While there are certainly some improvements to the RX10 II from the still imaging side—notably in terms of burst capture rate—the real improvements here are in video. Sony ups the maximum video resolution to 4K, at 30fps or 24fps, with 100Mbps and 60Mbps XAVC S quality options for either frame rate. You'll need to use a fast UHS-3 memory card to take advantage of the 100Mbps recording setting, however. Other recording options include 1080p video at up to 120fps, also in XAVC S. And if you prefer, AVCHD and MP4 recording options are available. If you opt for MP4 you can copy videos to your phone or tablet over Wi-Fi, and have a 720p quality option. If Face Detection is enabled, it’ll over-ride any of the area options if a human face is detected. If you’ve pre-registered specific faces with the camera, it’ll also give them priority over others – handy at an event like a wedding where you can prioritise the bride and groom in a group shot. There’s also optional smile detection which will trigger the shutter automatically when the mouth on the detected face reaches a preset level of happiness or toothiness. There haven't been any major advancements here since the RX10 II was released, but as with megapixel count, there doesn't necessarily need to be. The ability to shoot Full HD 1080p video at 120 frames per second to shoot slow-motion video, and ultra-high definition 4K video at 30p or 25p is exceptional for a compact bridge camera like the RX10 IV, and there's not really any advancement to be made here, so Sony have kept the tried and tested tech. focusing

Like its predecessor, the RX10 II's screen is not fully articulated, but instead tilts downwards and upwards for help with shooting from some awkward angles, such as low down. You can't flip the screen forward for shooting selfies though. The RX10 II is powered by the same NP-FW50 rechargeable Lithium Ion battery as its predecessor. On a full charge it provides enough power for 400 shots if you’re exclusively using the Electronic viewfinder or 360 with the screen. Practically speaking, you’ll likely be using both so the figure will be somewhere in between those two numbers.The RX10 II features Optical SteadyShot, Sony's lens-based image stabilization. We ran it through our standard image stabilization test ( explained in depth here). At both 24mm and 50mm equivalent focal lengths. we found the RX10 II on average provided 2-stops of additional hand-hold-ability when IS was switched on. And at 300mm we found the RX10 II gave us a total of 3-stops with IS switched on. Wi-Fi and NFC Throughout this review I’ve put each of the capabilities to the test and found the RX10 II delivers on its claims. Whether you actually need these enhanced features is up to you, but the Mark II can certainly do things which other cameras can only dream of.

While externally it’s clear the RX10 cameras come from the same lineage, like most new models these days, auto focus speed and accuracy is the key thing manufacturers are always looking to improve. Here one of the under-the-hood adjustments is that focusing speed is claimed to be twice as fast as on its third iteration. Wie sie sich im Alltag und der Natur draußen richtig schlägt, muss sie im Laufe des nächsten Jahres zeigen. The Sony RX10is one of my favourite cameras of recent years, and a triumph of substance over marketing spin. Its headline specs weren’t particularly attention-grabbing, but the combination of a generously proportioned 1in sensor and a 24-200mm zoom lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture was an inspired choice for high image quality in a wide range of shooting conditions. The handsome magnesium alloy body, elegant controls, fast performance and superb video features all contributed to an extremely impressive camera.The biggest changes in this updated model are found in the video specifications. 4K capture is available in XAVC S format at a choice of 24, 25 or 30fps and 60Mbit/s or 100Mbit/s. Picture quality was outstanding, with crystal clear details that easily surpassed the camera’s 1080p output, even when viewing them on a 1080p screen. We noticed some compression artefacts in fast-moving 4K footage at 60Mbit/s, but considering that this bit rate far exceeds any distribution format we’re likely to see any time soon, it’s not a practical concern. However, with improvements made to the Bionz X image processing engine from previous models, the processor in the RX10 IV offers faster continuous shooting of up to 24 frames per second, whereas the RX10 III and RX10 II were only capable of 14fps. Video Quality The other issue is depth of field. The need to stop down as you zoom in also reduces the ability to achieve a shallow depth of field. So being able to keep the lens aperture open to f2.8 all the way to the the RX10 II’s maximum 200mm equivalent focal length allows you to get better results in low light as well as better isolating your subject with a shallow depth of field. The RX10 IV is the same weight as the RX10 III at 1095 grams, but both are heavier (thanks mostly to the larger lens) than the RX10 II which is only 813 grams. Conclusion

When the Sony RX10 III launched in March 2016 it was more of an alternative to the RX10 II as opposed to a direct replacement product, meaning that when comparing the two, the differences weren't as obvious as with an entirely new model.There are understandably a number of restrictions when filming at these sort of speeds. First is the recording time with two options: Shoot Time Priority mode captures four seconds of action, while Quality Priority captures just two seconds. The second limitation is the quality which reduces as the frame rate increases. Set the camera to Shoot Time Priority, and the 240 / 250fps mode will capture video at 1676×566 pixels, while the 480 / 500fps and 960 / 1000fps modes record at 1136×384 and 800×270 pixels respectively. Set the camera to Quality Priority and the 240 / 250fps mode will capture video at 1824×1026 pixels, while the 480 / 500fps and 960 / 1000fps modes record at 1676×566 and 1136×384 pixels respectively. In each case, the video is up-scaled to 1080p resolution and the 16:9 shape so it’s ready to slot-into in a standard 1080 timeline. While the "Fast" option is indeed faster than what original RX10 offered, we found when shooting sports like soccer, zoom-by-wire is still simply not fast enough (compared to a good old-fashioned mechanical zoom). Auto ISO Slow-motion video capture is also available. Sony calls the mode HFR (High Frame Rate), and is serious enough about the feature to give it its own position on the mode dial. You can set it for 240fps, 480fps, or 960fps capture, which can be saved at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps. This lets you capture video at anywhere from 1/4-speed to 1/40-speed. All of the video is output to a 1080p MP4 file, but quality does drop noticeably when capturing at 960fps.

Sony has not tinkered at all with the looks or the layout of the RX10 IV when compared with the closest model in the RX10 III. So again that means prominent raised and ridged shooting mode and exposure compensation dials (here +/- 3EV), a top plate display window, plus an eye level viewfinder and adjustable LCD. Said display window is unusual on a consumer-level DSLR, much less a bridge camera, again marking out this one as a cut above, thereby in part justifying the premium price point. At just over a kilogram with rechargeable battery and media card inserted it also feels far less plastic-y than competing super zooms from other brands, especially entry level ones. Over the years I've come to realize that my very favorite cameras were not full-frame. They were 4/3rds and APS-C and one smaller than my current 1" Sony.

Sony RX10 II vs RX10 III vs RX10 IV Key Differences

The original RX10 and RX10 II shared the same Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* telephoto zoom lens with a focal range of 24mm to 200mm with a constant aperture of f/2.8 across the zoom range. The 25-400mm lens delivers performance that's consistent through much of its zoom range. Imatest results show that resolution is solidly in our very good range for a sensor of this size and resolution from 25mm through 100mm. Edges aren't quite as sharp, but are still in the good range. Wi-Fi (with NFC) is built-in. As with other Sony cameras, it's possible to copy images and videos to your iOS or Android device over Wi-Fi using the Sony PlayMemories Mobile app. Video transfer is limited to MP4 clips, but you can copy images shot in Raw over to your phone—they're converted to the JPG format that Android and iOS devices recognize on the fly. I was extremely pleased with the original version of the RX10 thanks to its balance of size, image quality, zoom range, and its excellent close focus capability. When it first went on sale it sold for as much as the RX10 II—the RX10's price was cut right after the introduction of the Panasonic FZ1000—and even at that price point it was awarded a 5-star rating (a very rare score from this reviewer). It's no longer peerless, and I wouldn't go quite as high today given the competition in the market, notably the FZ1000, the Panasonic G3 X, and of course, the RX10 II.