Sony RX100 Series

Manufacturer: Sony
Type: camera (compact)
Year introduced: 2012
Sensor: 1.0-type (1-inch) CMOS, 20.1–20.2 MP
Generations: RX100 (2012), II (2013), III (2014), IV (2015), V (2016), VI (2018), VII (2019)

Overview

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 was the world’s first compact fixed-lens camera with a 1.0-type (1-inch) sensor, offering 20.2 effective megapixels (^[1]). Introduced in June 2012, it was widely acclaimed as a game-changing compact. The New York Times declared it “the best pocket camera ever made,” and Time magazine included it in its list of the 50 best inventions of 2012 (^[2]). Backscatter named it the best point-and-shoot for underwater use in 2012 (^[3]).

The 1-inch sensor was “considerably larger than other cameras in its class,” and paired with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28–100mm equivalent f/1.8 zoom lens, it delivered image quality far beyond what was previously possible from a pocketable camera (^[4]). The camera “single-handedly rejuvenated the Consumer Digicams/housings forum on Wetpixel” (^[5]).

Over seven generations spanning 2012–2019, the RX100 series became arguably the most important compact camera line in underwater photography history, with housings produced by every major manufacturer and a thriving community ecosystem of wet lenses and accessories.

Generations

RX100 (June 2012)

The original RX100 featured a 20.9 MP 1-inch Exmor CMOS sensor with a 28–100mm equivalent f/1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens. Key features included Optical Steady Shot image stabilization, ISO expandable to 80–25,600, 10 fps burst shooting, 25-point AF, 1080p 60fps video, Sony’s “White Magic” LCD technology (using four dots per pixel for twice the brightness), focus peaking for manual focus, and the ability to capture 17 MP stills while recording video. The programmable Fn button with user-assignable menu options was a first for its market segment (^[6]).

RX100 II (June 2013)

The RX100 II added a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor for up to 40% more sensitivity in low light, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, a tilting LCD, a Multi Interface Shoe for accessories (including an optional electronic viewfinder), and 24p/25p video modes. Retailed at $850 (^[7]). The hot shoe was significant for underwater use, as it allowed electrical sync connections for strobes, enabling “truly instantaneous shot to shot performance” rather than relying on the camera’s internal flash to recycle (^[8]).

RX100 III (May 2014)

A major update featuring a new ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24–70mm f/1.8–2.8 lens (wider and faster than its predecessors), a built-in retractable OLED viewfinder with 1.4 million dot resolution, the BIONZ X processor (3x faster than previous), a built-in 3-stop ND filter, 180-degree tilting LCD, and XAVC S video recording at up to 50 Mbps. The 24–70mm lens with maximum f/2.8 at telephoto gathered about twice as much light as the RX100/II at 70mm. The camera also focused as close as 30cm from the front of the lens at full extension. Priced at $800 (^[9]). Notably, video quality from the RX100 III “clearly out resolves and displays less moiré than cameras like the Nikon D610 and even the Sony A7” thanks to full sensor readout without line skipping (^[10]).

RX100 IV (June 2015)

Featured the world’s first 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with DRAM memory chip, enabling 5x faster readout. New capabilities included up to 40x super slow motion at 960 fps, 4K (UHD) video recording at 100 Mbps (limited to ~5 minutes), 16 fps continuous shooting, and an anti-distortion shutter with speeds up to 1/32,000 second. Retained the 24–70mm f/1.8–2.8 lens from the Mark III. Added S-Log2 gamma for professional color grading. Priced at $1,000 (^[11]).

RX100 V (October 2016)

Added a new LSI chip for improved high ISO image quality, increased burst shooting to 24 fps, enhanced slow motion recording time to up to 8 seconds, and introduced a hybrid autofocus system with phase detection AF. The camera was described by DPReview as “an incredible amount of technology stuffed into an easily pocketable package” (^[12]). Fantasea confirmed their existing FRX100 IV housing was fully compatible with the Mark V, as were the Mark III and IV cameras in the same housing (^[13]).

RX100 VI (June 2018)

A major lens change: the new ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24–200mm f/2.8–4.5 lens replaced the 24–70mm, adding significant telephoto reach but with a smaller maximum aperture. Featured 315-point phase-detection AF covering 65% of the frame with world’s fastest 0.03-second AF acquisition, 24 fps continuous shooting with full AF/AE tracking, 4K HDR with HLG picture profile, and S-Log3/S-Gamut3. The extended zoom range meant housings required a new longer port design. Priced at $1,200 (^[14]).

RX100 VII (July 2019)

Billed as “Alpha 9 performance in your pocket,” the Mark VII featured 357 focal-plane phase-detection AF points plus 425 contrast-detection AF points, world’s fastest 0.02-second AF, Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF (for humans and animals), 20 fps blackout-free shooting with AF/AE tracking, a new Single Burst Shooting mode at up to 90 fps, 4K Active SteadyShot (8x more effective than standard), an integrated microphone jack, and super slow motion at up to 1,000 fps. Retained the 24–200mm f/2.8–4.5 lens from the Mark VI. Priced at approximately $1,200 US (^[15]).

Housing Availability

The RX100 series attracted underwater housings from virtually every major manufacturer, a testament to the camera’s importance for underwater photography.

Nauticam

Nauticam was the first aluminum housing manufacturer to support the RX100, and the NA-RX100 became “one of the bestselling housings in Nauticam history” (^[16]).

• NA-RX100 (August 2012, $950) and NA-RX100V ($1,250 with HDMI bulkhead): Aircraft-grade aluminum, 100m depth rating, 67mm threaded port for wet lenses, fiber optic strobe triggering, front and rear command dials, patented two-stage shutter release. Compatible with Inon UWL-H100 28 M67 Type 2 for 100-degree field of view (^[17]).
• NA-RX100II (September 2013, $950): Added bulkhead port for hot shoe accessories including Nikonos or Ikelite electrical sync cables (^[18]).
• NA-RX100III (August 2014, $995): Added integrated vacuum check and leak detection system, M14 and M16 bulkhead ports, HDMI output support. Compatible with Nauticam Super Macro Converter 1 (SMC) for 4x magnification (^[19]).
• NA-RX100IV (August 2015, $995): Included stainless steel handle brackets and mechanical shutter release trigger extension for gloved use. Refined ergonomics, integrated vacuum monitoring (^[20]).
• NA-RX100VI (July 2018, $1,100): Major redesign featuring Nauticam’s N50 interchangeable port system to accommodate the longer 24–200mm zoom. Standard port allowed full zoom through; optional N50 Short Port with Bayonet Mount supported WWL-1 wide-angle (130-degree FOV) and CMC-1 macro lenses, interchangeable underwater. With SMC-2 at 200mm, captured images just 7mm wide with 35mm working distance (^[21]).

Recsea (Seatool)

• WHS-RX100 (July 2012): First housing announced for the RX100. Aluminum construction, 80m depth rating, fixed lens port with rotary control ring, rear command dial, half-press shutter. Weight 640g on land (^[22]).
• WHS-RX100MkII (July 2013): Aluminum, 100m depth, front and rear control access (^[23]).
• WHS-RX100MkIII (August 2014): Aluminum, 100m depth, rear control dial with push button function, 776g on land (^[24]).
• CWS-RX100/RX100II (October 2014): Budget line in CNC-machined POM and acrylic. Offered upgrade/downgrade kits between RX100 and RX100 II models (^[25]).
• CWS-RX100IV (August 2015): POM construction, 60m depth, 67mm threaded port, dual O-ring sealed. Weight 670g on land (^[26]).

Sea & Sea

• MDX-RX100/II (December 2013): Aluminum, 100m depth rating, compatible with both RX100 and RX100 II via included bumper pad kit. Featured flash deactivation lever, multi-pad controller, front control ring, leak sensor option, sacrificial zinc diodes. M67 thread via step-down ring (^[27]).
• MDX-RX100 III (August/September 2014, $995.95): Aluminum, 100m depth. Allowed built-in flash activation from housing, two fiber optic cable sockets, LCD tilt to 10 degrees, leak sensor option (^[28]).

Ikelite

• Housing for RX100 III (July 2014): Polycarbonate construction with visible O-ring seal. Front control ring gear-driven for easy access, sensitive half-press shutter, dual fiber optic ports. 67mm threaded port compatible with Ikelite W30 and Inon UWL-H100 wide-angle lenses. WiFi passthrough for above-water image download (^[29]).
• Housing for RX100 IV (July 2015): Noted backward compatibility — the Mark III housing accepted the IV camera with minor washer adjustment. New version featured redesigned spring-loaded rear dial and slide-in front loading camera tray (^[30]).
• Housing for RX100 VI (#6116.18, August 2018): ABS-PC construction, 60m depth rating. Standard 3.9-inch optical glass port accommodated full 24–200mm zoom. Optional Wide Angle Port M67 limited zoom to 24–70mm for use with Inon UWL-H100 or Nauticam WWL-1. Optional WD-4 Wide Angle Dome (0.75x). Vacuum testing option (^[31]).
• RX100 VII compatibility (August 2019): Existing RX100 VI housing compatible with slight rear dial screw adjustment for housings produced before August 26, 2019. RX100 VII not compatible with older Mark I–V housing models (^[32]).

Fantasea

• FRX100 IV (September 2015, $500): Polycarbonate construction, 60m depth rating, M67 port adapter included, integrated electronic moisture detector, double O-ring seal. Also compatible with RX100 III. Later confirmed compatible with RX100 V as well, priced at $400 (^[33], ^[34]).
• FRX100 VI Limited Edition (November 2018): Polycarbonate, 60m depth. Flat port with 67mm thread limited lens zoom to 24–66mm range (60mm beyond 40m depth). Removable double fiber optic connections, anti-glare LCD hood, moisture alarm (^[35]).

Hugyfot

• Vision RX100 VI (March 2019, from EUR 1,420): Premium aluminum housing rated to 200 meters. Available in two configurations: one with integrated 7-inch HDMI monitor, sun hood, and dual battery packs (EUR 1,945); and one with traditional buttons/rotary controls plus 6-hour battery pack. Black anodized and Teflon coated. Plug and play camera installation (^[36]).

Isotta

• RX100 VI/VII (October 2020, EUR 990): Italian-made aluminum housing in signature red color. 100m depth rating, 1,060g with port. Square port for full zoom range with optional M67 threaded port. Laser-engraved function icons, double O-rings on all controls, moisture alarm with LED and acoustic warning. Bayonet-mount port system (^[37]).

Sony (OEM)

• MPK-URX100A: Sony’s own underwater housing with 67mm screw mount, compatible with RX100 through RX100 V. Inon confirmed full compatibility of their wide-angle, macro, and strobe accessories with this housing (^[38]).

Wet Lens Ecosystem

The RX100’s 67mm threaded port (standard across most housings) enabled a rich wet lens ecosystem:

Wide Angle

• Inon UWL-H100 28 M67 Type 2: The standard wide-angle recommendation, providing approximately 100–110 degree diagonal field of view with sharp corners and no vignetting at 28mm. Optional Dome Lens Unit II extended coverage to 145 degrees for close-focus wide-angle work (^[39], ^[40], ^[41]).
• Nauticam WWL-1: 130-degree diagonal FOV at 28mm, optimized for underwater use. Available for Mark VI/VII via N50 Short Port with Bayonet Mount (^[42]).
• Ikelite WD-4 Wide Angle Dome: 0.75x magnification factor, slide-on design for RX100 VI housing (^[43]).
• Sea & Sea M67 Wide-angle Conversion Lens 0.6x: Increased angle of view from 28mm to approximately 17mm equivalent (^[44]).

Macro

• Nauticam SMC (Super Macro Converter): Provided over 4x magnification on the RX100 III, imaging subjects 38mm wide (vs. 160mm with stock lens) (^[45]).
• Nauticam CMC (Compact Macro Converter): Images subjects 35mm wide with 55–75mm working distance on the RX100 series (^[46]). Community discussions confirmed effective use with RX100 V in Ikelite housing, though working distance precision was critical (forum thread, topic 70104).
• Nauticam SMC-2: On the RX100 VI at full 200mm telephoto, captured images just 7mm wide with 35mm working distance — extreme macro from a compact camera (^[47]).
• Inon UCL-330 / UCL-165 M67: Standard and high-power close-up lenses compatible with RX100 series via M67 thread. Note: vignetting at wide zoom settings required zooming in (^[48]).
• Inon UFL-M150 ZM80: Underwater micro fisheye lens for unique perspectives (^[49]).

Reviews & Discussion

• ^[50] — Comprehensive announcement of the NA-RX100 and NA-RX100V housings with detailed camera specifications, housing features, and wet lens compatibility. Article (editorial source).
• ^[51] — Announcement of the RX100 II with back-illuminated sensor, Wi-Fi/NFC, and Multi Interface Shoe. Article (editorial source).
• ^[52] — Full press release for the Mark III with 24–70mm f/1.8–2.8 lens, built-in EVF, and BIONZ X processor. Article (editorial source).
• ^[53] — Mark IV announcement with stacked CMOS sensor, 960 fps slow motion, and 4K video. Article (editorial source).
• ^[54] — Field review shooting Steller sea lions in Alaska. Praised ease of switching between stills and 4K video, fast autofocus with Inon fisheye wet lens, and high frame rate video at 240 fps. Found slow write times during HFR recording and difficulty with split-level shots when wet lenses trapped water drops. “I would happily take this camera system with me anywhere in the world.” Article (editorial source).
• ^[55] — Mark VI announcement with groundbreaking 24–200mm zoom lens and 0.03-second AF. Article (editorial source).
• ^[56] — Mark VII announcement with Alpha 9 AF system, Real-time Eye AF, and 90 fps burst mode. Article (editorial source).
• ^[57] — Comprehensive compatibility chart for Inon lenses, strobes, arms, and LED lights with RX100 Mark I through V and Sony’s MPK-URX100A housing. Includes sample images and setup examples. Article (editorial source).

Community Discussion

• Canon G7X vs Sony RX100 (10 replies) — Community advice thread comparing the two leading 1-inch sensor compacts for underwater use. Users noted the RX100 VI/VII’s 24–200mm lens required a separate short port with wet wide-angle lenses, limiting zoom range. Some recommended the Panasonic LX-10 as an alternative. One user reported using both a Canon G7X II and RX100 VII in Fantasea housings for snorkeling with humpback whales (forum thread, topic 70085).
• RX100V with CMC-1 focus/image (9 replies) — Detailed troubleshooting of macro technique with Nauticam CMC-1 on RX100 V in Ikelite housing. Community confirmed the critical 55–75mm working distance at full 70mm zoom, recommending manual focus with focus peaking and “rocking” technique for sharp results (forum thread, topic 70104).
• Switch from RX100 to a7C (6 replies) — Users discussing upgrade path from RX100 III to Sony a7C mirrorless. Community advised that adding an external strobe to the RX100 might produce a bigger improvement than upgrading the camera body. One user confirmed CMC-2 worked with the a7C’s kit lens after making the same upgrade from RX100 Mark I (forum thread, topic 70261).
• Testing the RX100 (31 replies) — Early community image-sharing thread demonstrating the compact’s “surprisingly strong image quality” underwater (forum thread, topic 47946).
• Nauticam NA-RX100IV flooding (23 replies) — User report and community discussion of a flooding incident with the Nauticam RX100 IV housing, including troubleshooting advice and Nauticam’s response (forum thread, topic 57048).
• Sony RX100 VI - Ultimate P&S camera? (12 replies) — Discussion of whether the Mark VI’s 24–200mm zoom made it the ultimate compact for underwater use (forum thread, topic 62217).

Timeline

• 2012-06: Sony introduces the RX100, the world’s first compact with a 1-inch sensor (^[58]).
• 2012-07: Recsea announces the first underwater housing for the RX100, the aluminum WHS-RX100 (^[59]).
• 2012-08: Nauticam unveils the NA-RX100 ($950) and NA-RX100V ($1,250) housings, shipping August 31 (^[60]).
• 2012-10: Backscatter names the RX100 best point-and-shoot for underwater in 2012 (^[61]).
• 2012-11: Time magazine names the RX100 one of the 50 best inventions of 2012. The camera “single-handedly rejuvenated” Wetpixel’s compact camera forum (^[62]).
• 2013-06: Sony announces the RX100 II with back-illuminated sensor, Wi-Fi/NFC, and hot shoe ($850) (^[63]).
• 2013-07: Recsea announces aluminum housing for RX100 II (^[64]).
• 2013-09: Nauticam announces NA-RX100II ($950), noting the original NA-RX100 was “one of the bestselling housings in Nauticam history” (^[65]).
• 2013-12: Sea & Sea announces the MDX-RX100/II housing, compatible with both Mark I and II via bumper pad kit (^[66]).
• 2014-05: Sony announces the RX100 III with new 24–70mm f/1.8–2.8 Zeiss lens, built-in EVF, and BIONZ X processor ($800) (^[67]).
• 2014-07: Ikelite and Nauticam announce housings for the RX100 III (both ~$995) (^[68], ^[69]).
• 2014-08: Recsea and Sea & Sea announce their RX100 III housings (^[70], ^[71]).
• 2014-10: Recsea introduces budget CWS line in POM/acrylic for RX100/RX100 II with upgrade kits (^[72]).
• 2015-06: Sony unveils the RX100 IV with stacked CMOS sensor, 960 fps slow motion, and 4K video ($1,000) (^[73]).
• 2015-07: Ikelite ships RX100 IV housing; notes Mark III housing partially compatible (^[74]). Fantasea announces FRX100 IV at $500, also compatible with Mark III (^[75]).
• 2015-08: Nauticam ships NA-RX100IV ($995) with trigger extension for gloved use (^[76]). Recsea ships CWS-RX100IV in POM at 60m rating (^[77]).
• 2016-03: Becky Kagan Schott publishes field review of Fantasea FRX100 IV, shooting sea lions with 240 fps slow motion and 4K video (^[78]).
• 2016-10: Sony announces the RX100 V with 24 fps burst and hybrid AF.
• 2016-11: Fantasea confirms FRX100 IV housing compatible with the new RX100 V ($400) (^[79]).
• 2016-12: Inon publishes comprehensive compatibility chart for RX100 Marks I–V with their lenses, strobes, and accessories (^[80]).
• 2018-06: Sony announces the RX100 VI with 24–200mm f/2.8–4.5 zoom lens ($1,200) (^[81]).
• 2018-07: Nauticam ships NA-RX100VI ($1,100) with new N50 interchangeable port system (^[82]).
• 2018-08: Ikelite announces ABS-PC housing for RX100 VI with 60m rating (^[83]).
• 2018-11: Fantasea announces FRX100 VI Limited Edition housing with 24–66mm zoom restriction (^[84]).
• 2019-03: Hugyfot ships the Vision housing for RX100 VI, rated to 200 meters, available with integrated 7-inch HDMI monitor (from EUR 1,420) (^[85]).
• 2019-07: Sony announces the RX100 VII with Alpha 9 AF system, 0.02-second AF, and Real-time Eye AF ($1,200) (^[86]).
• 2019-08: Ikelite confirms existing RX100 VI housing compatible with RX100 VII with minor adjustment (^[87]).
• 2020-10: Isotta ships signature red aluminum housing for RX100 VI/VII (EUR 990) with square port for full zoom range (^[88]).

References

Wetpixel Live