 41° down; no touch operation (both reviews)
Viewfinder detail: Retractable 0.39-type OLED with 2,359,296 dots, 100% coverage and approximately 0.74× magnification using Sony’s 50 mm equivalent convention

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 220 photographs
Body weight: 480 g
Release detail: Sony Canada announced November 2015 retail availability. Hong Kong specified early December 2015. Japan’s release was postponed and its amended maker announcement gives 19 February 2016; the later Japanese date is not treated as the first worldwide sale.
Recording media: SD, SDHC and SDXC with UHS-I support, plus Memory Stick Duo variants; micro formats require adaptors. Sony’s launch release specifies Class 10 or faster SDXC for XAVC S.
Ports: Multi/Micro USB, Micro HDMI, 3.5 mm microphone input and Multi Interface Shoe
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and NFC; smartphone remote control and transfer through supported Sony software
Battery life detail: NP-BX1 rechargeable battery; maker CIPA claim approximately 220 photographs using LCD or 200 using viewfinder; actual movie recording approximately 30 minutes with either display
Charging: In-camera USB charging and USB power during shooting or playback; BC-DCX external charger also supplied
Dimensions: Approximately 113.3 × 65.4 × 72.0 mm (width × height × depth)
Weight detail: Approximately 480 g body only, including the integral fixed lens; 507 g with battery and recording media
Materials: Metal body (Amateur Photographer)
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-BX1 battery, AC adaptor, Micro USB cable, strap, lens cap, shoe cap, cleaning cloth, BC-DCX charger, eyepiece cup and instructions

Pros and cons

Pros

42.4 MP sensor with compressed and uncompressed RAW
Selectable optical low-pass filter strength
Built-in electronic viewfinder and tilting screen

Cons

No optical still-image stabilisation
No touchscreen or built-in flash

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-RX1R	Compact	Full frame	24.3	35 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	453 g	Jul 2013
SonyCyber-shot DSC-RX1	Compact	Full frame	24.3	35 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	453 g	Nov 2012
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX90V	Compact	1/2.3-type	18.2	24–720 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	218 g	Jun 2015

Sources

Photo: Sony Canada, official launch press photograph; linked original image.

Sony RX1R II, rear view: Sony, official Japan product gallery
Sony RX1R II, rear view with viewfinder raised and screen photograph: Sony, official exact-model launch press photograph
Sony RX1R II, front view with viewfinder raised: Sony, official exact-model launch press photograph

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