Sony Cyber-shot DSCRX100M5A/B Black 2018

The RX100M5A packs a 24fps burst mode and 0.05-second autofocus into a 272g body, landing in the 81st percentile for burst speed. But build quality sits in the 9th percentile and video in the 23rd, which is rough for a camera priced between USD 1,000 and USD 1,731. Buy it for pocketable speed, not for durability or video.

The burst shooting is the star of the show here. At 24fps with mechanical shutter, this little Sony is one of the best on the market for capturing fast action in a compact body. That's paired with Eye AF and a 0.05-second autofocus speed, which lands in the 69th percentile for AF performance. Not top of the charts, but solid enough for street photography and family moments. The 20.1MP 1-inch sensor sits in the 43rd percentile, which is about average for this class. You'll get clean images up to ISO 25600, but don't expect the low-light magic of larger sensor cameras. The BIONZ X processor does a decent job keeping noise in check, and the Vario-Sonnar T* Zeiss lens with 2.9x optical zoom delivers sharp results. Video is where things get rough. The 4K HDR recording with Hybrid Log-Gamma is nice on paper, but video performance sits in the 23rd percentile, which is disappointing. The 960fps super-slow-motion mode is a fun party trick, but the video quality overall lags behind most modern competitors.

Stacked against the Fujifilm X-H2S, Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Panasonic Lumix G9 II, Nikon Z5 II, and OM System OM-1, the RX100M5A is playing a different game entirely. Those are all interchangeable lens cameras with larger sensors and far better build quality. The Sony's advantage is pure portability. None of those competitors fit in a pocket. But the trade-offs are stark. The Fujifilm X-H2S and Canon R6 Mark III absolutely crush this camera in video performance and build quality. The Panasonic G9 II offers better stabilization and a more robust feature set. The Nikon Z5 II and OM System OM-1 bring weather sealing and superior ergonomics. The RX100M5A wins on burst speed per gram, but loses on nearly everything else. It's a specialist tool for people who prioritize size above all else.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread across US vendors is a whopping USD 731, ranging from USD 1,000 to USD 1,731 for the same camera. That's a massive gap, and it means your shopping strategy matters as much as your shooting strategy. At the USD 1,000 end, you're getting a capable pocket camera with best-in-class burst speed. At USD 1,731, you're paying flagship money for a camera with build quality in the 9th percentile and video in the 23rd. The Best Buy listing is the one to watch. If you can snag this at the lower end of that range, the value proposition makes a lot more sense. At the high end, you're better off looking at newer competitors.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSCRX100M5A/B is a pocket rocket that still knows how to throw a punch. The headline numbers are a 24fps burst mode and a 0.05-second autofocus speed, which puts it in the 81st percentile for burst shooting in our database. That's a serious amount of speed for a camera that weighs just 272g and slips into a jacket pocket. The 20.1MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor with its integrated DRAM chip is the engine behind that speed, reading out data fast enough to keep up with the action. But the spec sheet also shows its age in a few key areas, and the price spread across vendors is wild.

Skip this camera if you shoot video, need weather sealing, or value build quality. The video performance in the 23rd percentile is a real letdown for a camera at this price, and the 9th percentile build quality means it won't survive rough handling. If you're a travel photographer who shoots in varied conditions, the 26.8/100 travel score and lack of weather sealing make this a poor choice. Anyone paying above USD 1,200 should seriously consider a used interchangeable lens camera instead. The battery life at the 47th percentile also means you'll be carrying spares for a full day of shooting.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSCRX100M5A/B is a niche camera that excels at one thing: being fast in a tiny package. The 24fps burst and 0.05-second autofocus are genuinely impressive for a 272g camera. But the build quality in the 9th percentile and video in the 23rd percentile are hard to ignore at this price point. If you find it at the USD 1,000 end of the spectrum and you need a pocketable action camera for stills, it's a solid buy. If you're paying closer to USD 1,731, you're getting fleeced. The customer rating of 4.3 out of 5 from 50 reviews suggests owners who bought it at the right price are happy, but the repair horror stories are a red flag.