The 24-200mm zoom of the Sony RX100 VI brings with it both the good and the bad

posted Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 12:53 PM EDT

Click here to read my Sony RX100 VI Field Test

Sony's RX100 series has been praised pretty much since the get-go, with fans really impressed with what the small camera can do. With each iteration, Sony has made both big and small upgrades to the system to make it a more viable camera that continues to be a better option than a smartphone. The latest, the RX100 Mark VI, made a significant change by swapping out the previous 24-70mm-eq. f/1.8-2.8 lens with a huge zoom range: 24-200mm-eq. f/2.8-4.5. You'll notice that in exchange for that extra 130mm of zoom, the lens had to make some concessions in the aperture department, dropping an entire stop of light-gathering ability from the entire range of the lens. For some, this won't matter very much as the camera still performs excellently in bright light, and does so now with a huge zoom advantage. But for those who became accustomed to the shooting experience of f/1.8-2.8, indoor shooting with the RX100 VI is much more of a challenge than it used to be.

RX100 VI @ 53mm, 1/50 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400.
This image has been edited, click here to see original.

Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot to like about the RX100 VI, it's just a matter of knowing the camera's limitations. If you're a current RX100 V or earlier model owner, you are going to be more likely to notice that one stop of light gathering ability than someone who is picking up the RX100 system for the first time and that first experience being with the Mark VI. For a large majority of shooting needs, the RX100 VI will absolutely be a great option, providing an A7-like focusing experience and high-quality image capture. But part of shooting successfully with any camera is knowing its limitations, and the RX100 VI simply isn't the best low light camera, which is in contrast to its earlier iterations.

To get a more complete picture of what to expect with the Sony RX100 VI, read my full field test and check out the images captured in our gallery.