Sony RX100 VII menu challenge: On Cyber Monday, I purchased a Sony RX100 VII and a copy of Friedman Archives Guide for this camera. Also downloaded the manual from the Sony website.

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

On Cyber Monday, I purchased a Sony RX100 VII and a copy of Friedman Archives Guide for this camera. Also downloaded the manual from the Sony website.

Having been a longtime user of Nikon gear and having read about the frustration some mentioned about the menu structure of this new camera, I figured having these two documents would be helpful. And they were and continue to be.

Actually, I have found the Sony menu structure logistical and not overly difficult to understand. The fn (function) button provides quick access to about any of your favorite functions. It is already populated with Sony’s favorites, but you can move or change them as you wish. Nice.

Nevertheless, it will still take me some time to experiment with the myriad of functions and features. Two things I’ll mention is that the eye focusing is outstanding and Subject tracking has worked impressively so far.

FWIW, I would not suggest this camera for the casual user. There are too many ways to foul up. 🤪

timcc Loc: Virginia

Enjoy your new camera!! I love my a6000, and I agree that the Sony menu structure is pretty logical and not nearly as complicated as some make it out to be. You can easily move your selections to the quick Function group and any other programmable buttons. I rarely have to go back into the menu system -- usually just for sensor cleaning or card formatting.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Doc Barry wrote:

.....FWIW, I would not suggest this camera for the casual user. There are too many ways to foul up. 🤪

At ~$1,200 I don't see it attracting many casual users

.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Doc Barry wrote:

On Cyber Monday, I purchased a Sony RX100 VII and ... (show quote)

Which is why there is a reset command in the menus.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

The great thing about this camera is that anyone can use it as simply or as sophisticated as they want or as their experience level permits. A casual user might buy this camera if they can afford it. There’s a lot packed into that small body, and one doesn’t need a camera bag or a backpack to hold a collection of lenses. It’s a camera someone can grow into.

Ltgk20 Loc: Salisbury, NC

I appreciate your comments. I've been a Sony camera user for over 10 years and I never saw the menus as terribly difficult. They are sizable, but the cameras tend to have enormous capabilities and flexibility which makes the menu size necessary. I do think you did yourself a great favor by starting through the manual. I've heard from several other (and very well known) photographers and even with other camera brands, they recommend going through the manual (and again with every new model, even if from the same manufacturer).

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Menus of multipurpose Swiss-Knife tools [cameras are tools] get confusing. I have a Panasonic TZ100 which as is your Sony, is a similarly fantastic camera... does so many things [which I do not use] that finding and setting up the shot becomes an on a 3" screen research project virtually impossible in the bright sun.

My salvation is to set up for shooting a known situation... eg car show... before leaving the house. I carry a simple Sony HX50 compact or my Canon 50 which as C-1 C-2 settings and smart auto. Simple is at times better but the quality produced by compact, long zoom, cameras with a 1-inch sensor is seductive.

mrtaxi Loc: Old Westbury NY, Fort Lauderdale, FL

I also bought the Rx100 mark7. Very happy with it. Owning the mark 3 & 4 the menu is very similar. However in LR it’s not picking up the lens correction yet!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, the Menu system is different - not impossible, though. One thing I like about the Sony Menu is that it is limited to one screen. When you get to the bottom, you move over to the next Menu item. Spend a little time with it, and it will become second nature.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I was a Nikon user, still have the D500. I now have the Sony a7111 and the a9. I also have the rx100 v1, a 24-200 zoom. There are times where I will have one full frame Sony with a Sony 24-105 lens and I take the rx100 v1 for the telephoto use. The menus are similar on all the Sony cameras I have. I have tried to keep the settings the same in all the cameras. Then there are times where I just take the little camera. While it is very pricey, I am happy I have it.

Enjoy your new camera.

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

dpullum wrote:

Menus of multipurpose Swiss-Knife tools cameras a... (show quote)

You are correct that there are many functions that will rarely if ever be used. What I have found useful in Friedman’s book is the explanation of how to achieve particular “super” functions by setting a mix of functions. Also the My Menu is nice touch. How some of the functions interact requires reading of both the manual and Friedman’s book I have found.

I need to do more testing, but it appears the AWB of the M7 is not as good as that of my Nikon D810.

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

ronichas wrote:

I was a Nikon user, still have the D500. I now have the Sony a7111 and the a9. I also have the rx100 v1, a 24-200 zoom. There are times where I will have one full frame Sony with a Sony 24-105 lens and I take the rx100 v1 for the telephoto use. The menus are similar on all the Sony cameras I have. I have tried to keep the settings the same in all the cameras. Then there are times where I just take the little camera. While it is very pricey, I am happy I have it.

Enjoy your new camera.

Thanks!

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

dpullum wrote:

snip ...
My salvation is to set up for shooting a known situation... eg car show... before leaving the house. I carry a simple Sony HX50 compact or my Canon 50 which as C-1 C-2 settings and smart auto. Simple is at times better but the quality produced by compact, long zoom, cameras with a 1-inch sensor is seductive.

It still bugs me that marketing rules over fact. The sensor diagonal is about 1/3” rather than 1”. Back in the early 1960s when I was an engineer at a local TV station. The small video camera tubes were called vidicons. A typical diameter of the faceplate of the glass envelope was 1” with the diagonal of the sensitive area being about 1/3”. FWIW, I’m not ancient, but was just a weird kid who had the FCC licenses needed by age 16 needed to work as an engineer at radio or TV stations.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Doc Barry wrote:

It still bugs me that marketing rules over fact. The sensor diagonal is about 1/3” rather than 1”. Back in the early 1960s when I was an engineer at a local TV station. The small video camera tubes were called vidicons. A typical diameter of the faceplate of the glass envelope was 1” with the diagonal of the sensitive area being about 1/3”. FWIW, I’m not ancient, but was just a weird kid who had the FCC licenses needed by age 16 needed to work as an engineer at radio or TV stations.

Correct. Sony refers to it as a 1” type sensor, so no, the sensor isn’t actually an inch. As you say, it’s a throwback to those old TV tubes.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

dpullum wrote:

...finding and setting up the shot becomes an on a 3" screen research project virtually impossible in the bright sun...

Then use the EVF on your Panasonic TZ100!