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We've carried out our full range of lab tests on the Sony RX10 II, but we've also pitted it against three key rivals so that you can see how it compares. We've included the Canon G3 X, which also has a 1-inch sensor but a longer zoom range, and the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 – another bridge camera with a 1-inch sensor. For comparison, our third rival is the Nikon P900, which is a more typical bridge camera, featuring a huge zoom range but a small sensor.
We've carried out lab tests on the Sony RX10 II across its full ISO range for resolution, noise (including signal to noise ratio) and dynamic range. We test the JPEGs shot by the camera, but we also check the performance with raw files. Most enthusiasts and pros prefer to shoot raw, and the results can often be quite different.
Sony RX10 II resolution charts
We test camera resolution using an industry-standard ISO test chart that allows precise visual comparisons. This gives us numerical values for resolution in line widths/picture height, and you can see how the Sony RX10 II compares with its rivals in the charts below.
JPEG resolution analysis: The RX10 II comes out at the top of the group for resolution, closely matched by the camera most would consider its main rival, the Panasonic FZ1000. The Canon G3 X lags slightly behind, particularly at higher ISO settings, while the Nikon P900 has the lowest resolution figures of all – exactly what we would expect from a small-sensor bridge camera.
Raw (converted to TIFF) resolution analysis: Again, the RX10 II delivers the sharpest results, though the Panasonic and Canon match it pretty closely at low-to-medium ISO settings. The Nikon P900 doesn't figure in our raw test charts, as it doesn't offer raw format shooting.
Sample resolution charts
This is the chart we use for testing camera resolution. The key area is just to the right of centre, where a series of converging lines indicates the point at which the camera can no longer resolve them individually. We shoot this chart at all of the camera's ISO settings, and here are two samples at ISO 200 and ISO 6400.
ISO 200: Click here for a full-size version.
