Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II

Sony built the RX1R II as a compact camera with a full-frame sensor and a lens that never leaves the body. The body measures 113 x 65 x 72 mm and weighs 507 grams.

That suits photographers who want high-resolution stills without a system camera and a bag of lenses. The trade is straightforward: one fixed lens, so your framing options come from where you stand.

Ownership involves some planning. The battery is rated for 220 shots, and Wi-Fi is built in. The camera dates from 2015.

The strength here is the sensor: a 42.4-megapixel full-frame CMOS paired with the Bionz X processor, giving files with enough resolution for heavy cropping and large prints. The sensor contributes strongly to the Optics score of 75, a good result that places it in the top 14% of cameras in our database for Optics.

Autofocus draws on 399 points, and the ISO range runs from 100 to 25600, so exposure can adapt as light falls. The shutter reaches 1/4000, quick enough to freeze everyday motion.

Two limits shape how you shoot. There is no in-body stabilisation for camera shake, so consider faster shutter speeds, bracing or a support when light drops. The maximum burst rate is 5fps, which favours considered work over fast action.

The lens is built in, so the small body stays that way. You cannot swap glass for a different look; instead you move yourself and work with the framing you have.

Video tops out at Full HD, and the maximum frame rate is 60fps. A Video score of 56 reflects a modest setup: the Full HD ceiling and the absence of built-in timelapse cost points, while the frame rate earns most of its credit.

Shooting at 60fps gives footage of moving subjects a smooth look and allows a gentle slow-motion effect without any extra gear.

Recordings save as AVCHD or MP4. MP4 keeps files friendly for phones and quick sharing, while AVCHD remains an option if your editing workflow is built around it.

There is no built-in timelapse mode, so interval sequences mean triggering frames yourself and assembling them later. The tilting screen makes framing at waist height easier when you film.

The 3-inch LCD carries about 1.2 million dots, sharp enough to check focus with confidence, and it tilts for framing over crowds or low to the ground. Touch input is absent, so menus and settings run through the buttons.

The electronic viewfinder offers about 2.36 million dots and gives an eye-level alternative to the rear screen.

Flash is not built in, though the camera supports an external flash when you need extra light.

Wireless runs on Wi-Fi alone, with no Bluetooth and no GPS for geotagging. Weather sealing is also missing, so keep it sheltered in poor weather. Bluetooth, weather sealing and touch input all earned no points, leaving a modest Features score of 44.

One memory card slot takes SD, SDHC, SDXC or Memory Stick Pro Duo cards. With no second slot, you carry spare cards instead of counting on in-camera backup.

The NP-BX1 battery carries a limited rating of 220 shots, so a spare, or two, belongs in the bag.

There is no USB charging, so a flat battery pauses shooting until it has been recharged and swapped back in. The single slot, the 220-shot rating and the missing USB charging combine for a Storage & Battery score of 13, a limited result, and packing spare batteries and cards is the practical answer.