The thriving high-end compact camera market is one area that Sony's broad range of Cyber-shot models hasn't infiltrated like many of its competitors. The current HX20V might teeter on the cusp of high-end, but it's not got the guts to outperform the likes of the Olympus XZ-1 or Canon G1 X .

Small and pocketable; customisable lens ring; decent image quality throughout the range; f/1.8-4.9 aperture; quality WRGB LCD screen

No viewfinder or accessory option; lacks built-in ND filter; no manual focus; focus-distance display; would like more assignable lens ring options; it's pricey (pricier than a Sony NEX-5N

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 Cyber-shot RX100 is a pocket-sized compact with a large 20.2 Megapixel sensor, a 3.6x Carl Zeiss optical zoom, and a 3 inch LCD screen with 1.2 million pixel resolution. It has a bright f1.8 maximum aperture (when zoomed-out), 10fps burst shooting, RAW recording and 1080p HD video.

Big sensor; pocketable compact form factor; Programmable lens control ring; 10fps full-resolution burst shooting; Shallow depth of field; Raft of stacking modes

Rear control wheel not customisable; Digital zoom can't be disabled in movie mode; No built-in memory and lack of 'No card' warning

A large-sensor pocket-size 20-megapixel camera that can shoot low-noise, high-quality images through its fast f/1.8 Zeiss zoom lens, and features DSLR-type controls that are highly customizable - sound too good to be true?

Compact; Good image quality; Fast aperture at wide-angle; Good balance of features

Fixed lens; Slow aperture at telephoto; Some time and effort to master menu and features

Camera design is all about compromise. Great pictures ideally need large sensors and fast lenses, but this usually means a heavier burden on your camera bag or wallet. Mirrorless cameras try to...

Astonishing image quality for the size; Solid; pocketable design; Excellent interface

Unimpressive video performance and usability; Expensive

‘The best camera is the one you have on you' is a phrase commonly repeated by many photographers. This is why those models that are small and light enough to be kept with you are so useful. Sony's Cyber-shot RX100 is exactly this type of camera.

1 inch sensor is a huge huge sensor. The image quality of all the pictures are just out of this world. I have not used this personally but have seen it with a friend. But it is a great product. the cost is very high though. It is really very expensive but the image quality is unmatched.