Why I chose the Sony RX100 VII

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Premise!

I won't be talking about its technical specifications, since those can be found pretty much everywhere.

Instead, I'll focus on listing the pros that have made this camera an essential part of my kit.

Something Smaller…!

It is true that not long ago I bought a Fujifilm X-T4 because I was looking for a workhorse suitable for both photography and video in a single solution. After dozens of trips dedicated to photography, however, I realized just how important discretion and travelling light really are.

Sometimes, though, we have to face reality.

We don't exist only with our camera. There are also circumstances, situations, places, and different ways of behaving that we have to consider in each of them.

The X-T4 is indeed a workhorse, but it is also, even just by appearance, a proper camera. It isn't small, and it isn't discreet.

But as I said, sometimes we find ourselves in places where a camera like this may not be particularly welcome. It could even be seen negatively. The entire photographic session or intention for the day could therefore disappear.

And there is nothing worse than seeing an interesting situation or composition with your own eyes and not being able to photograph it, right?

So I needed a counterpart to the X-T4.

I needed a compact camera, with an extended zoom range, and the ability to shoot B-roll or cinematic video.

And that's how I stumbled upon the Sony RX100 VII.

The RX100 VII

The idea actually came to me because, for reasons related to my previous job, I already owned a Sony RX100 III.

Small, discreet, but obsolete.

Doing some research, I discovered something that would change the course of my entire photographic experience.

Yes, because the Mark VII has not only a 24-200mm equivalent zoom range (unlike the Fuji I currently use, with an 18-55mm zoom lens that I practically never take off), but even an input for an external microphone.

So, putting the numbers on the table: the RX100 VII is literally about three times lighter and around five times smaller in volume.

So, do I now have a camera body, with the lens included, that can completely replace my X-T4?

It sounds too good to be true.

And yet, it is.

My First Test!

To test it, I decided to take it to Milan, initially to a market for my first real experience with it.

You know how it is.

A market can be traumatic when you're trying out new equipment, because there are so many impressions coming at you. Too many, sometimes.

And when you have a zoom lens, you never really know if or when you should zoom in, and, most importantly, how much. Perfect for getting used to it!

In this blog, I'll show you the photographs I took during my first day using the camera, demonstrating just how quickly you can get used to it, even when you're not familiar with the Sony system at all.

In another blog, I'll instead cover the accessories.

First Impressions after many impressions

Needless to say, from the very first moment, the camera proved to be incredibly versatile.

My eyes were seeing scenes that I could quickly turn into photographs.

With the X-T4 and the 18-55mm zoom, on the other hand, I was sometimes limited by having to take a few extra steps forward to capture something that was further away. And by doing so, I would lose the momentum, and the scene in general.

With the RX100 VII, I could zoom in quickly and create layers that would otherwise have been much more difficult for me to create, all while remaining incredibly discreet.

That, for me, was already a huge advantage.

200mm in Your Pocket

It is true that this Sony does attract some attention when you zoom in, because of how far the lens extends towards 200mm.

But even then, it remains smaller than the X-E4 or X-T4 setups I normally use for photography.

In fact, looking at the numbers, the Sony RX100 VII is roughly three times lighter than the X-T4 with the kit lens, and around five times smaller by volume.

And when you're travelling, walking around a city all day, or simply trying to remain unnoticed while photographing, that difference is not insignificant.

The Price of Being This Small

Of course, all of this comes at a price.

Not only is the Sony RX100 VII rather expensive, considering that it was released almost seven years ago and has never received a firmware update since its release, but this level of compactness and minimalism also means that you may want to compensate for it by purchasing a few accessories.

To be clear, none of them are absolutely essential.

But for my particular style of photography, there were a few things I needed to buy before I could even properly start shooting with it.

A Miracle!

I'll be honest.

Since getting this Sony, I've not only been using my Fujis less, but I've completely neglected my GR III.

Maybe it's a natural process. When we get something new, we tend to neglect what is older.

But at the moment, I don't really see why I should embark on my next trip with three different camera bodies when I can carry this miracle in a pocket.

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