The Sony RX100 packs a lot of image quality punch into a truly shirt pocket portable compact digital camera. Shutter lag and autofocus performance are quite good, still image quality is on the high end of the pecking order for true compact digitals and the ability to operate in fully automatic mode...

Excellent still image quality; Good autofocus and shutter lag performance; Good ISO performance given resolution; Full manual controls along with fully automatic and RAW shooting format

Cost; No external battery charger; Below average printed user's manual; RAW converter must be downloaded

Sony's RX100 created a frisson of excitement when it was announced on 6 June because of its 'winning' combination of a small camera body plus a relatively large, high-resolution sensor.

The Sony RX100 is a very impressive camera that is capable of producing some great-looking shots with lots of detail and a good colour spread. If you're looking for a decent mid-entry compact digital camera, the Sony RX100 offers enough features to make it worth your while.

The premium 20.2 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is lovely to look at, to hold and to handle. The underlying specification – bright f/1.8 maximum aperture lens, large sensor function adjusting lens ring, Full HD video with stereo sound – indicates the RX100 is pitched at the photo enthusiast as...

Build quality; Function control via lens ring; Larger than average sensor

Very pricey for a pocket cam; Small rear plate buttons; Pics no match for DSLR or CSC

Every new camera needs a unique selling point and with Sony's pocket-sized RX100 that is the holy grail of ‘DSLR quality in compact form'. Though the solid feel, aluminium build model resembles your average high-end snapshot from the outside, inside is a 20.2 megapixel sensor that at one inch is...

One of the largest image sensors to be found in a compact camera; high 20MP resolution; Full HD video with stereo sound; full manual controls and intelligent auto settings; solid aluminium construction and understated design

Very expensive for a pocket camera; backplate buttons are small enough to warrant fingertip precision; image quality not exact match for DSLR or system cameras offering even larger sensor for a similar cost

One of the largest image sensors to be found in a compact camera; high 20MP resolution; Full HD video with stereo sound; full manual controls and intelligent auto settings; solid aluminium construction and understated design

One of the largest image sensors to be found in a compact camera; high 20MP resolution; Full HD video with stereo sound; full manual controls and intelligent auto settings; solid aluminium construction and understated design

Very expensive for a pocket camera; backplate buttons are small enough to warrant fingertip precision; image quality not exact match for DSLR or system cameras offering even larger sensor for a similar cost

Sony hopes to challenge the big boys with its little compact. WE have heard a lot of good things about Sony's latest compact camera, the DSC-RX100. The camera has powerful features and it'll be interesting to see how it fares in a world dominated by DSLRs and mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras...

Great photo quality; compact size; smartly designed controls for manual shooting

Pricey; HD video recording not great

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II compact camera offers a few worthwhile upgrades when compared with the original RX100, but comes in at a higher asking price.

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 is one of very few compact cameras with a large sensor, and it's been a long time since Sony themselves put a large sensor in a compact camera with the previous model, the , dating back to 2005.

Good noise performance; Large sensor; Excellent image quality; High resolution screen; Highest resolution compact camera available; Extremely stylish leather case available; Stylish metal body; Electronic level

Tripod plate can stop front lens-ring dial working; f/4.9 at telephoto end; High price / High price case; Lack of grip at front

I was suspicious that I wouldn't like the quality of the photos on a camera small enough to fit in your pocket, but I bought it on a try-out basis and thought if I wasn't impressed with the photos I could always return it in 15 days. I have not returned the camera. It is fantastic.