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A first look at Sony’s super-fast RX10 IV zoom camera
Sony just announced its latest flagship point-and-shoot at an event in New York City, the RX10 IV. The new camera, a successor to last year's RX10 III, again comes with a 24-600mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.4-4 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and a 1-inch, 20.1-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor. In terms of design, the RX10 IV is basically identical to its predecessor, featuring mode and exposure dials, a 3-inch LCD screen and an OLED viewfinder. Here's where it really shines, though: Sony says this zoom shooter sports the "world's fastest" autofocus speed of 0.03 seconds, complemented by 24fps continuous shooting (with full AF/AE tracking) and 4K (3,840 x 2,160) movie recording at 24 or 30fps.
Sony's RX10 III is an impressive but overly expensive camera
Superzoom cameras aren't exactly the most exciting category when you're looking at photography equipment. They're usually almost as large as a DSLR but don't offer the advantage of interchangeable lenses. But Sony's just-announced RX10 III made me sit up and pay attention -- it may look nearly identical to the model Sony introduced last September, but there's an entirely different piece of glass on this camera. You're stuck with one lens, but what a lens it is: it covers an insane focal range from 24mm to 600mm (35mm equivalent) and has an impressive f/2.4 - f/4 maximum aperture range. That offers significantly more zoom capability than the 200mm lens on last year's model. It comes at a cost, though: the RX10 III will set you back a whopping $1,500. That's a lot of money for a camera with a fixed lens, even one as impressive as the one in the RX10 III (at least on paper). Fortunately Sony let me take the camera out for a spin at the San Francisco Zoo along with a bunch of other journalists to see how it stands up.
Sony's RX10 II is a powerful superzoom camera with some quirks
Remarkable superzoom cameras are hard to come by. But every now and then, there's a standout. Take Sony's RX10 II. Introduced in June, this new shooter features a 20.2-megapixel Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor (1-inch) and a Bionz X image processor, two of the latest high-end components from Sony. Naturally, the RX10 II's main attraction is that massive 24-200mm (35mm-equivalent) Zeiss zoom lens, which lives inside a DSLR-like body (looks-wise, it hasn't changed much compared to its predecessor from 2013). As it happens, though, Sony isn't just positioning this as a superzoom; it's also going after people who want a powerful video camera. Indeed, that's one of the things the RX10 II does best: It can shoot 4K (3,840 X 2,160) at up to 30 fps and 1080p at 24, 30 and 60 fps. Pair that with a low-light sensitivity ISO of up to 25,600 and slow-motion modes that range from 240 to 960 fps (NTSC), and you have a worthy option for video buffs.
The year in reviews: a look back at the best gadgets of 2014
It's been quite a year in products here at the Engadget offices. Not only have we looked at the latest flagship phones and hottest laptops, but our reviews have run the gamut from VR headsets to WiFi Crock-Pots. We've worn lots of smartwatches and fitness wristbands on our arms, tried out an ultra-secure phone and looked at more Chromebooks than we can count. And while we reviewed plenty of average and mediocre devices (and even a few bad ones), there are a handful that emerge at the top of the heap. Some come out as clear winners, while others are good, but don't quite break away from the pack, leaving us with a rather perplexing six-way-tie for seventh place. Thus, we present to you not our top 10, but top 12 highest-scored products of 2014.
Sony's RX10 camera now shoots higher-quality video at a lower price
Sony's Cyber-shot RX10 is a pretty capable camera, but it still has weaknesses: it doesn't shoot super high-quality XAVC-S video, and that steep $1,300 price is bound to steer some people toward DSLRs and mirrorless cams. Well, consider both of those problems licked. Sony has just put out new firmware (installable through Macs and Windows PCs) that lets it record in XAVC-S and preserve more detail in your movies. At the same time, the RX10's price has dropped to $1,000; that's still a lot of money to shell out for a camera with a non-replaceable lens, but it's definitely more accessible. If you've been holding out for a few more reasons to try this superzoom, you may want to take another look.
Daily Roundup: Xbox One update inbound, Sony Cyber-shot RX10 review and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Sony Cyber-shot RX10 review: impeccable performance and versatility make this cam an industry leader
To many photographers -- amateurs and professionals alike -- digital SLRs represent quality. The fact that you can remove the lens and swap it for another is inconsequential to those who never buy a second optic, and it's that segment of the market that Sony's targeting with its Cyber-shot RX10. Everything about the RX10 is DSLR-like -- its form factor, built-in EVF, focusing performance and image quality are all on par with many higher-end SLRs -- but its mighty 24-200mm lens is permanently attached. By opting for this comparatively inflexible design, Sony's able to deliver a constant f/2.8 aperture and very high-quality optics in a comfortable package, with a price tag far below what a similar removable lens would command, were it to exist in the first place. The result, put simply, is spectacular, but as $1,300 is at the high end of even deep-pocketed consumers' budgets, you'll want to catch our full review before making a purchase.
Sony RX10 features 1-inch 20.2MP sensor, 24-200mm constant f/2.8 lens for $1,300
Sony's growing its successful RX Cyber-shot lineup with an entirely new type of camera. The RX10 packs the same 20.2-megapixel 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor as the RX100 Mark II, and based on our experience shooting with that model, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect excellent image quality with this cam as well. What makes this model unique, however, is the 24-200mm Zeiss lens, which offers a constant f/2.8 aperture, enabling identical exposures at both ends of the zoom spectrum. It also includes the same BIONZ X processor as the Alpha 7 and 7R, which aids in autofocus, noise reduction and detail reproduction. The RX10 is being positioned as a step-up camera for point-and-shoot users and even some DSLR owners. The camera is priced at $1,300 -- considering that you'll often spend that much for an f/2.8 zoom lens alone, it'll likely appeal to a variety of photographers. Sony's also targeting video shooters here; like the new Alphas announced today, the RX10 shoots 1080p video at 60 or 24 frames per second with full manual control, and offers uncompressed output through the HDMI port. There's also an adjustable audio level meter, a headphone and mic jack, and compatibility with the XLR-K1M adapter for even more sound input options. You can share video and still images with the built-in WiFi, which you can also use for remote shooting with Sony's Android and iOS apps. Unfortunately you're stuck with just contrast-detect AF on board, but the camera still focused quickly enough during our test. You can shoot an unlimited number of consecutive frames at 10 fps with continuous autofocus, and the three-axis image stabilization should aid in keeping shots steady. You can frame shots using the built-in OLED EVF or the 1.23M-dot 3-inch White Magic LCD, which tilts up 84 degrees or down 43 degrees for shooting at odd angles. There's a magnesium-alloy body, so it's dust and moisture-resistant as well. The Sony RX10 is expected to hit stores next month for $1,300. Update: And here are some hands-on photos from an earlier event in Hong Kong.
