The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is the company's first pocket-sized advanced compact, and comes with a rich feature set that includes a larger than average 20.3MP sensor; a high quality 3.6x Zeiss optical zoom with a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture; full manual control and the ability to shoot Raw images; a...

Large 1in CMOS Exmor sensor; Fantastic image quality; Quality zoom lens; Build quality

A bit expensive

Saying you've found "the best point-and-shoot camera" is like saying you've got "the best kind of toe fungus." It's something hardly anybody wants. We're all carrying around perfectly capable cameras on our smartphones, so if you're going to recommend adding the bulk and expense of a compact camera...

Truly amazing sensor packed into camera that fits in your pocket; Beautiful Zeiss lens opens up to f/1.8; Fast and accurate autofocus; ISO range from 125 to 6400, and an Auto ISO mode that never misses; The best manual control ring I've used on a point-and-shoot; Big LCD.

No matter how you look at it, 0 is a lot of cheese; No viewfinder; Pre-programmed scenes lack intelligence; Video export isn't as smooth or easy as it is on other cameras

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 ($649.99 direct) is the point-and-shoot camera that many an enthusiast has dreamed of. It's got an image sensor that's the same size as the mirrorless Nikon J1 and a 3.6x zoom lens that opens up to f/1.8 on the wide end, all packed into a camera that can slide into your back pocket. The only thing large about the 20-megapixel RX100 is its price tag, but the image quality it delivers justifies the cost, even if it doesn't pack bells and whistles like GPS or Wi-Fi. The camera is not without flaws, but its photo quality is so far beyond any other pocket camera that it easily earns our Editors' Choice award for high-end compacts. Design and Features When powered down, the RX100 looks a lot like a black version of the Canon PowerShot S100. It's got the same lines, a similar button layout and control ring around its lens. It measures 2.4 by 4 by 1.4 inches and weighs 8.5 ounces, slightly larger on all sides than the 7-ounce, 2.3-by-3.9-by-1.1-inch S100. Th...

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 packs a relatively huge 1-inch image sensor into a point-and-shoot body, delivering close-to-SLR-quality images from a camera you can fit in your back pocket. It's expensive, but worth it.

Large image sensor; Superb image quality, even at high ISOs; Fast lens; Customizable controls; Large, extra-sharp LCD; Virtually no shutter lag; Raw shooting support

As expensive as some D-SLRs; No EVF option, GPS, or Wi-Fi; Limited zoom range; In-camera battery charging only

Large 1in CMOS Exmor sensor ; Fantastic image quality; Quality zoom lens; Build quality;

A bit expensive;

The Sony RX100 is the first real premium compact camera from the brand. Has it been worth the wait? Find out in the What Digital Camera Sony RX100 review.

Large sensor and the results it delivers; lens; build quality and size

It's a touch pricey compared to rivals

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 lacks some extra features, but its laser-like focus on image quality pays off, making it one of the best point and shoot cameras ever made.

A 1-inch sensor and high-end Zeiss lens offer exceptional image quality

The RX100 has a limited optical zoom range

Sony's big guns are out! The firm's new expert compact is nothing short of a technical revolution. It packs a 20-Megapixel, 1-inch sensor (that's four times the size of those usually found in compact cameras!

Unrivalled picture quality for a compact camera (sensitivity; sharpness at wide-angle settings; Good build quality and design (lens ring; settings wheel) with plenty of customisable features; Good responsiveness once it's running; Full HD; 50 fps video with stereo sound

Lens quality could be a little more consistent at telephoto settings; Start-up is a bit on the slow side; Battery life (330 photos; compared with 400 for the Panasonic LX5

Best camera i have owned. I have had the likes of Canon G10, Pentax SLR and many others. This camera is the go to for me. Amazing picture quality and everything you will ever need to capture a still or moving object. Amazing features. Great value.

Picture and Build Quality

None

Compact, easy to use and takes great pics

Pros: the new stacked imager yields exceptional photos. Coupled with Sony's intelligent scene management, truly striking images are obtained without having to 'optimize' them after transfer to the laptop. The super-high-frame-rate video is spectacular but alas I have not used it much.