Premium compact cameras are something of an odd concept. They certainly offer the portability of a compact camera but they attempt to combine this with improved sensors and other features that would normally be associated with high end and expensive units. The problem is that compromise must be made – few of the units sold have decent interchangeable lenses and while a little more room is given for a bigger sensor, they rarely match the benefits of a digital SLR camera sensor. They also cost considerably more than a standard compact camera so is there room for the likes of the Sony Cybershot RX100 II announced this week?

The Cybershot RX100 II is certainly not without strong features, many of them new to the mark 2. It has a tilting screen which is useful for capturing awkward shots and when the camera is placed on a tripod or stand. It has both WiFi and NFC, too, so it can communicate with just about everything from mobile phones and laptops to the self-service tills in Tesco. Continue reading →