Sony RX10 IV Minimum Focus Distance

This short video illustrates the fact that the minimum focus distance for the Sony DSC-RX10 IV camera is longer in the middle of the camera's zoom range than it is at either the wide-angle end or full telephoto end of the zoom range. The official Sony specifications referenced in the video can be found at www.sony.com/e....

[@wildinthejardin]

Hello, one thing that is very important is that you get better "proxy" details at full zoom than coming very very close using wide angle, it is not much more but enough for me to never do close shots at wide angle but always full zoom and also with the benefit of not reducing the ambiant light, no shadow, able to ise flash, not scaring too much the butterflies and so on. One thing I still have to test is to add a closup lens in front of the RX10IV lens to see if I can go closer like 40-50cm to get even more details.

[@aliciatangotweety4815]

Your book has been soooo incredibly handy, Mr White! I showed my camera store and they started stocking it!

[@alexswhite]

Thanks very much!

[@wekoweko]

Yeah thanks for this, was starting to think I had a broken camera, a little annoying but guess we cannot have everything in that wide range

[@patrickl3140]

Yes, good to know, I've not yet tested this particular case ! Thanks for the info...

[@TownHouseFilms]

Thank you. Great book. I have learned so much.

[@alexswhite]

Thanks; I'm glad to hear it!

[@danvander-ark1309]

Very very good to know...thinking about getting one

[@alexswhite]

It is a great camera; I think you will really like it if you get it!

[@lotrlks]

Nice to know, thanks

[@Lizerator]

So helpful!

[@sandrafinley1463]

Alex, Your books are so helpful and wonderfully set forth. I upgraded from the RX10 III to the RX10 IV and am very pleased with the better focusing. Haven't experiemented yet with the action shots. I'm hoping you will shed some light on a challenge I am having. I can't get the electronic level to be activated. I have checked that box on the Menu Display button choices, for monitor and viewfinder. What could possible be interfereing with activiation of this level? Other menu settings? Shooting modes? I'd really appreciate any guidance you can shed this way on this issue. I am extremely HORIZON-challenged. I really need the electronic level. I used it all the time with the RX10 III. Thank you, in advance, for responding to this query. Love your book! It is my Bible when I'm on a road trip. Sandy Finley, Blue Diamond, NV Avid amateur photographer.

[@alexswhite]

Hello, Sandy -- I pulled out my camera to check on this. I assume you are going to the DISP Button menu option and checking the box for Level. After you check the box, make sure you move the orange highlight bar to the Enter block on the menu and select it, to lock in the choices you have made for display items. Then, when the shooting screen is displayed, press the Display button to cycle through the various screens, including the Level screen. The Level should appear in all shooting modes. If you do all of these steps and the Level still does not appear, there may be a problem with your camera. At least, I can't think of any other issue that could be interfering with it.

[@Martin-gg1up]

Buy the book, its the best for that camera!

[@papa.alfredo]

I would like to know if this camera, to start, is good enough comparing to the Lumix FZ 1000 II? I am confused based on the millions of specs to read and understand all of them. Great videos what you do, thanks a lot. Greetings from Germany! Alfredo

[@alexswhite]

I have not worked with the Panasonic Lumix FZ 1000 II, but I see that it has a shorter zoom range than the Sony RX10 IV. I have not made a detailed comparison of the features of the two cameras, but I would choose the Sony RX10 IV as having excellent features and fine quality of photos and videos.

[@papa.alfredo]

Thank you very much for your fast response @@alexswhite

[@krenkurts5054]

I own your RX100III book and now the RX10IV. Your books demystify a Sony. Love the size of the smaller one much better, however. The one for the 10IV is too large to take with me on a shoot. I am guessing you thought it would be too thick in the smaller size.

[@alexswhite]

Actually, the main reason is that the printing costs would be higher, so the retail price would be higher also.

[@BranRistic]

Love your work Alex, got rx10m4 as well as p900 & p1000 of your work, well worth the money.. Have you got a publication out for Fuji X-T3, thats my next camera?

[@alexswhite]

Hello -- Thanks for the comment. No, I haven't done any Fujifilm books lately. There is book out for that model by Gary Friedman, though, and he does excellent work. You can find it at www.friedmanarchives.com/fujifilm-books/.

[@naturerevisited5777]

Thanks

[@pattiniamo10]

So if you are correct in this test ,to get let's say a bee as large as possible in the sensor we should be shooting it at 600mm-minimum focusing distance , at wide angle the bee will be smaller. I'm on my third day with my new rx10 IV , I love it so far but I was looking for the macro setting and I couldn't find it.

[@alexswhite]

There is no special macro setting for focus; there is a macro setting for scene type when the camera is in Scene mode.

[@Algerie.Football.Officiel]

hello, I have the screen and the zoom of my sony Rx10m4 blocked, there is a reset button? or to unlock it ?? thank you

[@alexswhite]

If you can't get access to the menu system to use the Reset option, you can try updating the firmware. If that doesn't work, try removing the battery from the camera, press and hold the power button for five seconds or more, and then put the battery back into the camera.

[@louisevad6091]

That’s a glitch. P1000 or Sony rx10 IV . I can get package on both new at 1600 with 3year warranty. Love the idea of mile long shots but Sony is better built and has weather protection. What to do?

[@papa.alfredo]

I am trying to know the same thing. I hope he answers my question about if the Lumix 1000 II would be a better purchase, it costs doble less ! Greetings

[@coalakida]

A link to the book would be great, how about it,

[@alexswhite]

Here is a link to the book's information page at my site: whiteknightpress.com/white-knight-press-information-about-current-books/photographers-guide-to-the-sony-dsc-rx10-iv/

[@johnsimpson7437]

Due you drive a black Farri ?

[@leokimvideo]

thanks for this, now I know it's a camera that useless for me doing youtube videos

[@sewu1285]

look at lumix lx15

[@leokimvideo]

@@sewu1285 thanks

[@sewu1285]

@@leokimvideo After two years xD

[@gabrielalamberti5860]

Can you put a Raynox macro lens on this camera? Thanks

[@alexswhite]

I have never tried that, and I'm not sure if there is a Raynox lens that is compatible with the RX10 IV. Here is a link to a thread that discusses the use of macro lenses with the RX10 IV camera: www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60353114.

[@MrBillkaz]

Give the ir filter a go

[@dantesergio1]

Come devo impostare per un video 4K la mia RX 10 4

[@alexswhite]

Go to the menu, and select the second icon at the top of the page, showing a camera with the number 2. On the first screen of that menu, set the third item to XAVC S 4K.

[@jorgeivangomez7459]

How can i know the focal lenght?

[@alexswhite]

One way is to look at the LCD or viewfinder as you zoom the lens. Using the detailed view, you should be able to see the focal length in mm as it changes. Another way is to set the Zoom Function on Ring menu option to Step. If you do that, the lens will zoom only to certain focal lengths, which will be visible to you as you zoom.

[@boostav]

Is the RX10 III the same?

[@alexswhite]

I'm not sure. I don't have an RX10 III anymore that I can test this with. The Sony specifications for the RX10 III give the minimum focus distance at the wide and telephoto settings, but not for the middle range. I have seen one post online saying the RX10 III has the same situation as the RX10 IV, but I don't have a way to verify that at this point.

[@boostav]

That would make sense since the lens did not change between the III and IV.

[@davidtavare7775]

Why doesn't the camera focus on the 140mm?

[@alexswhite]

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. If you're asking why the camera has variations in its minimum focusing distance, all I can say is that Sony designed it that way, possibly in order to keep the lens from getting too large.

[@davidtavare7775]

@@alexswhite I'm thinking about buying Sony rx10 iii and a good camera?

[@alexswhite]

@@davidtavare7775 Yes, the Sony RX10 III is an excellent camera. It doesn't have quite the same fast focusing ability as the RX10 IV, but if you're not shooting sports or other fast-moving events, it is a terrific piece of equipment.

[@davidtavare7775]

@@alexswhite Which one you think is better rx10 iii or Panasonic Lumix FZ2000?

[@alexswhite]

@@davidtavare7775 That is a tough choice, which depends on your personal preference and needs. They are both great cameras. The Panasonic might be a bit more oriented to video recording, so if video is important to you that could be a factor. Otherwise, you could go to a site like cameradecision.com and compare all of the features of the two cameras, to see which features are more important to you.

[@dsam3]

Whats your book name ?

[@dsam3]

Lol...I have a copy of your book! Sitting unread...about time to use it 😂

[@alexswhite]

The book is called Photographer's Guide to the Sony DSC-RX10 IV.

[@dsam3]

@@alexswhite yup i dusted it off from bookshelf. What is the diff bw this and user guide / manual?

[@alexswhite]

@@dsam3 The user guide provides a technical reference for the camera's functions, but it does not always discuss them in terms of how you might use them. The book includes step-by -step guides for some operations, and more informal discussion of their use.

[@daddybajo1883]

Hi Alex! Thanks for the great video! Question, I am trying to do some night photography. I have found many different recommendations on setting my Sony RX10 IV to focus on infinity. I found a great video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXu2h2h-pKydfdk . However, the RX10 IV does not have any markings on the zoom or focus rings to make a mark. Further it appears that when you turn the camera off and back on the rings reset. My question is, 'How do I set the camera to infinity'? If I am trying to do some Milky Way shots and cannot get anything to focus on I need to know where my infinity is before I arrive. Thanks!

[@alexswhite]

I don't do that much sky photography, so I don't have a lot of practical experience in this area to draw on. If you can't find a distant object, like the moon or an electric light in the distance to focus on, you could set the focus switch to manual focus, and use the distance scale on the screen or in the viewfinder to at least get the focus roughly set to the infinity mark.

[@z352kdaf8324]

Yes, RX10IV is difficult for night sky because of what you run into. I also had the problem. RX100V setting infinity is MUCH easier (It's pretty much at the end). 2 things are helpful though. Use the image magnification to help. Also research focus peeking on Sony cams. Also turn off steady shot, etc.