Hasselblad Stellar Special Edition
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 7, 1946 in Tokyo, Japan |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 series cameras, among others |
| Website | www |
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 series represents a premium compact camera range within Sony's broader Sony RX lineup. The series debuted with the DSC-RX100 on June 6, 2012, featuring a 20-megapixel, one-inch sensor and a rotary lens control mechanism. Over the course of seven iterations released through 2019, the cameras initially supported Full HD 1080p video at 60 frames per second. Subsequent versions introduced 4K recording at 30fps and high frame rate Full HD video at 120fps.
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 (original)
The first RX100 model earned the "European Advanced Compact Camera for 2012–2013" award from the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) and was also listed among TIME magazine’s 'Best Inventions of 2012'.
- Primary Features
- One-inch (13.2 mm × 8.8 mm) CMOS Exmor sensor utilizing "Column-Parallel A/D Conversion," delivering enhanced low-light performance compared to smaller sensors.
- Burst shooting capability at 10 frames per second with a resolution of 20.2 megapixels.
- Exposure options include Manual (M), Aperture Priority (A), Shutter Priority (S), and Program Auto (P).
- Tilting pop-up flash designed for bounce lighting techniques.
- Fast Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with an aperture range of f/1.8-4.9 and 3.6× optical zoom, equivalent to 28–100 mm in 35mm format.
- Manual focus assistance via focus peaking.
- Fixed 3-inch TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 1.29 million dots using an RGBW layout.
- Support for RAW image format to facilitate advanced post-processing.
- Full HD video capture in AVCHD format at up to 50 frames per second.
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Sony released the RX100 II in June 2013 as an upgrade to the original model, incorporating a back-illuminated 20.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor measuring one inch. The native ISO range was extended up to 12800, enhancing light sensitivity by roughly 40%. Business-oriented enhancements included a tiltable LCD screen (+84°/-45°), a Multi Interface Shoe, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, along with Full HD video recording at 1080/24p.
Hasselblad Stellar and Stellar II
On July 23, 2013, Hasselblad, a Swedish luxury camera manufacturer, unveiled the 'Stellar,' a high-end compact camera based on the DSC-RX100 platform featuring wooden or carbon fiber grips. The company later introduced three cosmetic variations under the Stellar Special Edition on November 1, 2013, followed by the Stellar II on November 26, 2014, which was built upon the RX100 II hardware.
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Launched in June 2014, the DSC-RX100 III incorporated Sony’s Bionz X image processor—also utilized in the Alpha 77 II—and introduced a new Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens with a wider focal length range of 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) and an aperture from f/1.8 to f/2.8. This adjustment improved image quality but reduced the maximum zoom from 100mm to 70mm. Unlike its predecessor, the RX100 III did not include the Multi Interface Shoe, limiting flash options to the integrated pop-up unit; however, it added an OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF), enhancing usability for professional users. The camera supports customizable functions with separate control over viewfinder and LCD displays and allows manual shutter speed and aperture adjustments combined with Auto ISO for refined exposure management.
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Released in June 2015, the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV maintained the 1.0-type ("1-inch") 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor and an ISO sensitivity reaching up to 12800. This model marked the introduction of 4K video recording in XAVC-S format at a maximum of 30 frames per second, with a clip duration capped at 5 minutes due to processing limitations. Additionally, it supported slow-motion video capture at frame rates up to 960 fps (NTSC) and 1000 fps (PAL).
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
Unveiled on 6 October 2016, the RX100 V brought advancements in autofocus performance and shooting speed. It featured the world's fastest autofocus time of 0.05 seconds, incorporated 315 focus points, and enabled continuous shooting at up to 24 frames per second for as many as 150 frames at 20.1 megapixels. A subsequent RX100 VA iteration introduced a quicker processor alongside an expanded buffer capacity.
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI
Sony released the RX100 VI on 5 June 2018, equipped with a new ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens covering 24-200mm focal length with apertures from F/2.8 to F/4.5. Autofocus speed was further enhanced to 0.03 seconds. The camera also offered improved continuous shooting capabilities and upgraded its 4K video functionality, solidifying its standing within the high-end compact camera segment.
Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Announced on 25 July 2019, the RX100 VII introduced several key improvements including removal of previous video recording time limits (formerly capped at 30 minutes), addition of a 3.5mm stereo mini jack for external microphones, and refined autofocus performance.
Model comparison
| Model | RX100 | RX100 II | RX100 III | RX100 IV | RX100 V | RX100 VI | RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announcement date | 6 Jun 2012 | 27 Jun 2013 | 28 May 2014 | 10 Jun 2015 | 6 Oct 2016 | 5 June 2018 | 25 Jul 2019 |
| Sensor type | 20.1Mpx Exmor CMOS 13.2mm x 8.8mm |
20.1Mpx Exmor R BSI-CMOS 13.2mm x 8.8mm |
20.1Mpx Exmor RS Stacked BSI-CMOS 13.2mm x 8.8mm | ||||
| Image processor | Bionz | Bionz X | |||||
| Lens focal range | 10.4–37.1mm (Equivalent to 28–100mm, f/4.8–13.2) |
8.8–25.7mm (Equivalent to 24–70mm, f/1.8–2.8) |
9.0–72mm (Equivalent to 24–200mm, f/2.8–4.5) | ||||
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8–4.9 | f/1.8–2.8 | f/2.8–4.5 | ||||
| Shutter speed range | 30 ~ 1/2000 sec | 30 ~ 1/32000 sec | |||||
| Max continuous burst rate | 10 fps | 16 fps | 24 fps | 20 fps | |||
| Video recording formats | MPEG-4, AVCHD (28 Mbit/s) Full HD |
MPEG-4, AVCHD (28 Mbit/s), XAVC S (50 Mbit/s) Full HD |
MPEG-4, AVCHD (28 Mbit/s), XAVC S (100 Mbit/s) with 4K video support | ||||
| Maximum video length | 30 min (RX IV: Full HD up to 30 min, and up to 5 min for 4K) | 781 min | |||||
| Video readout method | Line skipping | Full-pixel readout without binning | |||||
| Slow-motion video capability | No | Yes (240,480,960fps) | Yes (250,500,1000fps) | ||||
| Professional video functions | No | Features include Picture Profile with CineGamma, Timecode, Userbit metadata support | |||||
| Custom minimum shutter speed at Auto ISO | No | Available | |||||
| Autofocus points count | 25 | 315 | 357 | ||||
| Autofocus system type | Contrast Detection AF | Phase Detection AF | |||||
| Flexible spot with AF tracking lock-on | No | Supported | |||||
| Continuous eye autofocus function | No | Included | |||||
| LCD display type and articulation | 3 inch fixed | 3 inch tilting (+90/-40°) | 3 inch tilting (+180/-45°) | 3 inch tilting (+180/-90°) | |||
| Electronic viewfinder availability | No | Optional accessory | Built-in EVF | ||||
| Hot shoe presence | No | Multi-Interface shoe | Not included | ||||
| Built-in neutral density filter | No | 3-stop ND filter | None | ||||
| Microphone input jack | Not available | Yes present | |||||
| Wireless connectivity (WiFi and NFC) | No | Included | |||||
| Battery endurance (CIPA rating) | 330 shots | 350 shots | 320 shots | 280 shots | 220 shots | 240 shots | 260 shots |
| Weight | 240g | 281g | 290g | 298g | 301g | 302g | |
| Physical dimensions (mm) | 102 x58 x36 | 102 x58 x38 | 102 x58 x41 | 102 x58 x43 | |||