The Ultimate Pocket Camera: Sony RXO ii in 2024 | Rugged Camera

The Sony RXO II is the ultimate rugged pocket camera, watch to find out why.
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[@TheWalkingKev]

Can you recommend a better pocket camera for hiking, in any weather, than the Sony RXO II?

[@ppdrum]

The DJI action 4 is better on every level

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@ppdrum I've got the DJI Action 4 and it's great - stabilisation is light-years ahead and timelapses made in camera etc. but the Action 4 is not really a camera and the Sony still produces nicer 4k IMO.

[@ppdrum]

@@TheWalkingKev could you perhaps compare the two and post to KZbin a video about them...I have a action 3.... I believe the Sony is better image quality but most people won't notice and the image stabilisation ,microphone (dji mic) and screen front and rear out weight any benifit this old Sony camera could offer , in short the DJI is more than good enough and thus better than the sony.

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@ppdrum yes, the DJI action 4 is for most people the better bet just for video. However, I use the RX0 for a lot of photography and it's definitely better at that. Also with the DJI you have loads of accessories whereas the RXO it's hard to find any these days.

[@ppdrum]

@@TheWalkingKev I agree with you but the price is also a consideration

[@SpudUna]

I bought one primarily for stills, and it hasn’t disappointed me at all.

[@TheWalkingKev]

Yes, it's really underrated as an excellent stills camera. I've always been impressed with the lens and sensor combo.

[@paulharry2254]

I absolutely love my RX0 M2. I have used it for everyhing from street photography to a 4K wildlife camera trap activated by PIR. Brilliant bit of Kit. It can also be triggered remotely with wireless triggers like you would use on flash guns.

[@TheWalkingKev]

Good to hear from another satisfied owner. Imagine if they launched a MK3 with Sony's new slow and quick, photo and video switch to keep all your different settings just a click away...

[@paulharry2254]

@@TheWalkingKevIf only 😄!!

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@paulharry2254 I know. Such a shame that Sony abandoned some good cameras. Doesn't look like they're ever going to update the RX10 either.

[@paulharry2254]

@@TheWalkingKev But the RX0 M2 is still a good camera. Have a look at this test footage - a few years old now but still a flexible little beast. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqrInKSNi6aCe6Msi=vxZB-yFA5eH741dB

[@dericksmith]

Hello Kev, really enjoyed this video. The RX0 mkII is in my pocket at all times, like yourself, and I'm never worried about the dust or mortar or water damaging the camera. One thing I've found useful on the walk and talk is using the pre-set focus, 'near off' on a longer selfie stick, rather than trying to grab the single point focus. As you've noted there are a few workarounds including catalyst browse and I still think the ruggedness and form factor have yet to be surpassed by something that's not an action camera. Cheers

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@dericksmith thanks Derick. Good to see I'm not alone in using this little gem. It's still the best option for a truly rugged pocket camera. Such a shame that Sony abandoned it.

[@CornwallBikes]

That's a great review of a great little camera. I'm wondering if the RXO III is on the horizon and worth waiting for. Thanks for sharing, have a great day creating.

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@CornwallBikes thanks. Sadly I think Sony have definitely abandoned the RXO line. I've been using mine a lot lately on videos and I just love the quality given the size of the device. Prefer it over the DJI Action 4, even though the DJI is actually stable!

[@CornwallBikes]

@@TheWalkingKev That's unfortunate that Sony does this. I guess I will have to purchase one $899 CND and just be lucky I have one I can play around with. My GoPro 10 just disgusts me, and otherwise I have a Fuji X-T4 that is ok, my Pixel 7 Pro Camera with all the bells and whistles, still ends up frustrating me and has many issues trying to shoot pics or video. Thanks for replying Kev.

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@CornwallBikes I've just got a Pixel 8 Pro and I love the video on the phone screen, but not as much when I edit it on my PC. I think the RXO is far superior. I'm using my Sony A7C2 more and more as well. Worth the extra weight for the image quality.

[@CornwallBikes]

@@TheWalkingKev I thought they just came out with the 9 and the Fold $2400 CND. Mine is obsolete already 😃

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@CornwallBikes yeah, so they had a really good deal on the 8 Pro to sell old stock. First new phone for about 5 years for me. Loving the cameras for social media photos and video.

[@MegaUltraSuperDuable]

If you update the firmware you will get push (the shutter) to focus during video if you need to re-focus. I been using my RX0ii for a few years mainly as a everyday travel/pocket camera and it works great due to being waterproof and rugged. ♥️

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@MegaUltraSuperDuable yes I have that. It's not ideal, I just work around it. I've been using mine a lot lately for video. I've been using Gyroflow to stabilise footage, either in the desktop app or the plugin directly into Davinci Resolve. It works brilliantly. I love the footage from this camera.

[@MegaUltraSuperDuable]

@TheWalkingKev i have also found it do works with some gimbal equipment 🙂 however, that does make it larger to handle and so defeat the purpose of having a compact camera like the rx0ii

[@MegaUltraSuperDuable]

@@TheWalkingKev kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqerXoqedqt0hacsi=waCCApK0vkcq76ST i have this gimbal and it do really work nicely with the rx0ii (but the first time pairing took some serious time, and tries)

[@adamethancrow]

Thanks great Chanel

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@adamethancrow thanks, appreciate it.

[@TheMadmacs]

theres free software fpv drone pilots use called gyroflow, its professional grade software and easy to use now. it lets you fine tune the amount of smoothing and cropping plus horizon lock.

[@TheWalkingKev]

That sounds great, I'll definitely give that a try.

[@PhilipOlsen11]

Great review. Love the honestly as you have as many negatives as positives. I like the idea of using it for street photography but personally I would like the DJI action 4. I’ve got the GoPro 10 and I’m not impressed. Really gone off GoPro 👍

[@TheWalkingKev]

I've got the DJI action 4 and it's a great film camera but I wouldn't really consider using it for photos. Maybe I would try it, but I know the RXO is better so I haven't felt the need to use the DJI.

[@Fun-Photo]

I wanted that one and decided on the osmo action 5 pro. Worse choice?

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@Fun-Photo The Action 5 will be a lot easier to use, stable footage and all the rest of it. I've got the Action 4 and it's a much better action camera than the RXO II... But, if I want image quality I prefer the Sony. Just need to understand it's better on a tripod and if you want to use it for movement either use a gimbal or Gyroflow to stabilise in post.

[@thevalleywalker]

I came back to this to see if you had answered a question but can see the dreaded "where the eck" has the comment gone scenario has happened..lol. Anyway, re the camera - at the time I was looking to replace my old go pro and hearing you say you use an action 4 I could see from the shadow you appear to have a mic attached - is it a dji mic or a rode, if its a rode I wonder can you attach and record to it using the action 4? I see you have watched Daves 1st ep of the Cambrian way - it's a great series and I reckon sometime in the next few days he should be finishing the walk (spoiler alert, lol) He records on the go and if you see he released that video 5 days ago - yet I commented on it 13 days ago... 😉 atb Al

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@thevalleywalker yes, I bought her Rode mics when I had a GoPro. I bought a little 3.5mm to USB C adapter and plug the Rode into the Action 4, have it mounted on top of an Action 4 cage in a cold shoe. Works really well. Yeah, I did the walk over Twmbarlwm and along the Cambrian way a bit on Wednesday. Thought of him walking there before. I swore I could see the flattened grass from his pitch!

[@thevalleywalker]

@@TheWalkingKev Morning Kev. Dam, I tried looking to see if you could use the rodes with the action 4 but only found one video and I didn't think his audio sounded very good - probably set it up wrong. I purvhased the action 4 recently and bought the mic to go with it. (I bought the 3 battery combo and added the mic with it) but there is no transitter so I guess you can only use it with the action 4? I will keep the rodes now then & use them on my pansonic S5 for talking heads... if I ever get back out n about. Its many years since I been up on Twmbarlwm but not got fond memories of it - me and a mate had a run in with two off road motor bikers who became quite agressive after they whizzed passed us quite closely and my mate shouted after them - they stopped and was looking for bother.... tossers.

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@thevalleywalker I've often thought of moving to the DJI mics to make things easier, but didn't need the extra cost. I think you'll be happy with the Action 4. Mine has been flawless so far.

[@thevalleywalker]

@@TheWalkingKev Good to know.. thx

[@kongwashere]

I guess they abandoned it for the same reason why I don’t see a reason buying one: an iPhone Pro with a ruggedised case is quality-wise close enough… without having to transfer files for editing … and (in case of hiking this is relevant) without the need to carry an extra device. The extra devices I frequently take with me are an Insta360 One X4 (because of its 360° features which also allow to shoot pictures and video without the need to point carefully at time of shooting) … and a DJI Mini Pro 4 drone (because it allows to take photos from perspectives I couldn’t reach in any other way)

[@TheWalkingKev]

I agree high end phones with there clever computing can compete with a traditional larger sensor. If you own one I wouldn't see the need for the RXO. However, I've a cheap phone so could justify it!

[@pyroBlastM]

In regards to the focus, given the sensor, the 24mm and the f/4 aperture, according to the DoF calculator you have 36cm area focused in front and 1.29m behind the subject. If you put the camera into manual focus or say you focus on the subject first then switch to MF you should have enough room to have everything in focus no? If your subject is 2m away you basically have 1m in front of the subject in focus and infinite behind. Why do people complain about the focusing?

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@pyroBlastM it has a distant or close focus setting as well to basically do that for you. I really like the AF-S for the filming I do as I can set it to focus, and know it won't hunt when I'm in frame at all. My Sony A7c2 only allows AFC or manual focus for video so it either hunts in AFC or I have to focus manually...

[@pyroBlastM]

@@TheWalkingKev yeah usually you want manual focus if you are filming. Unless specific situations. I heard it’s got a 800iso native. Is there any other step? Like 3200 where the image is much clean? Can you manually change the shutter speed? For example, iso100 ss1/2000 ? How do you find using it indoors?

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@pyroBlastM 800 iso for Slog footage. It's quite noisy at higher ISOs and the f4 makes it not great indoors.

[@alancalvitti]

2020 akm fire halted rx0 prod

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@alancalvitti a real shame

[@spirittravels.]

I've seen other people rave about this little camera but it's expensive and I just wonder why would someone bother with it when you might as well Just get a Sony zv1?

[@TheWalkingKev]

Because this is waterproof, crushproof etc. if you're hiking in all weathers and you want the same sensor that you can just chuck in your pocket...

[@spirittravels.]

@@TheWalkingKev Fair point.

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@spirittravels. ZV1 is a great camera though.

[@grumpygrandpa3640]

No good for sticking on your bike then ?

[@TheWalkingKev]

@@grumpygrandpa3640 only if you are going to use Catalyst Browse or something like Gyroflow to stabilise afterwards, and this would lead to a significant crop if you were offroading etc.

[@theuktoday4233]

geez it costs around £700

[@TheWalkingKev]

Good tech always costs sadly. I picked mine up used for £300...

[@that_guy7466]

Yeah until i found the price out,

[@TheWalkingKev]

Yeah, even used it is quite pricey... But a lot cheaper than a high end smartphone and it's a niche product.

[@peinmilan]

700 EUR LOL :)

[@TheWalkingKev]

I can only say they did cram an awful lot of tech into a tiny little body... But yeah, it's still a high price.

[@peinmilan]

@@TheWalkingKev I understand, but it's not a good argument. A Canon R10 has much more tech inside for the same price. I know, it has a different use case, but if you compare the tech only - as you just argued - then the RXO is extremely expensive.