Sony RX10 Mk IV Review: Ultimate Fixed Lens Camera!

[@TonyAndChelsea]

📸 Order a RX10 Mk IV on Amazon at help.tc/rx104 For the Sony RX0: help.tc/rx0 Get our #1 photography book on Amazon at sdp.io/s 📘 Get Lightroom + Photoshop: sdp.io/adobedeal

[@charliewright7274]

We need more videos from Justin, just saying... Excellent job...

[@veerapas]

Justin do you have your own channel?

[@ben196145]

It's nice to have you here Justin when Tony and Chelsea are not around great camera review!!!!

[@thronesberry]

Good job Justin!

[@3BMEP]

Nice to meet you, Justin. Well done review, too!

[@davidblagojevic91]

Thanks for the effort, Justin, really enjoying your style and dedication. And yes, been expecting some jazz, wasn't disappointed.

[@przybylskipawel]

If anyone in Sony reads this, all I want in RX10 V (not necessarily for Cristmass) is (in order of priority): -UHS-II card slot -Focus point joystick -Improved IS -Improved weather-sealing -Their best AF in all non-HFR modes -Dual gain ISO -USB C for power, charging and data transfer -fully articulated touchscreen -bigger battery with longer battery life -tripod screw mount closer to the lens and not near the edge -5/6K30p 8-bit 4.2.0 (10-bit would be awsome) - internal -4K30p 10-bit 4.2.2 full width, oversampled (60p would be awsome) - internal -HFR same as RX10 IV but at slightly better quality -24-bit audio without XLR adapter? I would pay any money!

[@DiegoFazzo]

Well.. It did not work :/

[@camillebrenes]

When mentioning equivalences, you forgot to mention that the light gathering ability is still f/2.4-4. Everyone seems so fixated on DOF, but that argument goes two ways as well. To get an equivalent DOF from a FF camera, you'd have to stop down to match the RX10 IV, which really impedes light gathering ability for FF and slows down your shutter speed greatly. It's best to present both sides of the data, not just one side to fit an "agenda".

[@TechnoBabble]

That is incorrect. On FF if you stop down and increase your ISO to get identical shutter speed the quality should also be very comparable, however on FF you generally have the option of opening up more than f/6.5. With this camera the absolute best you can get in equivalent overall quality is an f/6.5 equivalent on FF.

[@ColinMill1]

@@TechnoBabble I think that slightly flatters the FF as, built into that argument is the assumption that the absolute noise level (in electrons) is independent of the photosite area. This is likely to be wrong. If you look at the specifications for individual photo detectors (for which the data is available) the noise increases approximately as the square root of the area of the detector and for equal lumens/sq.m the S/N improves as the square-root of the detector area rather than linearly as assumed above. If one assumes the square root relationship holds good in the cameras then the advantage for the larger sensor is about half the number of stops suggested by the first argument. My guess is the truth lies somewhere between these two.

[@matthewconnor5483]

I don't understand why buffering is still an issue in cameras. Memory is dirt cheap so why not have a 8 or even a 16 GB cache to hold pictures while the camera writes to the SD card? Heck just offer the option to shove a M.2 drive in the camera as an internal drive with a USB C port/wifi to export.

[@dansuper6103]

Matthew Connor exactly the buffer is the cache, it’s writes way faster than an sd card

[@MrtinVarela]

m.2 is very small yes, but not small enough to not be too big of a wasted bulk for those who are not shoving an m.2 down their camera, which with little doubt, would be the mayority.

[@iozzyi]

My guess is that they use the minimum power design that gives them a decent performance. Anything too high spec would drain the battery too fast.

[@TheMetalButcher]

Cache isn't cheap or easy bud. Guess what, the L1 cache on your home computer is still measured in Kilobytes

[@CentralFloridaOutdoors]

I received mine a couple a days ago and it is incredibly sharp and fast and the only thing that is missing is the ability to get shallow depth of field and ultra wide angle shots. It appears to struggle a bit with close up focusing at 600mm but the hit rate is almost 100% shooting surfing at 600mm. Serious photographers will still need a interchangeable lens camera around the house for those ultra wide angle and shallow dept of field shots but you will only need a couple of lens for those specialty shots and not a expensive body. There is no Bokeh unless you are super close and zoomed in to 500mm. The only way to get separation for a portrait would be to use off camera flash with a high shutter speed. Good news is you can sync flash at full power at 1/4000 sec.

[@volimvolim1]

funny I'm the opposite can't stand Bokeh (maybe on occasion for head shot) and loss of background depth of field clarity

[@brois841]

Thanks for the info! The lack of bokeh is a deal killer for me. Doh! Otherwise this looks like an awesome grab-and-go camera. I was thinking about getting it for travel/vacations so I don't have to deal with a body and a bunch of lenses

[@TheMetalButcher]

@@brois841 You'll never get shallow depth of field with a point and shoot. If you need that capability, look into APS-C or larger.

[@brois841]

The Metal Butcher, I've actually learned a lot about photography since that comment and wouldn't buy this camera. I currently shoot with the Fuji X-T3 and enjoying it very much :)

[@DavidFosterVlog]

Still a limited articulating screen. When are they going to listen?

[@tamasvarga67]

...and still shit touch functionality

[@RobbyHuang]

Yeah, I just don't get it. Is this a difficult thing to engineer?

[@Loopsrainforest]

What for? I don't think anyone who buys this camera will be doing astro photography.

[@DavidFosterVlog]

Majd Fayad baby, it could be.

[@DavidFosterVlog]

Robby Huang my understanding is that committed to using the screen they have now until they run out. Hopefully the next big 6000 series has the flip up/out screen.

[@kianostad5064]

Well done Justin, hope to see more of you. I like the attitude a lot. ;)

[@tptrsn]

Thanks for mentioning the equivalent apertures with the crop factor included!!

[@nrbqs1]

So nice to see Justin doing a video

[@artmaltman]

Excellent review. Great job Justin! Thanks especially for mentioning the long write time. It's an issue that most reviewers miss, but it's the one real drawback I have found to Sony mirrorless cameras that has a real world impact on shooting. Overall looks like a camera that I will recommend to people seeking simplicity along with power, beauty and long reach in their photography and video.

[@Broodjemetbeleg]

You've got a great voice for reviews! And you managed to cramp a lot of information into 7 minutes. Good job!

[@MultiNemesis101]

Cram (cramp???)

[@romanchukanov4454]

A very balanced and consistent review. Thank you.

[@DCuerpoJr]

I've got the RX10 mk2 and mk3 primarily for recording interviews and b-roll. I've got an FS5 and FS7 mk2, but started realizing that people often get nervous when you've got a big camera rig five feet in front of them. These smaller cameras are better suited for that task. I also use the RX10 mk3 for hiking photography since it's got the massive zoom lens. My biggest gripe with it was the slow and inconsistent AF, so I'm wondering if the mk4 would be a vast improvement - though it looks like it still hunts in the 600mm focal length.

[@AGag47]

Seems an oversight and an important oversight of this review is the effectiveness of the image stabilization, especially at full telephoto? The previous version of this camera didn't even compare close to what Olympus is doing. Has it been improved? I say this because when you were recording yourself in that jazz bar the camera moved quite a bit, and that was at the wide end.

[@蔡依林-g1j]

When shooting fast action, do it in short bursts so that the buffer fills up less often. The image was sharp even at 600mm, not just at 135mm.

[@pauloancarvalho]

Sony is killing it in specs. Still, I prefer my 80D, but kind of envy of the technological speed advance on the sony and panasonic video features.

[@woodygreen6826]

I am not at all interested in this cameara, but Justin is so chill that I just had to watch it. :) Nice job, Justin.

[@osubucks2010]

Great review Justin

[@violentplainsdotcom]

Justin, Did you test the HRF mode? Is there any improvement in HRF picture quality over the prior versions? Great review, Thanks!

[@KrunoslavStifter]

Paring this up with Sony a99II, seems like an unusual but fun thing to do. a99II and RX10 IV could compliment each other pretty well. If you need fast primes, resolution and low light a99II got you covered and it is fairly fast shooter with good AF in its own right. RX10 IV had decent image quality of quite a few action shoots, excellent travel camera and for casual soothing, plus with fixed zoom lens and all the stuff inside could be again unusual but fan pair. lol Certainly more a affordable than going for a9 and a7rII or something like that, which is a really nice pair.

[@evannorth5397]

I am thinking hard about getting one of these but just wish it had a dedicated BBF button and direction pad/joystick for AF point placement. Apart from that longer battery life would be nice too but it is not too hard to carry a couple of spares and use a dual cell charger.

[@Algerie.Football.Officiel]

hello, what is the best settings to make beautiful sports photos at night? with this camera

[@nivuz]

In wildlife photography it outperforms the 7D mk II (paired with the 100-400 L mk II) in terms of the framerate, the shadows and often the af accuracy. ...and it‘s much lighter, handier and cheaper.

[@PureAwareness76]

Wow, thank you for the input!

[@cactustweeter2890]

This camera isn't something I'd be interested in, but you did a nice job presenting it. Thumbs up Justin.

[@cgcowboy]

Well done, Justin!

[@mrcassioo]

Nice one Justin! Enjoyable to watch through-out.

[@eggydrums]

Justin you're excellent at these reviews!

[@evokestudioio]

Justin killing it on the review!

[@mountainhobo]

Very nice review, Justin, thank you.

[@EDHBlvd]

1:55 "even the A6500 doesn't have a headphone jack" and they show a pic of the Canon M5. 🤔

[@Eric_Rossi]

Nice work Justin!!

[@paulinefollett3099]

Good one Justin. Enjoyed your review.

[@808islandlife_HI]

Way to go Justin. Great job.

[@johneckert1690]

Justin, Considering the cost of everything in NYC I hope Tony gave you an expenance account or at least some spending money. I would like you to do more reviews on cameras and could you please do a walkaround the studio and post it. Many of us would like to see the how you produce the Thursday show and YOU and TONY should write a book on video editing (I would buy it.) I don't know if you believe in coincidence but here a three for you and team Northrup. 1) You and I have the same last name. 2) I worked at Northrop Aircraft for 10 years (Northrop Spelled with a "O" not a "U") 3) I buy most of my photographic supplies from Pro Photo Supply located at about NW Northrup St & NW 19th Ave.

[@Corkstercam]

Nice review! I am curious now as I have watched several reviews and this is the only one that I saw where there was trouble tracking the bird in flight. What AF and Focus mode were you using?

[@5850terry]

Good job, Justin.

[@allthingswildlifeyt1218]

Hey tony. I was planning on starting my own channel soon where i go into the outback in search on all our awesome Aussie creatures. I was planning on using the gh5 with the 14-140mm lens but now I'm not shure since the rx10 mk1V has the awesome 960fps slo-mo at 720p that is a must for some of the shots i need for my KZbin channel and with the 1 inch minimum focus distance i can get close to some of the creatures. What do you recommend? Also while I'm presenting the animal and talking about it, handling it or crouching down next to it i want a microphone that can make my voice clearly and i also want to be able to hear the camera man behind the camera if he asks me any questions about the animals. what mic do you recommend?

[@grulice]

Great job, Justin, hope to see more from you

[@srai1471]

Good job Justin..you really made an easy to understand review

[@AmmarTechnology]

Thanks for the review but please the sound in some parts of the video really not useable, just use mic to capture your sound without all the noise from the background!!!

[@forest4283]

Great job Justin.

[@uuutooob9]

Thanks, Justin. Good subject matter. It looked good even at 600mm once focused.

[@Schwingi]

Thanks Justin! Perfect demonstration and review! You should make more of these...

[@johncampbell335]

Great job, Justin.

[@markbennett5615]

Thanks for the great review Justin. I've got the RX10 mk3 and the only disappointing thing about it has been the auto-focus. If this is as improved as it looks, it might be time for an upgrade!

[@mikehemme5374]

I upgraded to the mark 4 and I am thrilled with camera.

[@Michaelb1975]

I'm a bit late to the party, but... Great job Justin! Really enjoyed your review style.

[@V2KPhotography]

Can you charge while using the camera?

[@iouzzr]

yes

[@RandomVictorGuy]

nice review Justin

[@facundonunez2358]

Actually i like this video more than the usual of tony, it's have a better/fast pase, make it more enterting and alsorigth to the point. Let Justin do more review. Please

[@eallistone]

Good job, Justin!

[@ralphbaker7448]

Please do a comparison test of the RX 10 IV and the Sony HX 400 V.

[@mixflip]

The tilt screen is still a deal breaker for me. Make it a side flip screen and I'll buy it. Until then the lumix fz2000 is my choice.

[@MrBillkaz]

Yeah I just bought sony ..and for the life

[@Thunderbolt03]

I've got the G7 alright I am happy about it, great camera for the money

[@4thNebula]

Looking forward to BIF tests!

[@tonywhite3124]

I would be interested in Tony and Chelsea's opinion on what would be considered as a next camera! I'm shooting small 1m model yachts at approximately 100m; so 600mm lens works with cropping of the 20MP (with a drop off of quality due to the crop) I just got into photography and the RX10iv has been a really awesome way to start but now where do you go now? Fujifilm X-H2 with 600mm lens or Sony A7R IV or v then you have more room for cropping....and so on

[@roderickwho1983]

Great job, Justin. An interesting camera. Funny how the video ended up with you in a bar... ;-) Thanks.

[@MaddenScience]

Thanks for your video! I'm wondering what settings you recommend for filming flying owls? I'm working on a biology/biomimicry project involving owls. The flight chamber is a bit dark, so I'm going to try to light parts with soft boxes. Just wondering what settings you would use with the sony rx10 iv. Thanks!

[@MaddenScience]

And trying to get the best possible slow motion footage.

[@maxfactor4209]

tnx justin, nice and fair and complete review

[@pgulysse1]

Hi , Thanks for the review. Years and months after how do you compare this camera with other rivals in the same 1"-20MP Sensor - Bridge/Superzoom? Can you make a review comparing features, video and stills quality for: - Canon Powershot G3 X (it's a mark II is coming?) - Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 mark II / Leica V-Lux 5 - Panasonic Lumix FZ2000/2500 (3000/3500 soon?) - Sony RX10 Mark IV (Mark V soon?) Do you know if other companies like Nikon will upgrade their offer with cameras in the same range? Like a Nikon Coolpix CX (1" sensor), or a coolpix B800 CX sensor? Other companies see to have give up for this segment : Fuji, Pentax, Olympus... Thanks.

[@cryvee]

hi justin, nice to see you :)

[@Astrolavista]

Nice review, but I sure hope their jazz playing has improved since 2017.

[@Robboa1]

Does the new sensor reduce rolling shutter in video and stills?

[@MajorMotions]

Justin actually did well 💪🏾

[@JessDemant]

Great review!

[@garyroach2000]

I became a big fan of the RX10 series a few years ago for a do-it-all travel camera. But, I don't plan to upgrade from my RX10 III to the RX10 IV.

[@13squared2009]

If you walk around with this camera, does the lens stay extended until you tell it otherwise or will it retract after a minute or ??? Thank you

[@aaronjenkin]

Yay Justin! Good job!

[@michaellundphotography]

Nice review Justin =)

[@dmacrolens]

Says the a6500 doesn't have a headphone jack while showing a photo of a canon m series camera.. Nice red circle, bro.

[@samdang8271]

D Mac I was about to say that. That's an M5 camera he showed!

[@stansid3326]

Fire Jason!!!

[@TimLucasdesign]

It's an M5

[@TonyAndChelsea]

Man ya'll got sharp eyes... I reviewed this before Justin published it and didn't even notice! Well either way, the M5 and a6500 *both* lack headphone jacks :D

[@Visualbrother]

Yep, if the A6500 had a headphone jack I probably would never have bought the FS5! Excessive way to solve a problem but hey.. it worked! :)

[@SanMiguelBulls]

Would love to see how it functions in low light...

[@Yunhaisongtao]

How does it perform in low light situation? Can it focus sharp when zoom out maxed? And do you need use tripod when zoom out?

[@simmo303]

What do you mean by low light?

[@tadweerasinghe4983]

Justin i think you're doing a better job at this

[@dalemews1]

Well done Justin! A great review. (-:

[@juiceplanet147]

Would a better card slot fix the buffer issue? XQD?

[@MrNYCman530]

Is the image stabilization identical to the RX10 lll or is it an improvement?

[@MarkMcLT]

Excellent review.

[@cathydupont1501]

What compact camero do you recommend for wildlife picture, specially wild birds???

[@BrilliantBenGaming]

I admit to my gear envy only have a Nikon3200 with a kit lens. While it performs well if you have all the time in the world I've been looking for a new body with a better sensor. I've had several the experience of shooting a Sony a7 rII and it's an amazing camera - but it's very experience for a first upgrade. Against my better judgement I don't want to spend the money on a better lens when I know I want to start shooting with a full frame camera. The decision fatigue has left me with the inability to buy anything other than a nice tripod. This camera seems to perform well for the price, but being stuck with a single lens is a non-starter for me.

[@volimvolim1]

well its single less that moves which makes it many lenses in one :)

[@Davidovar34]

I think the 600mm shot is super sharp...

[@aronisink1]

Justin should be your official camera reviewer... hope you start your own channel...

[@pashimp]

Nice Justin!

[@rayjenkins2754]

Touch to focus only & non- articulating screen . . unlike The Panasonic Fz2500 - where their touch screen is fully integrated with the cameras menu system. Compared to the Fz's ease of usability, the Sony is a real pain. I think this is a major point that often goes unstated in reviews.

[@ShaneHintze]

I love my RX10 III. I think the focus system in the IV would be better for my shooting, but the buffer issue will make me wait to upgrade. Thanks the for reveal....

[@brois841]

Shane, although that seemed to be a big gripe, how often do you hold down the button and just let it max out? That's what people do for reviews but in the real world you press it for a second when you're trying to capture a shot.

[@HappyHubris]

Justin nice job on this review. :)

[@pgulysse1]

Thanks for the review. :) Can you do a review of the B700? Even better... Can you make a review/comparison: A.- 1" Sensor : Lumix FZ 1000 mark 2 - Leica V-Lux Type 114 - Sony RX10 mark IV , Lumix FZ2000/2500 B.- 1/2.3 Sensor : Canon Powershot SX 70 HX, Sony HX400V, Nikon B700, Lumix FZ80/82 ------------------------------------------------ Do you have info on an upgrade of these Cameras : Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ 3000/3500 , Coolpix B800, Sony HX500V, Lumix FX90/92, Leica V-Lux Typ 114?

[@pakkami77]

Excellent review! Thank you so much!

[@jeffro3273]

The RX10 MIV sounds compelling, but it will be hard to consider, since the RX10 M II I bought in Sept 2015 failed me three times, needing repairs. Good thing I spent the $250 for 3 years of coverage, because at $400 a pop to repair it, it would have ended up in the trash by now. It just failed me for the third time on a trip to Olympic Ntl Park. All the buttons on the back just stop working. It still turns on and off, and takes pictures at whatever I have it set at - a true point and shoot camera, for $1300. How long will the Mark IV last? And what will I do when it fails me for the 4th time, after my warranty runs out? Pretty expensive paperweight.

[@bs838]

Excellent video. Please do more like this. Also, those "musicians" in the background...lol

[@codyrobinson22]

Best macro conversion lens attachment for the Sony RX10 M4? Polaroid 250D for $60 or Raynox DCR-5320PRO for $300? ps: Are the Raynox optics that much better?

[@tpqtsamrotuldakwah]

Overheat not? For long Video?

[@Petehcs100]

Can anyone tell me how large I can print at 300dpi with this lens / sensor combination? If I wanted say A2 / 24 to 30" prints what can I expect in quality? Any samples anywhere?

[@raymondcook8364]

Can this camera shoot farther than 600mm, like the Canon Powershot SX70 with 130x (2x digital) does?

[@xradrd]

Yes

[@simmo303]

ClearImage zoom will give useful 1680mm.

[@crusadeagainsttomatoes2518]

Is it a 50 or 15 megapixel sensor in the RX0?

[@philipvignola]

Awesome job Justin! Great review.

[@polacofederos]

amazing performance!

[@wsmith5643]

Great review, thank you. It's funny that the camera has phase detect AF and your entire jazz club end bit is out of focus!

[@ColdF1RE259]

Okay but, what were you're camera settings?

[@gur262]

AS far AS i can See, it looks nice at 600mm. Really pixelpeeping would be nice, or better , a comparison to a canon 6d With a 600mm lens.

[@volimvolim1]

haha 6d with 600mm lens is like 20 kg