From its release, Sony’s RX10 series has offered outstanding image quality in a fixed-lens, bridge camera form. Phase detection focus is added to the image sensor in the RX10 IV ($1,699.99), which allows it to shoot at up to 24 frames per second while tracking subjects. The camera has a 600mm reach, which is a huge bonus for sports and wildlife photographers who want to travel light. It has superior image quality than superzooms with tiny sensors and also has the fastest autofocus and capture speed in its class. Nevertheless, not everyone need this kind of power, and by choosing our Editors’ Choice RX10 III, you may save a few hundred dollars without compromising image quality. While the RX10 IV is pricey, but it’s worth it if you don’t mind spending more money for faster acceleration.
Design
Near physical equivalence exists between the RX10 IV ($1,699.99 at Best Buy)(Opens in a new window) and the RX10 III. It has a bridge design, with a body that resembles an SLR in terms of size and shape but a fixed lens as opposed to an interchangeable one. It weighs 2.4 pounds and has dimensions of 3.7 by 5.2 by 5.7 inches. The body is black, with an external chassis made of a magnesium alloy and a mixture of polycarbonate, rubber, and metal. Its weather-sealed construction provides adequate security to be used worry-free in conditions with rain or dust.
The fixed lens is identical to the RX10 III’s 8.8-220mm (24-600mm equivalent) f/2.4-4 design. The RX10 III utilizes the same one, and the Canon PowerShot G3 X has a 24-600mm f/2.8-5.6 zoom that is less bright and slower to focus than the RX10 IV. They are tied for the longest in the class. Look at the illustration below to get a sense of the 24-600mm zoom’s coverage area: A close-up of the full moon, the left half is 24mm and the right half is 600mm.
Longer designs are found in other superzooms, such as the 65x Canon PowerShot SX60 HS. They do, however, employ smaller image sensors and smaller apertures. The 1-inch sensor utilized in the RX10 IV has a surface area that is four times larger than the 1/2.3-inch sensors used in bridge versions with lower price tags.
In addition to having a 25x zoom, the lens may also function as a competent macro. It can focus to 1.2 inches at wide angle and 2.4 feet at full zoom, which is sufficient for 1:2 magnification. On the barrel is a focus limiter switch that, when activated, prevents macro capture and focuses only on objects up to 10 feet (3 meters) distant. While photographing distant scenes, it quickens concentration.
The CIPA rates optical stabilization at 4.5 stops, however I discovered that it actually performs a little bit better than that. When shooting at 600mm, I was able to regularly take sharp shots at 1/13-second, which is superior to 5 stops of adjustment. There is no incorporated neutral density filter on the lens (included in the shorter zooming RX10 and RX10 II). You need buy a set of 72mm ND filters to connect to the front of the lens as needed if you enjoy long exposure photography or wish to keep your video shutter speed slower to preserve a traditional shutter angle.
The barrel also features a focus hold button, which when depressed stops autofocus from activating in addition to the limiter switch. The aperture ring on the lens can be turned freely without detents or adjusted from f/2.4 to f/16 in third-stop increments. On the barrel are additionally knurled metal zoom and manual focus rings. The zoom ring can be configured to step zoom to the 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 85, 100, 135 and 200mm settings, or to make minor adjustments.
The front controls are completed by the toggle for focus adjustment. It can be programmed to operate in DMF (Direct Manual Focus), AF-S (Single), AF-A (Auto), or AF-C modes. Depending on the scene, AF-A alternates between single and continuous focus, and DMF lets you manually override autofocus at any time via the focus ring.
The Mode dial is located at the top, starting on the left. Without any kind of locking device, it can revolve freely. When shooting at 35mm or wider with the pop-up flash, you should take off the lens hood since it can cast a shadow at the bottom of your image. The hot shoe is positioned in the middle of the lens and pop-up flash.
Just to the right, in a row of buttons that also includes the top LCD backlight control and the programmable C1 and C2 buttons, is the mechanical flash release. The monochrome information Display and a specialized EV adjustment dial with third-stop adjustments from -3 to +3 EV are located behind the row. At the top of the handgrip are the shutter release (threaded so you can use a mechanical release cable), zoom rocker, and On/Off switch.
Availability and Power
Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth are all included with the RX10 IV. For remote control purposes or to transmit photos or movies, it can pair with both iOS and Android devices. Even when using a high-end smartphone, video upload can take some time, especially if you’re shooting at 4K. Picture transfers are speedy because the camera resizes photographs to 2MP to speed up the process.
Both efficiency and autofocus
Testing of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
The RX10 IV takes a little longer to turn on, focus, and take a picture—about 2.3 seconds—because its lens must expand to begin shooting. It’s typical behavior for a superzoom camera. Yet, it has a very quick autofocus system that can lock on practically quickly when shooting in bright light and manage a 0.4-second focus lock in extremely low light.
Conclusions
The latest model of the camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV, has the most features and is also the priciest. It retains the same 24-600mm f/2.4-4 lens as the RX10 III, which costs about $1,400 right now, but it now includes on-sensor phase detection for faster focusing and an astounding 24 frames per second burst rate, even in Raw mode. With a zoom range that covers everything but extremely telephoto shots, 20MP of resolution, and image quality equivalent to a 1-inch sensor, it excels beyond what other bridge cameras are capable of.
It encases everything in a robust, weather-sealed housing that features a clear EVF and a tilting touch LCD. Strong video features include options for both incredibly slow-motion at 1080p and clear 4K capture. The best bridge camera money can buy is the RX10 IV.
But purchasing it costs a lot of money. It is without a doubt more feature-rich than the RX10 III, but it doesn’t take its place in Sony’s portfolio. We still advise most photographers looking for a top-of-the-line bridge model to get the RX10 III. It costs $300 less and has more than enough camera for the majority of uses. Spend the extra money on the RX10 IV, though, if you’re not as price-sensitive or shoot subjects that would benefit from an improved burst rate and focus system (usually sports and wildlife).
