Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II is a bridge camera released in 2015, with a fixed lens built into the body. It weighs 813g and measures 129 x 88 x 102mm, so it is a camera you carry on a strap rather than in a pocket.

Because the lens is permanent, there are no lens changes or spare lenses to carry. That suits photographers who want a single tool for stills and video rather than a system they build over time. Wireless options include WiFi and Bluetooth.

The good Optics score of 64 sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. Its core is a 20 megapixel one-inch CMOS sensor paired with the Bionz X processor.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake when you shoot handheld, which keeps slower shutter speeds usable in fading light. It counteracts your own movement, not the movement of your subject.

For action, the maximum burst rate reaches 14 frames per second, though a maximum figure says nothing about how long that pace holds. The autofocus system offers 25 points, the top shutter speed is 1/3200 second, and sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 12800 for varied lighting.

None of this is expandable, since the fixed lens means no mount upgrades down the line. Framing goes through a detailed 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder, which makes eye-level work comfortable.

Video is a genuine strength, earning a good score of 77. Recording tops out at 4K, which gives footage enough detail to hold up on large screens and leaves cropping room in the edit.

The maximum frame rate reaches 120 frames per second, so you can record fast motion and slow it down in playback for a smooth slow-motion effect. The top resolution and top frame rate are listed as separate figures, so check which combinations the camera offers before planning a shoot.

File formats include XAVC S, AVCHD, MPEG-4 and MOV, which gives you options that suit different editing workflows and storage habits.

One gap is timelapse, which is not built in, so sequence work will need external help or assembling from stills afterwards.

The features score of 57 is modest. The 3-inch WhiteMagic LCD resolves 1.23 million dots, but it is fixed in place and has no touch input, so awkward-angle composition is out and menus are navigated with buttons.

Lighting is better covered. A flash is built into the body and there is support for an external flash as well, so dim interiors and portraits both have options.

Wireless connectivity spans both WiFi and Bluetooth, giving you two routes for linking the camera to other devices. There is no GPS, and the body has no weather sealing, so protect it from sustained rain and dust rather than trusting it in rough conditions.

Storage and battery is the weakest area, with a limited score of 24. The camera takes a single card at a time, accepting SD, SDHC and SDXC media along with Memory Stick Duo variants. SDXC support allows large-capacity cards, but with one slot there is no in-camera backup while you shoot.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated at 400 shots. That rating is not a promise of real-world endurance, so for longer sessions a spare battery is sensible planning.

There is no USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up from a power bank or a laptop while you are out. Charging becomes part of the routine between shoots instead.