The Mark V had a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8. That means at wide angle, you could shoot in near-darkness. The Mark VI has a 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5. At the telephoto end (200mm), the maximum aperture is f/4.5—more than a full stop slower than the Mark V’s wide-open aperture.
Also, the battery (NP-BX1) is laughably small. 240 shots per charge if you’re lucky. With the EVF and constant zooming, you will kill the battery in an afternoon. Buy three spares. It’s a ritual. sony rx100 mark 6 cu
It failed to satisfy the purists. But it succeeded at something harder: it survived. And for the traveler who shoots only in daylight, the parent who chases a fast-moving toddler, or the hiker who wants one camera to see near and far, the RX100 VI is not a compromise. It is the answer. The Mark V had a 24-70mm f/1
At 200mm f/4.5, your ISO will jump to 3200 or 6400 very quickly. The 1-inch sensor handles ISO 1600 well. ISO 3200 is noisy. ISO 6400 is emergency-only. If your photography happens after 5 PM or indoors, buy the Mark V or Mark VII instead. At the telephoto end (200mm), the maximum aperture is f/4
The stabilization isn’t great (it’s optical steady-shot, not the active IBIS of modern ZV-E10s), but the real trick is the zoom rocker. Because the lens is motorized, you can get smooth, servo-driven zooms from 24mm to 200mm. Try doing that on a Fujifilm X100V. You can’t.
In 2024, phones have 5x and even 10x periscope zooms, but they are fixed. The RX100 VI still has a continuous 24-200mm zoom. That continuous range—from true wide to true telephoto—remains the domain of dedicated cameras. The Sony RX100 Mark VI is not a romantic camera. It does not have the soul of a Leica or the vintage charm of a Fujifilm. Its menu system is a nightmare of nested hieroglyphics. Its low-light performance will make you weep.