New, Unexpected Use for Sony RX100VII: We went on an Alaska cruise. I chose to keep minimize gear. My primary camera for the trip was my RX100VII. Along with a couple cameras, one of...

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

We went on an Alaska cruise. I chose to keep minimize gear. My primary camera for the trip was my RX100VII. Along with a couple cameras, one of the things I left behind was my (amazing) Canon 18x stabilized binoculars.

I discovered that the popup viewfinder, electronic zoom or Clear Image zoom and the camera stabilization transformed the camera into an acceptable high powered monocular. I could see stuff I would not otherwise have seen!

bnsf

That same feature is on the RX10M4.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

bnsf wrote:

That same feature is on the RX10M4.

My DW has one of those. I don't get to touch it so I will never know how good it might be!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

bsprague wrote:

We went on an Alaska cruise. I chose to keep minimize gear. My primary camera for the trip was my RX100VII. Along with a couple cameras, one of the things I left behind was my (amazing) Canon 18x stabilized binoculars.

I discovered that the popup viewfinder, electronic zoom or Clear Image zoom and the camera stabilization transformed the camera into an acceptable high powered monocular. I could see stuff I would not otherwise have seen!

The Sony HX99 does the same thing at a fraction of the cost. Glad it all worked out for you. And, what did you see that you would otherwise not have seen with your naked eye.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

billnikon wrote:

The Sony HX99 does the same thing at a fraction of the cost. Glad it all worked out for you. And, what did you see that you would otherwise not have seen with your naked eye.

One example was reading the name on a boat. It was unusual and I wanted to know what it was. With the name I could look it up on Google. It was a research vessel.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

billnikon wrote:

The Sony HX99 does the same thing at a fraction of the cost. Glad it all worked out for you. And, what did you see that you would otherwise not have seen with your naked eye.

I had the original version, the HX9V. Loved it it until some accidental salt water messed it up. My wife wanted to buy one a couple weeks ago and they were backordered in all the usual places.

lreisner Loc: Union,NJ

bsprague wrote:

We went on an Alaska cruise. I chose to keep minimize gear. My primary camera for the trip was my RX100VII. Along with a couple cameras, one of the things I left behind was my (amazing) Canon 18x stabilized binoculars.

I discovered that the popup viewfinder, electronic zoom or Clear Image zoom and the camera stabilization transformed the camera into an acceptable high powered monocular. I could see stuff I would not otherwise have seen!

I often use the zoom on my cellphone to see or identify things far away, even a few miles away. The Samsung Ultra has an incredible zoom lens. I too have used my camera in a pinch. Binoculars are still more efficient.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

bsprague wrote:

We went on an Alaska cruise. I chose to keep minimize gear. My primary camera for the trip was my RX100VII. Along with a couple cameras, one of the things I left behind was my (amazing) Canon 18x stabilized binoculars.

I discovered that the popup viewfinder, electronic zoom or Clear Image zoom and the camera stabilization transformed the camera into an acceptable high powered monocular. I could see stuff I would not otherwise have seen!

I use my sony a6000 in a similar manner when hiking. I set the lens to maximum zoom, then set the digital zoom to 10x. Take the picture, then display it on the back screen, zooming in on the feature I interested in. Not great resolution, but it does show me things that I couldn't see very well otherwise. Haven't tried Clear Image zoom, though.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

bsprague wrote:

One example was reading the name on a boat. It was unusual and I wanted to know what it was. With the name I could look it up on Google. It was a research vessel.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

I haven't used CIZ on my a6000 in a long time. Completely forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Not unique to Sony. Most cameras can do that.

bnsf

Sony has a Clear Image Zoom feature in the setup. I have this setting in my Sony RX10M4 which makes my 600mm into a 2400mm lens at f4 settings.

rwoodvira

[quote=bsprague]
I have the VI - great little camera.