Sony has just announced the RX0 which they claim takes the image quality of the Sony RX series and compresses it into a robust and ultra-compact body. If the RX0 produces image quality close to that of the RX100 V then this camera could be a great go-to option instead of using traditional action cameras like a GoPro.
Features
The RX0 features a 1″ (13.2mm x 8.8mm) stacked 15.3 MP6 Exmor RS CMOS 3:2 aspect ratio image sensor, BIONZ X processor and a wide-angle Zeiss Tessar T* 24mm f/4 fixed lens.
On the video front, the RX0 can only record HD internally and not UHD. You can however, capture super slow motion at up to 1000 frames per second (but not in full HD). If you do want to record UHD, the camera is very much like the Sony a7S where you can send a clean HDMI output to an external recorder. MF assist, peaking, and preset focus options are available. The camera also offers picture profile options including Cine1-2, ITU709, ITU709 [800%], and S-Log2. Sony have also incorporated timecode / user bit, which will be crucial for multi-camera shoots.
Recording options
The RX0 can record in either XAVC S, AVCHD or.MP4. Internal recording options include 24/25/30/50 and 60 fps at 1080p, as well as 100 and 120 fps at 720p, all at 50 Mb/s in the XAVC S codec.
PAL
XAVC S HD:
50p 50 M (1920×1080/250fps)
50p 50 M (1920×1080/500fps)
50p 50 M (1920×1080/1000fps)
25p 50 M (1920×1080/250fps)
25p 50 M (1920×1080/500fps)
25p 50 M (1920×1080/1000fps)
NTSC
XAVC S HD:
60p 50M (1920×1080/240fps)
60p 50M (1920×1080/480fps)
60p 50M (1920×1080/960fps)
30p 50M (1920×1080/240fps)
30p 50M (1920×1080/480fps)
30p 50M (1920×1080/960fps)
24p 50M (1920×1080/240fps)
24p 50M (1920×1080/480fps)
24p 50M (1920×1080/960fps)
Sensor Readout Number of effective pixels
Priority
240fps/250fps (1676×942)
480fps/500fps (1676×566)
960fps/1000fps (1136×384)
Shoot Time Priority
240fps/250fps (1676×566)
480fps/500fps (1136×384)
960fps/1000fps (800×270)
As you can see from the above figures, once you want to use the higher frame rates the resolution drops down below 1920×1080.
Multicam
Multiple RX0s can be linked together to film unique content like bullet-time and time-slice. Sony’s wireless radio commander, the FA-WRC1M, can be used to trigger up to 15 RX0s simultaneously, while Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile app allows up to five RX0 models to be connected and controlled wirelessly from any paired device.
A wireless multi camera shooting solution capable of connecting additional RX0 units when an access point is used is currently under development with a target release date of January 2018 via firmware update. For users looking for a more reliable wired connection, a camera control box is being developed and will be released around the same time.
On the stills front the camera looks to be no slouch and can capture RAW and JPEG formats. It is equipped with an Anti-Distortion Shutter that can shoot as fast as 1/32000 second, as well as a maximum burst shooting capability of up to 16fps.
The RX0 weighs just 3.9oz (110g) and can be used as a standalone camera or as part of a multi-camera rig in any kind of shooting conditions including underwater.
Waterproof
The RX0 is waterproof at depths of up to 10 meters (33 ft) on its own, and can be used at up to 100m (330 ft) depth when paired with the new MPK-HSR1 housing. The camera is shockproof when dropped from up to two metres (6.5 ft) and crushproof, withstanding up to 200kg / 440lb / 2000N.
Battery life
In typical Sony fashion the battery life is far from great. Sony claim approximately 35 minutes of recording time during normal operation and up to 60 minutes when continuously recording without stopping.
Connections
The RX0 has a Multi/Micro USB Terminal, Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0), Micro HDMI, Microphone jack (3.5mm Stereo mini jack), bluetooth and WiFi.
Accessories
A host of accessories are available including the VCT-CGR1 cage, MPK-HSR1 housing, CPT-R1 cable protector, VF-SPR1 spare lens protector, VFA-305R1 filter adaptor kit which includes filter adaptor, lens hood and MC protector, plus the NP-BJ1 rechargeable battery pack and ACC-TRDCJ accessory kit.
Pricing and Availability
The RX0 will ship in October 2017, priced at around $700 US.
On paper the RX0 looks pretty impressive, but it’s a pity that Sony have limited this camera to only being able to record HD internally. Sure you can hook up an external recorder for shooting in UHD, but that sort of defeats the purpose of using a small, compact camera like this in the first place. This is hardly a deal breaker for me as I would prefer to have a camera with much better image quality than a higher resolution.
What do you think about the new RX0? Let us know in the comments section below.
