Sony RX0

Manufacturer: Sony Type: camera (ultra-compact / action cam) Sensor: 1-inch stacked 15.3MP Exmor RS CMOS Resolution: 15.3MP Year introduced: 2017 Key feature: RX-quality 1-inch sensor in waterproof, shockproof, crushproof mini body; super slow motion to 960fps

Overview

The Sony RX0 was a new category of camera announced at IFA Berlin in August 2017, combining the image quality of Sony’s acclaimed RX compact line with an ultra-compact, ruggedized body. It featured a 1-inch stacked 15.3-megapixel Exmor RS CMOS sensor with a BIONZ X processor and a fixed ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm f/4 wide-angle lens. Despite measuring just 59mm x 40.5mm x 29.8mm and weighing only 110g, the RX0 was waterproof to 10m, shockproof from 2m drops, and crushproof to 200kg (^[1]).

The camera offered an Anti-Distortion Shutter up to 1/32,000 second, burst shooting at 16 fps, and super slow motion video capture at up to 960 fps. Video capabilities included HD internal recording in XAVC or AVCHD formats, clean 4K output via HDMI to an external recorder, Picture Profile support with S-Log2, and Time Code/User Bit functions for multi-camera shoots. Multiple RX0 units could be linked together wirelessly (up to 15 via the FA-WRC1M radio commander) or wired (up to 100 via the CCB-WD1 Camera Control Box) for bullet-time, time-slice, and other multi-angle productions (^[2]).

The RX0 shipped from October 2017 at approximately $700 in the USA. Sony commissioned filmmaker Jeff Berlin to shoot “ETHER,” an underwater short film in Hawaii demonstrating the camera’s underwater capabilities (^[3]).

For underwater use, Sony offered the MPK-HSR1 housing extending the depth rating to 100m. The camera’s 1-inch sensor delivered significantly better image quality than GoPro-class action cameras, while its fixed wide-angle lens and compact form factor made it suitable for mounting in tight spaces or as part of multi-camera arrays (^[4]).

Sony RX0 II

In March 2019, Sony announced the RX0 II with several significant upgrades: internal 4K 30p recording with full pixel readout (no pixel binning), a 180-degree tiltable LCD screen that worked underwater, in-body electronic image stabilization for video, enhanced color reproduction with improved skin tones, upgraded Eye AF, and a shortened minimum focusing distance of 20cm. The RX0 II maintained the same waterproof (10m), shockproof (2m), and crushproof (200kg) ratings while weighing just 132g. It shipped in April 2019 at $700 (^[5]).

Housing & Accessory Support

• Sony MPK-HSR1: Sony’s own underwater housing for the original RX0, extending the depth rating to 100m. Featured a 55mm filter thread for accessory lenses (^[6]).
• Inon UWL-100 28M55 / UCL-G165 M55: Inon shipped two conversion lenses for the RX0 in the MPK-HSR1 housing in February 2018. The UWL-100 28M55 wide conversion lens provided 100-degree coverage with a minimum focus distance of 118mm underwater, enabling close-focus wide-angle (CFWA) photography. The UCL-G165 M55 wide close-up lens offered a minimum focus distance of 96mm. Both attached directly via the housing’s M55 filter thread (^[7]).
• Recsea WHS-RX0II: Aluminum housing for the RX0 II announced June 2019. CNC-machined corrosion-resistant aluminum with the Secure-Latch locking system, depth rated to 150m (with MOD listed at 300m in some specs). Full camera function control (^[8]).
• Sony RX0 Video Contest: Sony announced a video contest for RX0 users in February 2018, encouraging creative content (^[9]).

Timeline

• 2017-08: Sony unveils the RX0 at IFA Berlin ($700) (^[10]).
• 2018-02: Sony announces RX0 video contest (^[11]). Inon ships UWL-100 28M55 and UCL-G165 M55 conversion lenses for RX0 in MPK-HSR1 housing (^[12]). Sony publishes “ETHER” underwater short film by Jeff Berlin (^[13]).
• 2019-03: Sony announces RX0 II with internal 4K, tiltable screen, and IBIS ($700) (^[14]).
• 2019-06: Recsea announces WHS-RX0II aluminum housing, depth rated to 150m (^[15]).

References

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