Sony Cyber‑Shot RX10 IV with 0.03 Second Auto-Focus & 25x Optical Zoom (DSC-RX10M4), Black

To the chagrin of my wallet, I have become a bit of a camera snob. While I finally convinced myself to sell my (unnecessary) Leica Q2 - I still firmly hold onto my Nikon D850 and my assorted lenses. When I am looking for the sharpest most 3D shot possible I pair the Nikon D850 with my Zeizz Otus 55mm. However... I have become more practical. Traveling with my Nikon and its variety of lenses (the prime 55mm, a 24-85MM, and the 85-200) isn;t convenient... they are bulky, and my family gets annoyed everytime I ask them to stop so I can swap out lenses. Soooo... for the last few years, I have decided to leave my Nikon at home and travel with my Fuji X100V (for portraits, landscapes and etc) and this... the SonyRX10 IV. I use this Sony for all of the reach I can get.... which is significant. Notes- - Let's address picture quality first. This camera is not in the same league as my Nikon D850 - especially when the Nikon is paired with high-quality lenses. The sharpness, saturation, low light capability, and etc are much closer to a camera phone than a high-quality DSLR. However, that is ok.. most of the time. I you are just trying to capture shots (and not trying to sell prints) this Sony is almost always "good enough" . - Convenience - so that is what it is all about - one camera that can do it all. I stick this thing in my backpack and I don't need to worry about multiple lenses.... plus I have the equivalent of a 600mm lens, even when I travel with a DSLR I never bring anything with that kind of reach. So instead of packing my DSLR and 3 to 4 lenses (which is around 10k in equipment) I just carry the Sony (and my Fuji). This makes travel so much easier. - Focus - lightning fast and usually pretty accurate. - Battery life- meh- buy an extra battery. Also, buy an external battery pack so you can charge the camera on the go! - Ease of use - Super easy to use in auto... but good luck trying to figure out how to shoot this thing in manual. I am also not a huge fan of the compensators location. I accidentally rolled it to a +2 and washed out a half dozen photos before I noticed. - Video - I have only used it rarely, but it is a capable camera. The slow motion capabilities are not necessarily easy to use, but it can record at unmatched frame-rates. - Low light capability... well it will probably beat your cell phone due to the 1" sensor, but it is still limited for indoor use. Thus the need for a decent point-and-shoot camera. Something like the Fuji X100v is a perfect compliment since it *can* take high quality portraits both indoors and out. - Zoom - it really is fantastic to have so much reach. We find ourselves using the camera with it's optical (and sometimes digital) zoom as a substitute for binoculars. As long as you are outdoors the zoom can be paired with the appropriate shutter speed to help eliminate camera shake. I have never needed to use it with a tripod. Final Verdict - A great camera for travel... or the occasional (outdoor) sporting event. It doesn't produce the high quality photos that you'd get from your DSLR, but if you are just posting photos on FB.... no one will ever notice (unless they are also a camera snob!)

The RX10 Mk 4 is an excellent bridge camera and could be the best all around camera ever. I bought the Panasonic FZ2500 a couple of weeks ago and, also, the RX10IV Sony. I got tired of reading reviews of which one was best and decided to compare them side by side. IMHO the Panasonic is a far out camera. It has more function buttons than you can shake a stick at. It has all the buttons and great thought out planning. I think the word is the ergonomics of the camera is great other than they should have placed the battery a little farther over from the tripod insert. The weight is just superb compared to the RX10IV and I do not care if it has less magnesium aluminum than the RX10IV! Now lets talk about things that makes me a little angry, yes, the Panasonic FZ2500 has time lapse and 3 { I made a mistake I think there are 6 adjustments} adjustments for built in nd filters. TheRX10 series once did and now does not. I get the feeling that Panasonic says, "Here let me try to serve you with the best possible bridge camera that I can build," and Sony says, " Well, I am going to take away your filters and your time lapse, but if you are lucky and one more bridge camera later, I will offer it to you if you got more jingle in your pocket." I have bought Alexander White's book and on p. 88 he talks about using the DRO ( Dynamic Range Optimizer) on the RZ10IV. It can take the place of the dn filters and uses the contrast of 3 or more pictures and stack them together, thus evens out the bright and dark spots of the photograph. it is called HDR (High Dynamic Range) and solves some of the problems that a neutral density filter would do on photos, but I do not think it works for the video part of the camera, not yet sure about that. The book also tells about 3 or 4 remotes that can be purchased and discusses the Vello Shutterboss III wireless remote that does the most things. You can set up a series of indefinite series of shots. You can set up intervals between shots for 100 hrs less one second for intervals for time-lapse photos. If you decide to get this you must specify the model for the Sony Multi terminal. I heard that Sony Enterprise was very much hurt by the earthquake a few years back and it was very important for the RX10IV to do well. I have the feeling that the withdrawal of certain accessories on the RX10 series had a lot to do with it. They had to make a quality product but there were also a profit margin that had to be achieved to lift Sony out of the belly of the red. Just guessing. I hope for its great success for many years to come. What a great camera, but it is to bad they had to take some accessories off it. I bit the bullet and bought the RX10IV or Mark four and sent the Panasonic back. How many reviewers, other than professionals have actually written in that they have tried both cameras side by side? I have! The lens and the processor of the Mark 4 takes the prize, and it is just unbelievable. Sony has made improvements on the menu, even though the camera is heavier than the FZ2500, it is water and dust resistant. The Panasonic is not. This camera's Zeiss lens is so very good! I am 74 years old and I feel this camera could very well be the last camera that I will buy. However, if the Panasonic FZ2500 had this same lens I would have bought the Panasonic. I have been buying Panasonic bridge cameras for a while and I own the FZ200 and FZ1000, both are very good cameras. I must have got one of the better Panasonic FZ2500's because this one had a very good lens. The only reason, for me buying the FZ2500 would be for its outstanding video capabilities. As it is, I can take my ultra high definition videos on my FZ1000 and convert them to 8 megapixel stills, If I so desire, another thing that the Sony cannot do. In the old days when Sears Mail Order was king and in their catalogs they would feature three similar products, one being good, the next one being better, and the next being best. I would classify the FZ2500 Panasonic as being very, very good, and the Sony RX10IV being the best. My final word is, Sony has read me perfectly, It was worth the extra money for me to buy RX10IV, because of its superb lens. January 8, 2018: Now that I have had this camera for around 3 months I have to admit it is the best camera that I have ever wrapped my hands around and I have a closet full of Canons and Minolta Cameras along with a bag full of lens. I am an Amateur but this is one sweet camera! With the Zeiss lens, I think it is the best all around camera in the world. Happy picture taking! Rick I think everyone that has never seen the RX10IV at its best should turn to U-tube and pullup : Sony RX10IV 4k Sample Video All-real World & Lab Testing Footage by Jay Sony Apha Lab. He takes a 4K video with his RX10 camera. It has zoom shots of geese on a lake.These zoom shots are spectacular. These zooms do not stop at 600mm, but just like the energizer bunny just keeps on going and going, right on up to 100x. I watched those videos and wept I was so jealous. IMHO videos such as these will eventually be the demise of the ILC. Up date 03-07-2019 Final note: Sony has a problem organizing their cameras. They do not do as well as the Canon cameras. I am trying to say the right words to express what I am trying to say. There should be an easier way of scrolling through their different subject matter of programs to make it easier to find out what the camera does. Again, Alexander White's book is a God sent book for the RX10Mk4. It is a complicated camera and once you figure the system out, it will do about anything that camera's do with in reason and then some. It is a wonder camera but it is complicated and Sony has always had trouble making their cameras less complicated and simpler to use. Bottom line the Sony RX10MK4 camera has an one inch sensor that slows the camera down a little in low-light situations. I love this camera but it is easy to forget what you have learned with this camera that has so many complicated things to learn, being a 75 year old man that I am. Rick

I started out in digital photography over 10 years ago with a Sony point and shoot. Over the years I stepped up to a DSLR for the telephoto aspects. But when my recent Canon broke I decided to give the Sony a shot as this one has a significant upgrade to the telephoto capabilities. The onboard lens provides a power zoom capability and the photos are crisp. The battery life has been good so far and lasts through the day when shooting on the go. It is a bit heavier than most other point and shoot cameras. I have not been able to get the WiFi to function with regularity but that may be operator error.

I purchased my RX10MK4 used on Amazon and it was in amazing condition! It is the best bridge camera, period. What makes this camera worth the money Sony is asking? It's the 24mm to 600mm Zeiss Lens. Being able to go from 24mm to 600mm with one finger makes wildlife photography fun. It has great semi-macro capabilities and produces very sharp photos throughout. The menu system is extensive and takes little time to get used to. There are plenty of buttons that you can remap to make shortcuts to your favorite settings. The RX10MK4 is built like a tank and has a little weight, but it is well-balanced and weighs less than a decent mirrorless camera with two lenses. I know that articulating screens is the norm, but I appreciate the flip-down on this camera. I was quite surprised with the onboard flash, it offers a decent amount of fill light even at 1/2000 shutter speed. I was able to get my Godox TT350s to do HSS at 1/4000th. Makes for some creative photography. Here are some recent Photos and the last one was with flash.

There are enough people in the Far East that Sony doesn’t have to build this camera with big fingers in mind, in fact everything about this camera says: designed in the Far East and made there too. Sony seems to have a firm grip on their offshore manufacturing, much like Apple, the camera is well made. Should I write the things I love about it first or second? I’ll start on this foot: The Japanese designers do so for the East and Far East, not the West. You’re going to find this annoying at first, unless you’re originally the Far East. On Manual a zoom cameras should take no more than a complete rotation to go from min to max. Not on this camera. You’re going to have to read the entire manual first, and watch a lot of YT videos to sort out the messy menus system, until then, just shoot Auto, as the menu items you will change out of habit, will need to be zeroed out when you finally figure out the interplay between the menus. The size and balance are better than they should be at long focal lengths. Then there’s the lens and the sensor; so sweet and sharp. No dead spots in this zoom. And the sensor has it all over the sub 1” ones on the market. In dynamic range and sharpness to the low noise, and low light is this cameras forte. The video, all but the super slow mo, is good to very good. My only complaints to this point is the flash, that is if you want to add a more powerful one. Your old "been using them for years and love them" flashes won't on this camera. Like all things Sony, once you buy their product, you buy their accessories. And someone is going to have to take them to court on this someday. And to be honest, the Sony flashes I've tried do not impress, unless you want to go for their top of the line, for mid level performance. Then there’s the smart card port, if you have fingers like me, you’re gonna need tweezers. And even in Manual you will not be able to work truly creatively with the available settings. For a camera that has been on the market as long as this one, you'd think Sony would have done a mid-year update by now.

I've immensely enjoyed carrying this all around bridge camera with me on my weekly travels across the planet. It fits in my bag easily and has the versatility to do most things well, but it isn't perfect. While the focal range is great, I do wish the effective 24mm was just a bit wider at times. The 600mm end is basically ridiculously good for what it is. I never imagined having a daily carry with such a zoom range. With a 1" sensor, the image quality is pretty darn good (I normally shoot Fuji APS-C and medium format film) so no real complaints there. From street to landscapes it does great in most well lit scenes. Where it fails for me is low light/image stabilization and a lack of weather sealing. But those are relative small nits. I think for the moment the RX10iv remains the best bridge camera out there and I really hope Sony is working on the V with some great updates.

Astounding camera. Have had my full share of cameras over the years--SLRs, DSLRs (now have a Canon 70D), mirrorless, compacts, bridge cameras. Not close to being a pro, just an enthusiastic amateur who takes a lot of family, sports, outdoors/landscape, horseback riding, and indoor group activity shots. This one is, in many ways, the most fun camera I've owned. Great reach with great clarity, despite the small size. Certainly will take me time to figure everything out and I've had my share of clunker shots, particularly in low light--but any camera involves trade-offs, and this one's no exception. It's just that this one has a whole bunch of positives and modest limitations. The camera arrived last Friday, just in time for a holiday weekend full of youngsters building gingerbread houses and goofing around indoors and birds landing on the snow outdoors. I got some wonderful shots of all of it. There will still be places for my Canon, but I'll be going to Sanibel Island in Florida next week, and instead of the Canon with a 70-300 L lens, I'm now likely to take this little beast for bird shots. Almost certainly, buying the Sony was no more expensive than buying a first rate zoom lens that would go to 400, and I would use a whole lot less. I detected no problems with the results at either end of the Sony lens. With more effort (and with an instruction book in hand), I'm sure my keeper rate will go up. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's a bit complicated and not intuitive for an old Canon guy. Yes, it's not as good in low light as a nice DSLR with a good lens. Yes, it has foibles and idiosyncracies. But, boy, it takes a wide range of superb images, doesn't weigh a lot, and doesn't take up a whole bag. If you're on the fence, jump off and join the fun.

I had another Sony camera (a different model than this one) that failed two months after its warranty expired so I was reluctant to buy another camera made by the same company. But after a lot of research it was obvious that this model, the Sony RX10 IV is the camera that best fit my needs, and so I ordered one from Amazon. After receiving it in late August I noticed that there was a large dark smudge in the upper right quarter of every photo taken at longer focal lengths. It was especially evident if there was a light background in the photo, like the sky. This was something that would be tedious and maybe even difficult to edit out in post processing so I contacted Amazon customer service to see about getting a replacement. They were unwilling to replace the camera and steered me to Sony for a warranty repair. At this point I probably should have sent the camera back to Amazon for a refund and bought another RX10 IV somewhere else. Be that as it may, Amazon did take off ten percent of the purchase price. I sent the camera to Sony for repair after they assured me it would take ten to fourteen business days. But it stretched out to over a month because they were waiting for parts to show up. Since there was no end in sight I asked Sony if they could just send me a replacement instead. To my surprise they agreed to do this and about a week later I had another new RX10 IV in my hands. I really appreciate that Sony decided to do this and not have me wait for who knows how much longer. The replacement appears to work as intended with no issues I'm aware of. But I've had it less than two weeks so I can't speak to how it holds up over time. First impressions are very favorable--I think it deserves all the positive reviews it gets. I shoot stills, mostly nature/landscape and wildlife, especially birds. For my purposes, the camera excels at these tasks.