Sony's original RX1 was a groundbreaking camera when it was announced in late 2012. We'd seen fixed-lens digital cameras with large APS-C image sensors before, but none with a full-frame sensor.

Compact design; Full-frame 42-megapixel image sensor; Sharp 35mm f/2 lens; Excellent picture quality; Variable OLPF filter; Integrated pop-up EVF; Tilting rear display; 1080p120 video; Wi-Fi

Lens shows some barrel distortion; Limited battery life; Doesn't include external battery charger; Uncomfortable focus select switch; Omits flash

Sony's original RX1 ( at Amazon) was a groundbreaking camera when it was announced in late 2012. We'd seen fixed-lens digital cameras with large APS-C image sensors before, but none with a full-frame sensor. That's still rare—the new RX1R II ($3,299.99) is only the fourth model to sport one, if you count the RX1 and RX1R ($2,799.99) as different models. The RX1R II offers some compelling reasons to upgrade—the same high-resolution image sensor found in the Alpha 7R II ($1,298.00 at Amazon) and an integrated electronic viewfinder chief among them. But it's not a camera that stands alone in the market; our Editor's Choice award stays with the larger, more expensive Leica Q (Typ 116) ($8,988.00 at Amazon) and its wider, faster lens. DesignThe RX1R II's ($3,298.00 at Amazon)  fixed lens design puts it into the compact camera class, but at 2.6 by 4.5 by 2.8 inches and 1.1 pounds it's not a pocket-friendly option like the svelte Ricoh GR II ($904.95 at Amazon) (2.5 by 4.6 by 1.4 inc...

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II puts an incredible high-resolution full-frame image sensor and fixed lens into a form factor that's almost pocket friendly.

Compact design; Full-frame 42-megapixel image sensor; Sharp 35mm f/2 lens; Excellent picture quality; Variable OLPF filter; Integrated pop-up EVF; Tilting rear display; 1080p120 video; Wi-Fi

Lens shows some barrel distortion; Limited battery life; Doesn't include external battery charger; Uncomfortable focus select switch; Omits flash

Sony likes to prove a point with its cameras; namely that Sony can do things that other manufacturers can't. Although this may not necessarily translate into extraordinary sales figures, it paints the picture that Sony is at the forefront of technological innovation.

Three years are a long time for any camera model to be refreshed but Sony believes the Mark 2 version of its RX1R compact is well worth the wait as it turns up this year. Is it?

After a flurry of camera announcements from Sony towards the end of 2015 we were not expecting any big launches. However, as the year drew to a close Sony surprised us with the Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II – a replacement for the RX1R.

The Sony RX1R II takes what made the original so remarkable -- compact size, full-frame sensor and stunning image quality -- and takes it up to a new, even more impressive level.

Excellent image quality; Extremely high resolution; Surprisingly good high ISO performance; Outstanding dynamic range; Handy variable low-pass filter; Fast phase-detect AF; Built-in EVF

Fixed, single focal length lens; Poor battery life; No built-in flash; No touchscreen LCD; Slow buffer clearing; No 4K video; Expensive

Superb in every respect but battery life (stock up on X batteries, and get a 3rd party dual charger!). Image quality, dynamic range, high ISO performance, colours and bit depth absolutely flawless.

Beautiful Zeiss Lens; Durable; Dynamic Range; Eye Detect Af; Great Features; Great Picture Quality; High Iso Performance; Lightweight; Nfc And Wifi; Option To Install Apps; Sharp Even Wide Open; Simple Controls; Tilt Screen; Variable Low Pass Filter; Wonderful Evf

Battery Life Very Poor

The camera I received in April 2016 has a serial numbers that was part of the recall announced by Sony in 2015. Kind of disappointing for a camera at this price.

It is a great camera; I'm ugrading from the RX1R which is very good

I didn't pay this kind of money for a camera that has a known defect and has to be reconditioned or replaced . Have not yet called Sony but will soon; I don't relish the hassle and wasted time

Overkill for most, with a few flaws, but that doesn't stop us wanting one - the RX1R II is a phenomenal luxury compact camera.

When it first launched at the end of 2012, the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 was a camera like no other. Its full-frame sensor and fixed 35mm lens made it a distinctive shooter for the high-end market.

Huge scale images; that Carl Zeiss lens is great and produces superb bokeh at f/2.0; great aperture and focus controls; built-in electronic viewfinder that is retractable if you want to hide it

Poor battery life; auto white balance sometimes off; not the fastest of autofocus; close-up focus limitations; high ISO limitations (uneven gradients beyond ISO 1600); some barrel distortion