Pros
-Large one-inch sensor
-f/2.8 constant aperture
-Tilting screen
-Excellent viewfinder
Cons
-No touchscreen
-High price
1. Introduction
It's no secret that the compact camera market is declining,
but one area which seems to continue to perform reasonably well is the bridge
camera market.
Sony has already taken hold of another lucrative area of the
market with its RX100 and follow up, the RX100 II, topping the sales charts of
the premium compact area.
Now, the company has put that same sensor inside a bridge
camera in the shape of the RX10. Not only does it have that excellent sensor,
Sony has also designed a new processor, the Bionz X, which promises to deliver
processing speeds which are three times faster than the equivalent found in its
predecessor.
Other bridge cameras on the market generally feature a
standard compact-camera sized sensor at 1/1.7 inches. This should make the RX10
a much better performer, both in terms of low-light shooting and also in
helping to create attractive shallow depth of field effects.
Although the 8.3x zoom (24-200mm equivalent) lens doesn't
have the mammoth zoom range of cameras such as the Canon PowerShot SX50, it
does offer something which most don't; a constant fixed aperture of f/2.8. The
only other bridge camera to currently offer that is the Panasonic Lumix FZ200,
which includes a 24x optical zoom (25-600mm equivalent), but of course it's
worth noting that the sensor size inside the Panasonic is considerably smaller.
There's also a 1.4 million dot EVF. Many will groan at the
thought of an electronic viewfinder, but Sony's devices generally are very
good, and with a resolution that high, it seems likely that the RX10's device
will not disappoint.
As is starting to become standard with cameras now, the RX10
features inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity.
This means you can share shots you've taken instantly with
your smartphone or tablet, or use one of those devices to control the camera
remotely - something which will probably appeal to nature and wildlife
photographers.
NFC is still a bit of a technology buzzword and basically
means that if you have another device with the technology, you'll get a
one-touch connection.
Plenty of Android devices are packed with NFC, but Apple
users still haven't been treated to the technology.
As well as an inbuilt flash, there's also a hotshoe for
attaching other accessories you may want to use, such as a flashgun.
As it stands, it's difficult to find a direct competitor for
the RX10. There are no bridge cameras with such a large sensor, but if we're
looking at premium cameras in this market, then the Canon PowerShot SX50 and
the Fuji HS50 seem like obvious choices. The Leica X Vario is also technically
a bridge camera, but it features an even larger, APS-C size camera.
The biggest sticking point for this camera is likely to be
the price. It is not cheap, coming in at over £1000/$1000. You could probably
get three beginner DSLRs for that price. But that's not the point; to get
something which offers this focal length and maximum aperture with a DSLR would
cost many thousands, and, what's more, would be many times the size and weight
of the RX10.
This camera joins the premium RX family, of which the RX100
II and the RX1 also belong. It's an interesting trio, all of which are unique
in the marketplace. Sony is proving to be an innovative manufacturer at the
moment.
2. Build Quality and Handling
The RX10 is very reminiscent of a DSLR camera, especially a
beginner model such as the Nikon D5200. It has a large, chunky grip with a
textured rubberised coating which lends it an air of quality.
On top of the camera are a number of dials and buttons which
enthusiast photographers will no doubt appreciate, such as a mode dial for
switching between exposure modes including aperture priority and shutter
priority, and an exposure compensation dial.
Anyone who has used a Sony camera before will be familiar
with the extensive range of buttons and dials that can be customised, and there
are a few available on the RX10 too, including a small "c" button on
top of the camera, which is useful if you're often looking to change one
particular setting, such as sensitivity.
On the back of the camera, all of the directional key
buttons can be customised, which is great if you find you like quick access to
a particular setting.
The lens itself is fairly chunky, which also makes it quite satisfying to hold. An aperture ring can be found at the base of the lens, for quickly changing apertures.
A small, but appreciated, touch is the ability to switch on
and off the clicking noise it makes as you turn the dial, especially if you
want to use the camera for video recording. This is done via a switch at the
base of the lens, which unfortunately can be easy to knock on and off when
you're trying to change the aperture - this switch could do with being moved,
or featuring a lock, to remove this problem.
Altering shutter speed (depending on the mode you're in) can
be achieved via a scrolling dial on the back of the camera. If you rotate the
aperture ring when not in full manual mode or aperture priority, it does
nothing. It would be nice to be able to use it for something else in this
instance.
Zooming the lens can be done in one of two ways. You can
zoom using the lens itself, or, if you prefer, you can use a switch around the
shutter release button - the latter is likely to appeal to compact camera users
and is helpful when you're shooting one-handed. Either way, zooming is a fluid
and quick motion.
One very nice touch on top of the camera is an LED screen
for displaying key settings. This can be illuminated when it's dark, which
could be handy in low-light conditions.
The back of the camera has a tilting screen. You can tilt it
downwards for composing from above, or upwards for shooting from high angles,
such as overhead. While it's a small shame that the screen doesn't articulate,
which would have been more helpful for portrait format shots, this may have
added unnecessary bulk and perhaps even expense.
To change the autofocus point, you will need to use a
combination of buttons and the scrolling dials/arrow keys on the back of the
camera.
First, you'll need to have the AF mode set to flexible spot,
which you can do via the main menu or by assigning one of the custom buttons to
this function. From there you can use the arrow keys to move around the screen
and set the point.
Unfortunately, once you've done this, there's no super quick
way to change the point; you'll have to set AF mode again to flexible spot,
then move the point around the screen.
It can therefore be a little frustrating if you want to
often change the AF point, so we'd recommend leaving it in the centre and
focusing and recomposing the majority of the time. We're a little disappointed
not to see a touchscreen on a camera of this calibre as it makes things like
setting the AF point so much quicker and easier.
To make changes to various settings, a quick menu can be
accessed via the function (Fn) button.
Happily, this menu can be completely customised, which is
very useful if you find you're not using a particular setting and want it
replaced with one you do use more often. When in playback mode, this function
button accesses the camera's ability to send photos via Wi-Fi/NFC to your
smartphone or tablet, which is a handy and quick addition.
The LCD screen is also joined by an electronic viewfinder.
Bridge camera viewfinders tend to have a bad reputation, but this has to be
easily one of the best we've ever seen on a camera of its kind. It's a large
and clear device - the same as found on the Sony NEX-6, in fact - that is
genuinely useful and easy to use. As there's also an eye sensor, switching
between using the screen and the EVF is a doddle.
Another element which can be customised is the display, both
on the LCD screen and in the electronic viewfinder. By hitting the Up button on
the four-way navigational pad, you can move through the various options, all of
which can be switched on and off in the main menu.
So, for instance, if you'd like to have the option to
display an electronic level on the rear LCD, but never in the EVF, you can do
this.
3. Performance
We were pretty much assured of the image quality of the RX10
from the get go, as it uses the same excellent sensor as the RX100 II, but it's
nice to have that confirmed by the full production sample.
Colours are reproduced excellently, being bright and punchy
without showing too much saturation.
Skies are represented well, as are skin tones.
You can alter the colours coming straight from the camera by
altering the Picture Styles, for instance if you want more vivid or neutral
colours. The good thing about these is that they can be shot in raw format, so
you'll have a 'clean' version of the image to work with should you need it
later down the line.
Detail is also excellently resolved by the 20.2
million-pixel sensor, as we'd already seen in the RX100 II.
All-purpose metering is generally good, though you may find
you need to dial in some exposure compensation in particularly dark or
high-contrast scenes.
Automatic white balance is also an excellent performer,
although it errs towards warm, yellowish tones under artificial lighting
conditions. Changing to a specific white balance setting overcomes this if it's
proving to be too problematic.
Sony's Dynamic Range Optimiser helps to produce balanced
exposures, especially if there are areas of high contrast in the scene.
Generally, leaving it on automatic does a good job, helping to bring out detail
in the shadows without being an over-the-top effect.
However, if you're shooting something which has a
particularly high amount of contrast, you can change the levels between one and
five, with five offering the biggest effect. It's not something you'll want to
use for every shot, but it can be very effective.
With an f/2.8 constant maximum aperture, you may find that
shooting at high sensitivities is reduced, but nevertheless the camera does an
excellent job in such situations. Image smoothing is present throughout the
sensitivity range, but it only starts to become problematic from around ISO
3200, and then only if you're examining an image at 100%.
Generally, image noise is minimal, while detail is kept
well. Images are especially good when looking at them at normal sharing or
printing sizes of A4 or below.
Being a Zeiss lens, we expected the RX10's optic to be a
good performer, and it is. That f/2.8 constant aperture, coupled with the large
sensor, means you can create some excellent shallow depth of field effects
throughout the focal length. Out-of-focus areas are rendered beautifully, with
some excellent bokeh visible.
Optical image stabilisation does a good job of keeping
images blur free when shooting at the furthest reach of the telephoto end.
Detail is also good at either end of the range.
If you find that the 200mm offered by the lens isn't quite
enough, you can choose to use Clear Image Zoom, Sony's excellent digital zoom.
This keeps the same resolution (20.2 million pixels) despite cropping into the
image. Detail is well maintained when using this, although it's not as sharp as
the optical end of the zoom. But again, this is only something you'll really
notice when checking the image at 100%.
Unfortunately, you can't shoot Clear Zoom if you're shooting
in raw format, so you'll need to switch to JPEG only first.
Autofocusing speeds are pretty quick, but they're not the
fastest we've ever seen, with compact system cameras from the Micro Four Thirds
family offering quicker times.
That said, it's quick enough for most everyday situations,
and in the main it's accurate too. Speed does drop in lower-light conditions,
but it's only when it's extremely dark that the camera struggles to focus at
all.
Sony is one of the best manufacturers for the creative
photographer, offering a wide array of digital filters alongside its great
sweep panorama mode. Although there are no new filters on offer here, the
selection is decent as always.
Again, though, you can't shoot the filters in raw format, so
you'll be stuck with them if you decide you don't like them after all. Using
Picture Styles is one alternative, especially if you want to shoot monochrome
images.
Sweep panorama is easy to use and quick to stitch in camera,
but if you're shooting something with lots of fine detail (such as an area with
lot of trees) and you examine the image at 100% it's likely you'll see repeated
patterns in some areas. It's not particularly noticeable when viewing at a
normal sharing size though.
4. Verdict
The RX10 could be the camera to shake up the bridge camera
market.
It's a camera which offers a unique set of features in what
is becoming an increasingly packed market. The fact that it uses the same
excellent sensor as the RX100 II should make it extra appealing too.
That sensor has already proven its worth before, and here it
continues to impress. The new Bionz X processor also plays a part in making
this a fantastic all-round camera, which really does a pack a lot into one
body, not least by including that f/2.8 constant aperture.
If you are looking for a complete camera, without having to
worry about changing lenses or shelling out for expensive specialist lenses,
this is the camera that will appeal to you. Sure, it's expensive, but it's
still cheaper than buying a beginner-level DSLR and a bunch of heavy lenses
that you'll need to lug around to achieve the equivalent focal length and
maximum aperture of the RX10.
The addition of Wi-Fi and NFC also makes the RX10 handy for
those who want to share images quickly, and for those who want to remote
control the camera - nature photographers in particular may find this to be a
key selling point.
Creative controls, such as digital filters and panoramic
mode, are an added bonus, although we'd like to see more flexibility with raw
format shooting. We'd also like to see a touchscreen, especially as setting the
autofocus point is more of a pain that it should be.
The design of the camera is reminiscent of a DSLR, and for
some that will be another major selling point: you get all the kudos that a
'big' camera brings, without having the bulk, weight, and need to invest in
additional lenses.
Sony has once again thought about how enthusiast
photographers like to use cameras: making so many of the buttons customisable
is a smart move, for instance.
Electronic viewfinders have had a bad reputation for a long
time, and in fairness, those that are found on the majority of current bridge
cameras are nothing to write home about. Sony has been one pioneer in bringing
excellent, usable EVFs to the market, though, and here in the RX10 they've
installed another winner - it's not quite as good as using a full-sized optical
viewfinder, but it's pretty damn close. And don't forget that using an
electronic device does have its advantages, such as displaying a preview of the
taken image.
liked
There's plenty to like about this camera, but the image
quality is the thing that should sell it the most.
Beautiful colours, lots of detail and excellent low-light
shooting elevate it above other bridge cameras on the market, especially with
the f/2.8 constant aperture lens.
disliked
Some elements of this camera are harder than they should be.
In particular, it's disappointing that it's tedious to change the AF point,
something which the enthusiast photographer is likely to want to do often.
We've said it before, and we'll say it again - a touchscreen would solve this
problem pretty easily.
Final verdict
It's difficult to know how well this camera will perform -
at the end of the day, there isn't generally a big audience for £1,000+ bridge
cameras.
That said, it does offer quite a lot of value for an
admittedly high outlay. For the real niche area of the market that this is
aimed that, this could be a real winner.
Image quality is excellent, while handling is solid and
reliable, with the customisation giving it a real enthusiast feel. Other
touches such as the aperture ring and top plate LED also elevate it beyond the
standard bridge camera.
Overall, Sony has brought another interesting concept to the
market, expanding its well-respected RX family with this addition. Great work.
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