We have two more new Sony RX10 reviews:
CameraLabs writes:
the Sony RX10 is the most powerful and capable bridge camera to date, but it’s also the most expensive. So that’s the non-shocker here: pay more, get more. It’s a gamble, but on the whole I’d say it’s paid off. The RX10 is clearly head and shoulders above its bridge rivals in every respect and a compelling alternative to a DSLR or mirrorless camera for certain photographers.
The.me writes:
Again, would I buy the camera? Rather yes. Despite some quirks, I really do like this king of bridge cameras. It’s all about the Zeiss optics and a really good sensor. One camera that lets you shoot everything. Portraits, macro, the street, landscape, far away stuff. One top-notch lens.
Sony RX10 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, SonystoreUS. Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, CH, AT, SE, FI, NO, PT, WexUK, WexDE.
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So, the Cybershot Team is making score after score. That’s good to know.
Meanwhile, in the Alpha Land…
I grabbed an RX10 not expecting much from it. Boy was I wrong. After 1 day of shooting with it and learning the menus?..this thing way exceeded my expectations.
Think of it as an a99 +high end handycam trapped inside a really well made fixed lens body.
I have had it for 2 weeks now and im still shocked at all the pro functions it was allowed to have.
Who at Sony approved this camera? They were not worried about catabolism at all? That is an odd move for Sony! They didnt cripple anything on it. Sony gave the green light to build everything into it.
See what Sony can do when they dont give their engineers any restrictions?
Amazing….keep it up Sony!
Well, for the price, maybe they don’t have to cripple anything. It’s a very expensive bridge. Luckily its performance is also very good, both in still and video. Bravo Sony.
I think you mean “cannibalize,” not catabolism. But that’s ok! 🙂
Actually, what they crippled is the video codec. Or rather, they limited it to avchd as their best. They could probably use more advanced codecs and they can still implement that if they are noted for firmware updates.
But as an overall camera, it more than succeeds.
“If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will”
[Steve Jobs]
It’s a cracking little camera, so good I sold my proper video camera (Sony NX70). The RX10’s sensor is just so much better for video. If you add the Sony XLR module to the RX10, its now a really well spec’d pro-level video camera. On the stills side though (I’m a stills photog) it leaves me wanting, don’t get me wrong, for the right subject matter the RX10 is fantastic. I think the RX10 would make for a lovely compliment to an A7R with the two primes. With the A7R you have MF file quality and the RX10 gives you a fast quiet shooting camera with the equivalent of two nice f/2.8 zooms (24-70/70-200). ~Chris
“little camera” this thing a is a monster – huge and so very fugly 🙁 !!
Like I said, “I’m a stills photog” — my daily driver is a Canon 5D3, 24-70 & 70-200 f/2.8 — this thing is tiny by comparison! The RX10 is an astounding feat of engineering when you consider what, and more importantly *how well* it does what it does.
Hey Admin! I don’t like this new comment system. You gonna loose comments and readers. It is not logical??? Sorry SAR is the best but not the new look…
I like it…
In what way is it not logical? It works very much like the most popular forum sites around with the voting and interest/”best” sorting algorithms. It’s easy to read, and unlike the old system it actually lets you have comment threads deeper than 3-4 comments.
Taking photos of bridges seems like a pretty niche area of photography. I guess it takes its inspiration from the Clint Eastwood movie.
This system is far & away the best you’ve ever had, Andrea.
I’m selling my Nex-7 and lenses now that I have this. Perfect compliment to my A99.
No one will ever say that at this moment it is the best bridge existing, same as no one will contest the affirmation that it is 40% to high in pricing. For that price, I can buy a NEX3N and hell of a lens with it.
good luck finding a good 24-200mm eq f/2.8 lens for the 3n – and even if you do it won’t have the performance and won’t be cheap
RX 10 is 2,7x factor, so lens that is comparable to it on APS-C in terms of bokeh and speed would be 16-135 f/4,5. Current 18-200 f/3,5-6,3 gives similar range and quality.
I think I get your point, but, it’s not even comparable. The actual capabilities of the RX10 outperform anything you can get with NEX in the same total package size. There isn’t a lens in the NEX lineup that can compare with the lens on the RX10, and that’s not even considering the range and fixed aperture. Just the quality level. The NEX zooms are too poor to compete.
The RX10 might have its own class, but, it is not outdone by any current system camera for exactly what it is as a whole.
I have seen multiple reviewers contest both of your statements, Shamael.
Not that I suggest the term bridge camera is wrong, per se. However, the implication of the term is that you don’t stick with it. You don’t keep it as your camera forever. You are on your way to a DSLR and you want to get a little more serious in the meantime before you can commit to that investment.
This camera, to me, is exactly the opposite. This camera, the RX10, is the camera I’d buy today, hands down, nothing else comes close, IF I was going to quit serious photography altogether. If I was fed up with the time and effort involved to justify owning and maintaining a system camera, toting it around, swapping lenses, etc. and I just wanted to give up on that but still have a good general purpose camera that could still produce lovely looking 18×12 prints for the wall, then no doubt, THIS would be the camera.
However, I’d never suggest to someone that they spend the money on this camera first if they were going to buy a DSLR ever. It’s just too expensive.
It is also a camera I’d consider if I felt I needed an all-in-one companion and size wasn’t an issue (as this is not a very small camera).
Anyway, I just think calling this a bridge camera puts it into a category where people aren’t looking to spend what it costs and don’t need what it can do, but, I don’t have a better catchy term to replace it.
Camera technology is evolving so rapidly that perhaps ALL of our current cameras are “bridge cameras”. I agree with your assessment that this is a good general purpose camera and I like the term “family camera” better than “bridge camera”.
There is however a problem with the price point on the RX10. (I am NOT one who complains in public about the price of anything.) At $1300 the RX10 is priced un-realistically for a “family cam” or a “bridge camera”. Most camera shoppers in the target demographic expect a “family camera” for somewhat less than $1000; for more than $1000 photographers expect PRO equipment.
The RX10 is an incredible camera, but at $1300 it may be a tough sell.
One thing to consider is that this camera would also make a great camcorder. Truly impressive video is coming out of this and it has an ideal lens for video. You can take it one step further and get the Sony FDR-AX100 which is practically this same camera but in camcorder form and has an even longer zoom range still at f/2.8 constant! Plus 4k at 30p! It’s more money, $2000 but really quite amazing for what it can do compared to other similarly priced products.
Actually, I’m a little surprised it hasn’t come up here more. This site used to talk about the various Sony video cameras from time to time as well. I guess it’s not Alpha but neither are any RX cameras.
At any rate, there is some cool stuff on offer. It’s just a matter of marketing it effectively and I’m not convinced Sony can do that.
Meh, it’s neither fish nor fowl. It’s reach is not enough to be a superzoom, while the aperture is too small to keep the ISO down when the light is low. Jack of all trades, … They should have made a, say, 15x zoom with smaller apertures or a constant F1.4 3x zoom.
Besides, it’s too large to be your carry-everywhere all in one camera. It’s nice to see Sony try something different, but I hope their next try will be something more capable.
I think it makes for a wonderful family camera covers an excellent focal range
with a high quality fixed aperture lens, decent close up etc. Very good quality video and speed of use and image quality that far surpasses even the best P&S.
The problem in these type of sites is that too many compare it to larger sensor interchangeable lens cameras which all too often will be bought as a kit and never expand/ Your typical family shooter is not interested in having a huge range of lenses and add-on. The RX10 is an excellent jack of all trades while it may not be a master of any it delivers all that many maybe most photographers need.
By the time you add an EVF and fixed aperture lens/lenses covering this range to your cheap APS body you will end up with a larger and more expensive set-up
I’d dog this camera if it weren’t for the fact that I got to shoot with it. It was a pleasure and the focusing ring was really sweet. I think it’s a total winner especially as a family camera.
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