Sony has announced a new flagship model in its RX line of Cyber-shot cameras, the RX10 IV (model DSC-RX10M4).
The new RX10 IV camera. (Source: Sony.)
The new RX10 IV is equipped with a latest 20.1 megapixel, 12.8 x 9.6 mm (1.0-type) Exmor RS CMOS stacked image sensor with associated DRAM chip, along with a powerful BIONZ X image processor and front-end LSI. These components work together to maximise overall speed of operation and performance and deliver high image and video quality. The RX10 IV boasts a versatile 24-600mm f/2.4-f/4 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens plus a new AF system with 315 phase-detection AF points covering approx. 65% of the frame, which rivals those in the fastest professional interchangeable lens cameras.
The new camera claims the world’s fastest AF acquisition time of 0.03 seconds and up to 24 fps continuous shooting with full AF/AE tracking, thanks to High-density Tracking AF technology, which was developed for Sony’s ? cameras. Other AF improvements in the new RX10 IV camera include an enhanced version of the popular Eye AF, Touch Focus and Focus Range Limiter. The AF-ON setting is also assignable, as well as multiple AF modes including AF-S, AF-C and AF-A, which can be based on user preferences and shooting situations.
The new RX10 IV becomes the latest Cyber-shot RX camera to offer the advantages of 4K (QFHD 3840 x 2160) movie recording, with its Fast Hybrid AF system delivering roughly double the focusing speed of the RX10 III. In 4K mode, the new RX10 IV utilises full pixel readout without pixel binning, capturing approximately 1.7x more information than is required for 4K movie output. The camera utilises the XAVC S codec, recording video at a high data rate of up to 100 Mbps depending on shooting mode. Users have the option of shooting at either 24p or 30p in 4K mode (100 Mbps), or in frame rates of up to 120p in Full HD mode. Professional video features include Picture Profile, S-Log3/S-Gamut3, Gamma Display Assist, Proxy recording and Time Code / User Bit functions, as well as input for external microphone and output for headphone monitoring. Super slow motion] video recording is also available, with an extended duration of about 4 seconds (in quality priority mode) and 7 seconds (in shoot time priority) plus a choice of 1000 fps, 500 fps and 250 fps frame rates with 50p, 25p and 24p playback formats.
Another first for the Cyber-shot RX series is the 3.0-type 1.44M dot tiltable LCD monitor screen with Touch Focus and Touch Pad function plus WhiteMagic technology to improve readability in outdoor lighting. The RX10 IV also sports a 2,350,000-dot high-contrast XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF. Triple lens rings for aperture, zoom and focus make manual operation easy and intuitive and the completely quiet, smooth option for the aperture ring is ideal for video shooters. “My Menu” functionality has been added, allowing up to 30 frequently used menu items to be custom registered. Menus are colour coded for easier recognition and navigation, and a new Movie Settings menu has been introduced to improve video shooting. The RX10 IV is also dust and moisture resistant, and Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth compatible.
The new Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV camera will be in available Australia from October 2017 for SRP AU$2599.
