My TOP reasons why I LIKE and DISLIKE the Sony RX100 VA

Here is a list of things that I personally like and dislike about the Sony RX100 VA after having owned it for about 10 days. Some of these can also be found on other RX100 models, so it's not really a comparison between models.

[@JM.TheComposer]

This is really helpful, thank you. I haven't bought a camera in 10 years, so you made some really good points.

[@luisguate79]

Straight to the point! I like that, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@ChrisH.]

Hi Luis, you're welcome and I hope it was of any help.

[@aleqx03]

good points! thanks for the video. The missing mic input is bothering me aswell. It wouldnt be such an issue, but the built in mic seems really pretty terrible. On the other hand i havent found a single premium compact with a mic input, so we might just be unlucky.

[@ChrisH.]

i agree.. i hope that the major camera-companies will soon incorporate them though (it's not like we're the only ones asking for this :)) i do fear though that this would then take market-share from their own range of medium-sized cameras (lower DSLRs or mirrorless), so we might be waiting for a long time.

[@voicesofdeath2957]

You can get a DC coupler battery adapter if you want to use your powerbank and still have the USB port for the intravolometer.

[@ChrisH.]

thanks for this advice! I have done similar on my SLRs for long term astrophotography, but am a bit unsure if this would be handy as you'd have to keep the battery-case open. Given the small footprint it might get tricky to still being able to mount it sturdily. I might give this a try though. Thanks!

[@razorlens]

What recording setting did you find the best for little to no adjustment ? I mean, which picture profile (if any)?

[@ChrisH.]

Hi Alex, I have only had the camera for about two weeks now (and the weather outside was mostly terrible when I was not at work), so the picture profiles are exactly the one area that i haven't been able to play much around with yet. Also of course this is something very personal and it first and foremost depends on what kind of look and feel you want to give your videos. If you want "little to no adjustments", and you do have the camera, then i suggest playing a bit with all of them with exception of slog2. (slog3 is not available on the VA). This will definitely require grading in post processing, and often even overexposing during shooting, so that's more for hobby cinematographers than for "point and shoot" users. PP1 (movie) seemed to have a lot of contrast and saturation.. possibly a bit too much for my personal taste. I really still need to spend some time with this to form a good opinion on it though, but I want to make those tests outside and in good lighting conditions.

[@razorlens]

Look forward to more info on this.

[@ChrisH.]

Hi Alex, I have made a short clip showing the differences in moderate light and good light. To me personally PP1 and PP4 look like the ones that require the least amount of editing in good light. In moderate light, i personally prefer PP4 a bit more. All were made with auto whitebalance.

[@MycketKar]

So the 5A screen does tilt all the way up like the the 5? I want to use this for selfie shoots and vlogging so I need that screen to tilt up 90 degrees

[@ChrisH.]

the screen still tilts up by almost 180 degrees (i guess that's what you mean), but only down to about 45 degrees, whereas the 6 tilts down to 90... if you tilt the screen up to 180, you won't be able to see the lowest line on the screen, which is not a problem if you shoot in automatic mode, as the camera will figure the settings out anyways.. in point 5 of the "dislikes" in this video (starting at 4:24 ) i talk about this and show what i mean exactly

[@j.r.regenold9094]

Will it run without a battery using a USB power bank? I have an HX90V and I got it just for that reason. Thanks for the good show. Wonder why Sony can't make a mic work through USB like a GoPro? Sometimes I wonder about those guys at Sony.

[@ChrisH.]

I have used it many times with a power-bank connected (i didn't even buy spare batteries, as i always have a power bank close-by anyways), but i always had the battery inside at that time. I will test if it's possible to just run it from only a power bank later today and will let you know. I fully agree about the audio-over-USB behavior and talked to someone about this at Photokina last week. Apologies, there's no video from Photokina coming up, as someone from said company mistakenly formatted my SD card with all videos and pictures towards the end of the day - and it was not possible to recover them. They also missed out on adding a mic-in jack on the VCT-SGR1 grip, as this was promoted as "the perfect vlogging setup". I do not see how this is "perfect" without a mic-input. The ability for audio-via-USB should be possible in firmware, so I believe this could still be done with a firmware update, however honestly i don't have high hopes that this will be added.

[@ChrisH.]

ok, so i just removed the battery, inserted a power bank into the micro-USB slot of the RX100 and tried turning it on, but it wouldn't..

[@j.r.regenold9094]

Yes, that is same as my a5100. The USB charges it but won't run the camera. The HX90V can be powered by the USB alone. Interesting.

[@SMP248]

Hi, hoping you can throw some light on this for me. I have had the camera for a couple of weeks now but suddenly I can't change the aperture to lower than f11 in any setting or combination, f11 is the smallest it will go and I have no clue why. Any help would be appreciated ☺️ thanks

[@ChrisH.]

Hi Alan, just so i understand this right, if you for instance set the camera to Aperture Priority mode (A) and turn the control ring in the front (unless you have changed the default custom keys) then it still always stays at f11? I'm not sure if you have changed a lot in the settings, but if this behavior should be settings-related i would guess that resetting the camera (setup page 6 in the menu) should solve it. Here you can first try a "camera settings reset" (which resets the main shooting settings), or if that doesn't help "Initialize" which should reset everything to default. I know this might be very intrusive if you have set up a lot of things like custom menus, custom white balances and picture profiles, but I have to admit that mine hasn't shown such behavior. If resetting doesn't work, then I think you might have to get in touch with Sony. Please let me know if resetting helped.

[@SMP248]

@@ChrisH. hi thanks for your prompt reply, I did try the full reset and after that the full initialise and still nothing beyond f11 still so will get in touch will my supplier first. thanks again for your help.

[@pr5pr]

do you think it would be worth to buy this, if I'm not too happy with the quality of iPhone 13m photos ? or this investment wouldn't be wise?

[@DocMicha]

Hi, how have you connected it to your smartphone, if memories does not work?

[@ChrisH.]

Hi, you can still connect it to the smartphone but there were additional playmemories apps that could be downloaded (in most countries) and then put onto the camera, and those don't work anymore, so it's not possible to i.e use the timelapse app or similar..

[@DocMicha]

Ah ok, so that is not a problem for me. I thought play memories is down for Va/VI. Thank you I am waiting for my Va! Comes next week!

[@epiphoney]

Full frame equivalent would be 24-70mm f/4.9-7.6. Still pretty good.

[@ChrisH.]

Hi, the 1" chip has a 2.7 crop-factor compared to full frame, so to get the same framing of the 24-70 mm in a full frame camera, the focal length of that lens would have to be about 65 -189 mm. Equivalent focal ratio would be about f/4.9 to 7.6 as you mentioned

[@epiphoney]

@@ChrisH. The lens is actually 9-26mm/f1.8-2.8, crop factor 2.73. 24-70mm/f4.9-7.6 is the full frame or 35 mm equivalent. It's confusing (if not deceptive) because the display actually gives the full frame equivalent of the focal length when zooming in. Here's the specs for the rx100 v. I couldn't find the va version, but it should be the same: www.digicamdb.com/specs/sony_cyber-shot-dsc-rx100-v/

[@ChrisH.]

@@epiphoney thanks for clearing this up, you are absolutely right.. I never considered the 24-70 being the 35mm equivalent, but i had somehow taken it as the actual focal length. and i agree that this is not only confusing, but can be seen as deceiving.

[@ChangeOrBeCrushed]

@@ChrisH. if you thought you were shooting 65mm as 35mm equivalent when you were shooting 24mm as shown in the camera display, you should quit photography altogether or study the basics such as focal length.

[@ChrisH.]

@@ChangeOrBeCrushed I come from a deep-sky astrophotography background. I have an Atik 490ex and a QSI 683-wsg, which are both monochrome CCD units (no bayer-matrix), which are used in conjunction with standalone LRGB, hydrogen-alpha, sulphur II and oxygen III filters, through (mostly) a Takahashi FSQ telescope to create my images. I normally use calculators that provide the exact field of view in arc-seconds, so I know the exact framing of a deep sky object and whether i need a) a different scope, b) a reducer or c) a tele-extender due to the fixed focal lenghts (and the prices of the optics). With this setup i take pictures with exposure times of multiple hours, without any star-streaking. The RX100 was basically my first attempt to get into "basic photography", so please excuse me, if I am not immediately aware of the typical portrait field of view compared to sensor size, as that's not my typical playing field. I made those videos as i learned and went along, so others have it easier than i did and majority seem to have liked it.. I never claimed i knew it all, so to get back to your recommendation that I maybe "should just quit": no, sorry. I rather dare you to get into deepsky astro-imaging and take a streakless 3 hour exposure of IC443 yourself. Happy sleepless, freezing nights and good luck. :)

[@creemeeontop]

Good points mostly

[@Slashingthrough]

Sorry man late 2008 mac book... time to upgrade sorry but I understand Sony not for catering to 10 year old+ users.

[@ChrisH.]

thanks for the comment! well, it's more the question on whether Sony should use standardised formats or not.. And i do have 2 much newer laptops, as well as a mac mini and a regular desktop PC at home, however the 2008 MBP works fine, so why throw it out? Also given it's the oldest and hence least valuable laptop, i use it for travelling (i'm actually typing this sitting in an airport lounge). That's coincidentally when i take most pictures and have time for editing, but i do understand your point.

[@Slashingthrough]

@@ChrisH. All respect for your situations :) It is not handy if people cant stick to a regular format but in the end downloading a RAW plugin fixes most of the issues in the end :)