Sony’s latest premium compact camera is the RX1R II (model DSC-RX1RM2), which features back-Illuminated full-frame Sensor, ZEISS Sonnar T 35mm F2 lens, high speed AF, retractable XGA OLED Viewfinder and the first optical variable low pass filter with low pass filter bracketing. Joining the original RX1 and RX1R cameras, the new RX1R II promise to deliver the highest picture quality of any Sony compact camera ever made. This can be attributed to the new camera’s high resolution 42.4 MP sensor paired with its large aperture, fixed focal length ZEISS Sonnar T 35mm F2 lens.

Additionally, the new model features a 30% improvement in AF response speed compared to the original RX1 models and is equipped with the world’s first optical variable low pass filter that can be set to "off", "standard" or "high" based on user preference with low pass filter bracketing available. It also has a retractable XGA OLED viewfinder for eye-level shooting, which has been implemented with minimal change in overall body size from its predecessors.

The camera achieves image sensitivity of ISO 100-25600, expandable to 50 – 102400 with wide dynamic range. The sensor’s back-illuminated structure enables faster transmission speed and outputs data approximately 3.5x faster than the original RX1R.

The large aperture 35mm F2 ZEISS Sonnar T lens has a Macro shift ring for focusing on subjects as close as 14cm in front of the lens and has nine aperture blades that produce smooth background defocus or 'bokeh' in the most commonly used aperture ranges.

Also, unlike the focal plane shutter common to interchangeable lens cameras, RX1R II utilises an in-lens shutter, allowing 1/2000 sec flash synch speed and a significant reduction in overall body size.

The new RX1R II also offers uncompressed 14-bit RAW image capture, while also still supporting existing compressed format.

The camera’s sensor features 399 focal-plane phase-detection AF points that cover about 45% of the image area that work together with 25 contrast AF points to achieve focus response that is about 30% faster than the original model. Other focusing improvements on the new model include multiple AF area settings including Wide, Centre and Flexible Spot, as well as Eye AF and lock-on AF.

New Retractable XGA OLED Viewfinder, Tiltable Screen, HD Video and more

New for the RX1 series, the RX1R II has a built-in retractable XGA OLED Tru-Finder that pops up and down with simple one-push operation. It also has a 3.0 type WhiteMagic 1.2 million dot LCD display that can tilt upwards to 109 degrees and downwards to 41 degrees.

On the video side, the camera is able to support full HD 1920x1080 video recording at frame rates of 60p, 30p or 24p through use of the XAVC S movie recording format.

The RX1R II camera is also Wi-Fi and NFC compatible and fully functional with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application available for Android and iOS platforms, as well as Sony’s PlayMemories Camera Apps.

The Sony RX1R II camera will be available in November for about $3300 US and $4200 CAD at a variety of Sony authorized dealers in both countries. There is also a new camera case (model LCJ-RXH) that will be available at launch that fits on the new RX1R II as well as the original RX1 and RX1R models.