Sony RX100 VII Landscape Photography Review (2025)

Aug 11

Written By Henry Turner

Is The Sony RX100 VII Good For Landscape Photography?

I left the big gear at home for this one.

Instead, I packed something totally different. The Sony RX100 Mark VII.

It came out in 2019 and still holds its value. No small feat in a world where cameras date fast.

I’ve always wondered if it deserved the praise. Could this compact really keep up with a full time photographer?

So I put it to the test in North Wales, heading out on a wild camping/landscape photography trip into the Snowdonia mountains.

No backup. No safety net. Just the RX100VII and a landscape that never seems to let me down.

In this post, I’ll show you how it handled. The weight. The workflow. The files. All of it.

*Photographing the beautiful mountains of North Wales at sunrise - challenging conditions for this little camera!*

Sony RX100 VII: Quick Specs

Sensor: 20.1MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor

Lens: 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 ZEISS zoom lens

Autofocus: Real-time tracking and eye autofocus

Size & Weight: Compact design, 302g/0.67lbs (with battery)

Video: 4K HDR video recording with stabilisation

Other Features: Flip-up touchscreen, mic input for vlogging

Sony RX100 VII Portability: What It’s Like to Travel Light

What drew me to the RX100 Mark VII straight away was its size.

It weighs just 302 grams, or 0.66 pounds. It measures 102 by 58 by 43 millimetres, or 4.02 by 2.28 by 1.70 inches. That is tiny.

And yet, somehow, this little thing is packed with power.

It has a 1.0-type stacked 20.1 megapixel Exmor RS CMOS sensor. A 24 to 200mm zoom lens. Real time autofocus. A flip screen. 4K video. All in something that fits in your jacket pocket.

That’s what blew me away. You get the speed and simplicity of a point and shoot, but with the performance of a much bigger system. Wonderful for those quick, reactive moments when a shot appears and you don’t want to miss it.

As much as I love my Nikon Z7 and OM5, there are times when carrying a full setup just doesn’t make sense. If you're hiking, travelling, or even just heading out for the day, the RX100 Mark VII is a game changer.

It gives you proper image quality in a body that weighs less than a lens.

I quickly realised how easy it was to pull the camera out and capture something in the moment. No tripod. No big bag. Just a pocketable setup that keeps photography fun.

Yes, I was carrying camping gear in a big rucksack. But I barely noticed the camera itself.

And that’s what stood out. This tiny camera gives you freedom. The freedom to move, to react, to enjoy the process.

It strips things back. It reminds you what photography is really about.

The RX100 Mark VII makes it simple. It makes it fun. And honestly, that’s what matters most.

*I usually shoot with my beloved Nikon Z7 but I wanted to try something much, much smaller. Check out my complete* *gear list.*

*The difference between my 2 cameras is insane! (And the same focal lengths!).*

RX100 VII Zoom Lens Review: Is 24–200mm Enough?

One of the best things about the RX100 Mark VII is its lens. A ZEISS Vario Sonnar 24 to 200mm with a variable aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.5.

That is a huge range for such a small camera.

You can shoot sweeping landscapes one minute, then zoom in tight for a portrait the next. It even handles close up details and macro scenes surprisingly well.

It is like having both a wide lens and a telephoto in your pocket. No lens swaps. No extra kit. Just options.

At 24mm, you get plenty of space for big scenes, group shots, or environmental portraits. Push it to 200mm and you can isolate distant subjects, compress the background, or bring subtle details to the front.

It is ideal if you like experimenting with different styles but hate carrying too much gear. That is where this camera really shines!

I used the longer end a lot on this trip. The contours of faraway hills, streaks of light across the landscape, moments I would have missed without that reach.

But it is not just for landscapes. The zoom is brilliant for travel and street photography too. You can shoot from a distance without drawing attention, which makes candid shots feel more natural.

While 24mm is wide, it is not ultra wide. You might feel a bit limited when shooting vast open scenes. I did miss that occasionally.

Still, for 90 percent of what I shoot when travelling light, this range is spot on. It gives you freedom. And it delivers.

*Capturing the vast beauty of North Wales with the* *Sony RX100 Mark VII’s versatile lens.*

*An image taken with the* *Sony RX100 VII* *at 180mm (full-frame equiv.). f/4.5 | 1/125sec.*

Sony RX100 VII Viewfinder: How Good Is It Really?

I didn’t expect to love the viewfinder this much.

But I did.

The RX100 Mark VII has a 2.36 million dot XGA OLED Tru Finder. It is bright, clear, and makes framing shots feel precise. Especially in harsh light, when LCD screens start to fall apart.

This one feature changed how I used the camera.

For a compact, having a built-in viewfinder of this quality is rare. It brings that extra level of control and intention. Something you usually only get with bigger systems.

It reminded me of shooting with my old Canon G9X. I always missed having a viewfinder on that camera. Especially on those bright, blue sky days where the light gets tricky. I actually shared some tips for that in this blog on shooting in bright conditions.

With the RX100, the viewfinder gave me the edge I needed. The lens retracts cleanly into the body. The whole thing stays streamlined. But when I needed to line up a shot in direct sunlight, the viewfinder delivered.

And that matters.

It made the camera feel more serious. More like my Z7 or OM5. Less like a casual compact.

If you are someone who likes that extra bit of control, the raised camera to your eye, the sense of being locked in - this feature is a big win.

It gives you options. And options make a difference.

*The hidden gem - a viewfinder that’s small but mighty!*

*Sony RX100 VII* *| See how I captured this image behind the scenes* *HERE*

RX100 VII Image Quality: What to Expect in 2025

After a full day of shooting, I was excited to review the files from the RX100 Mark VII.

Out in the field, it performed really well. Fast to use. Reliable. Responsive. But once I got the images into Lightroom, I felt a bit torn.

They looked great. Especially for a camera this small. But it was clear this is still a compact with a smaller sensor. And with that comes some trade offs.

The 20.1 megapixel stacked sensor is impressive on paper. And most of the results backed that up. The images were sharp. Colours popped. Contrast looked natural. In good light, it held up.

Its ISO range is broad too. From 125 to 12800, expandable from 64 up to 25600. It copes surprisingly well in lower light situations.

But once I started comparing the files to those from my Nikon Z7, the differences became obvious. Less dynamic range. More noise. Less depth. You can only push a sensor like this so far.

Still, I had to remind myself. This is not a full frame mirrorless system. It fits in your jacket pocket. It weighs next to nothing.

When viewed at normal sizes, the images look brilliant. Print them modestly. Share them online. Enjoy them. For most real world uses, they are more than good enough.

If you're a pixel peeper or you regularly print big, you will notice the limits. But if you want something that balances quality with convenience, the RX100 delivers.

It is not perfect. But it is versatile, fast, and genuinely fun to shoot with.

That goes a long way.

It definitely gives you more flexibility than a phone, especially when it comes to zoom range, handling, and creative control. Personally, I just prefer to use an actual camera too!

*Reviewing the RAW files in* *Lightroom* *after my photography shoot.*

Video Performance & Final Verdict on the RX100 VII

This camera surprised me with its video features.

I still shoot mostly stills. But the RX100 Mark VII can definitely handle video.

It records in 4K HDR. The stabilisation is solid. The flip screen makes vlogging or grabbing quick clips feel easy.

For something this size, the spec is impressive. It even has a microphone input. That is rare. And it means you can get good audio without extra faff.

The autofocus is fast and accurate. Real Time Eye AF. Real Time Tracking. It sticks to your subject whether you are filming or shooting stills.

That flexibility made a big difference on this trip. I shot video of the landscape, vlogged a few moments, and captured scenes in town. One camera. No compromises.

The footage came out crisp and sharp. Colours looked great. Motion felt smooth. No stress.

It is a proper hybrid tool. And it fits in your coat pocket.

Of course, it is not perfect. But that is not the point. The RX100 is about convenience, speed, and results.

If you want to travel light and still shoot high quality content, this camera does the job.

It's been out for a few years now, but in 2025, I still think the RX100 Mark VII holds its own. If you're after a reliable, compact camera that punches above its weight, it's absolutely still worth considering.

If you’re thinking about picking one up, I’d check MPB for a used deal. It’s where I get most of my gear these days, and the RX100 VII regularly pops up there.

By the way, If you want sharp results throughout that zoom range, technique matters. Smaller sensors are less forgiving. That is exactly why I put together my free Sharpness Guide. It’s a practical PDF packed with tips that help you get consistently sharp images from small cameras like this one.

Finally, why not watch the full wild camping trip from North Wales here? I used the Sony RX100 Mark VII for loads of it. Behind the scenes clips. Final images. All from this one little camera.