Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R

Sony built the RX1R in 2013 as a compact camera with a full-frame sensor. It weighs 482g and measures 113 x 65 x 70mm, compact enough to travel in a small bag rather than a large camera case.

It suits photographers who accept working with one fixed lens. There is no viewfinder, so composition happens on the rear screen and framing happens with your feet.

Owning it asks for light planning: pack a spare battery and card, and shelter the body in poor weather since there is no sealing.

The heart of this camera is a 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. That resolution gives room for large prints and cropping, and the ISO range runs from 100 up to 25600, so you can keep shooting as light falls.

The fixed lens keeps the body small but removes choice: there is no zoom and no way to change lenses. The 1/4000 maximum shutter speed is limited, which can restrict wide apertures in bright light.

Shooting pace is modest: the burst rate tops out at five frames per second, and autofocus uses 25 points.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so handheld work depends on shutter speed and steady technique. The Optics score of 67 is good and sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics: strong on the sensor, modest on speed and absent on shake control.

The RX1R records video at up to Full HD resolution, and the fastest frame rate on offer is 60fps. Those are separate limits rather than a single combined recording mode. That suits casual clips and web content without carrying a second device.

The Video score of 56 is modest, and the reasons are visible in the specs. Resolution stops at Full HD, and there is no built-in time-lapse mode, so anyone wanting those capabilities will need to look elsewhere. The 60fps frame rate is the stronger side of the video specs.

Clips are saved in AVCHD format, so plan card capacity and editing around that container. With a modest video score, video here is a handy extra rather than the main attraction.

Framing and review happen on a 3-inch LCD with about 1.23 million dots, which is sharp enough to confirm focus before you move on. The screen also flips, making low or overhead angles much easier to judge.

There is no touch input, so settings change through buttons and menus. WiFi is built in, while Bluetooth and GPS are absent.

Lighting options are decent for a compact: a built-in flash handles quick fill light, and an external flash can be attached when you want more control. The Features score of 44 is modest, and the absent weather sealing, touch input and Bluetooth cost it points. With no sealing, protect the body from rain and dust.

A single card slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards or Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo media. With one slot there is no simultaneous backup, so carrying spare cards is wise for shoots you cannot repeat.

The NP-BX1 battery is rated at 270 shots per charge, though real endurance varies with usage. A charged spare is a sensible companion.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up over a cable. The Storage & Battery score of 16 is limited, and the practical reasons are the single card slot, the short battery rating and the missing USB charging. Plan power and cards before a shoot.