Sony RX1R II – Review
The Palm-Sized Full Frame Sony
While it is not exactly pocketable, it gives you very few reasons not to take it with you, which is the most important factor for me; that and the amazing images it produces. The body of the camera isn’t much different to the RX100 series, just the protruding 35mm F2 lens being the real difference in physical form. To me, this makes it an essential part of my kit. I have skied, hiked, climbed, camped and nearly frozen to death with this camera and have captured some of my favourite images with it too.
The Lens
The lens isn’t as clinically sharp as some of the most modern lenses, but it renders beautifully and produces extremely even performance across the frame. There is almost no distortion either. The lens strikes a great balance and is perfect between F2 and 5.6 for people photography and F5.6 onwards for ultra sharp land and cityscapes.
But Also a Palm Sized Monster
With a 42mp Full Frame sensor and a matched 35mm lens that sits in-front, not many cameras are capable of producing images like the RX1 (and I am writing this 4 years after release) and none for its size. Even when comparing to my main system, the Fuji GFX, I don’t feel like the RX1R II is a compromise. It’ll still be current and will most certainly be ‘good enough’ in ten years time and will almost always outperform the photographer using it, I know that is the case for me.
Nearly Perfect Pop-Up EVF
A 2.4 million dot evf that is better than it looks. Sony implemented a smooth and functional EVF and clearly learnt from the slightly annoying two step viewfinders in the RX100 series. For bright light and steadying the camera in low light I feel an EVF is essential, especially with a large sensor and 40 plus megapixels.
So what is not to like about the RX1R II?
Battery Life is Bad
Very bad. A camera of this quality should have its own battery, not just one from a lower power camera like the RX100. Thankfully, the batteries are so small and light that you wont notice a few spares in your pocket.
Menus and Usability
Oh the menus, they’re messy. Everything is there but it’s a bit of a maze. Almost like the Leica Antichrist. Sony really do know how to develop the technical side of a camera now, but they do still lack on the ‘feeling’ and certainly the physical layout.
The Shutter
I suppose this isn’t a negative as such, in fact the leaf shutter is a positive. It’s near silent, and produces no shutter shock at all. But a major drawback is the 2000th second max speed at low apertures. In bright conditions this can mean an ND filter is needed. I’m not the shallow DoF hunter I used to be though, so it’s doesn’t bother me like it might some. And where is the electronic shutter Sony?
Still Worth it in 2019?
The RX1 is a peach of a camera. It sits at the top of the food chain in terms of image quality and portability and it’s built like a tank too. However it’s no longer without competition… the Leica Q and now Q2, the X100F, the upcoming Zeiss ZX1 give the RX1 line reason to look over it’s shoulder. The Q2 seems to be a massive hit, and if it was not for the rather wide (wider than a normal 28mm) 28mm lens, if be tempted myself.
The Q2 and RX1 are definitely in the premier league of the full frame compacts. There’s no question in my mind that the Leica Q is the more enjoyable camera, the better designed and the more rewarding in use, but the combination of the small size, 35mm lens and affordable ish used prices, the RX1R II makes for a superb companion.
So the long answer is yes, it is still worth buying in 2019, but only in the used market. I couldn’t recommend you spend £3,500 on a camera that is 4 years old and that was £2,500 at the time of release. It doesn’t sit quite right. But in isolation, £2000 for a mint condition RX1R II today is a good choice that will produce sublime images and will give you little reason not to bring it along.