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Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV: Sony puts a premium on their premium compact camera

Introduction

Your smartphone may be good enough for everyday shots, but premium compacts are offer a quality that satisfies without going all-out on a DSLR. Sony is here with another update to their chart-topping RX100 premium compact camera line, featuring a large 1" image sensor.

The reason why the RX100 line was so well-received was simply because this is a pocket-sized camera that was quick enough at shooting, comfortable handling, all while packing a sensor size that produced high quality pictures. Three iterations saw the camera come with NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity for the second version, and subsequently an electronic viewfinder in the third, together with a faster lens. This time, Sony stuffs a DRAM chip in their new Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor – allowing faster image read-out speed of more than five times when compared to the previous make.

Design and handling

The RX100 IV is small, compact, comfortable, but it packs a punch for image quality.
The RX100 IV is small, compact, comfortable, but it packs a punch for image quality.

The RX100 IV is identical in size to its predecessor, and is slightly 8g heavier at 298g. Sadly, battery life has taken a hit, the RX100 IV shoots 280 shots per charge, compared to the RX100 III's 320 shots per charge.

The Mode dial adds an additional HFR (High Frame-Rate) mode for selection.
The Mode dial adds an additional HFR (High Frame-Rate) mode for selection.

If you are familiar with the Mark III’s interface and controls, you’ll be pleased to know that handling the Sony RX100 IV will feel just as good. As mentioned in our initial experience walkthrough, the exterior has only undergone minor tweaks, such as the addition of the high frame rate (HFR) mode on the mode dial. Comfort has not been compromised in any way.

Still the same ol' RX100 style, so no confusion had here.
Still the same ol' RX100 style, so no confusion had here.

With all these advantages, the RX100 IV also tops it off with the old features that RX100 users are very familiar with –the compact yet ergonomic grip and feel, a smooth focusing ring with tactile diamond-embossed design, with a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 8.8–25.7mm lens (24–70mm in 35mm equivalent), and a wide aperture of f/1.8 for fast shooting.

In-built flash and in-built electronic viewfinder unsheathed on the Sony RX100 IV.
In-built flash and in-built electronic viewfinder unsheathed on the Sony RX100 IV.

The pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF) remains, and has been upgraded to a 2.35m dot OLED display, up from 1.44m dots in the RX100 III. Sony also kept the relatively user-friendly controls for tweaking the camera while on Manual mode – an important point for high-end compacts since they embody ease of use and user-friendliness.

The RX100 IV shoots extremely high-speed video and photos

The key advantage that the new Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor brings is that the RX100 IV shoots fast, really fast.

In PAL mode, the RX100 IV can capture up to 1,000 frames per second (fps), 500fps and 250fps of high frame rate (HFR) video. In NTSC mode, the camera can capture 960fps, 480fps or 240fps.

You can choose to record slow motion video in 60/50p, 30/25p and 24p for various slow-motion speeds, for example, a video captured at 1,000fps and recorded at 60p provides motion slowed down by approx. 16x (1000fps recorded divided by 60 fps playback), and a video captured at 1,000fps and recorded at 24p slows down the action by approx. 40x (1000fps divided by 24fps).

This is what 1,000 frames per second of HFR video looks like, when a face meets exploding tofu:

It's astoundingly fast, but one drawback is that the RX100 IV doesn't record at Full-HD at these speeds. It records at the maximum resolution of 1,824 x 1,026 when shooting 240/250fps at Quality Priority, and at the lowest resolution of 800 x 270 when shooting 960/1000fps in Shoot Time Priority.

The good news is that you can capture 1080/120p video, but because it's not part of the RX100 IV's HFR functions, you won't be able to preview the slow-motion on-camera, it will play at the same speed as normal footage. Editors, however, will be able to slow it down back in post-production.

To record the slow motion footage more accurately, Sony also gives us a “start trigger” which allows the camera to record two seconds after pressing the record button, and an “end trigger” where it stops recording two seconds after pressing the same button. We’re happy to learn that a feature that’s akin to having high-speed recording equipment is available on a premium compact camera.

Check out what an exploding water-balloon looks like, shot at 1,000 frames per second:

There’s also the Speed Priority Continuous Shooting, which is new to the RX100 series and is a notch above standard Continuous Shooting modes found on every compact. The Sony RX100 IV is capable of chugging out shots at 16 frames per second (thanks to the DRAM chip stacking), so we have the option of getting precisely the images we want in a fast-moving or time-sensitive shot.

The Sony RX100 IV is actually capable of still images taken at 1/32,000s while using the electronic shutter, giving you the literal ability to freeze a moment in time.

Performance test

It should come as no surprise that the Sony RX100 IV pulls through again with great shots in a tiny package.

Photos are sharp and accurate, with little to complain about. Color is accurate; and detail remains very consistent throughout all ISO levels, with little detail loss even up to ISO 1,600, and very usable photos for online use at ISO 12,800.

We used a test scene for shooting and Photoshop Elements 7.0 to check the white balance and the sharpness of the images. These photos are not edited or modified in terms of appearance.

Sony RX100 IV, ISO 100, f/4.0, 1/3 seconds exposure, focal length 15mm (42mm for 35mm equivalent), no flash.
Sony RX100 IV, ISO 100, f/4.0, 1/3 seconds exposure, focal length 15mm (42mm for 35mm equivalent), no flash.
ISO 400.
ISO 400.
ISO 800, and image quality is still going strong for the RX100 IV.
ISO 800, and image quality is still going strong for the RX100 IV.

Blurring starts at ISO 1600 and the detail loss is quite negligible – it only gives way at ISO 3200, where sharpening in post cannot salvage the finer lines or minute words on signage and labels.

ISO 1600. Quality of text in the image such as labels begin to lose detail.
ISO 1600. Quality of text in the image such as labels begin to lose detail.
100% zoom into said text at ISO 1600. While not exactly sharp, you can still tell that this bottle's drink is made from carbonated water and some form of juice concentrate.
100% zoom into said text at ISO 1600. While not exactly sharp, you can still tell that this bottle's drink is made from carbonated water and some form of juice concentrate.
100% zoom into said text at ISO 3200. At this setting, the ingredient details are barely legible.
100% zoom into said text at ISO 3200. At this setting, the ingredient details are barely legible.
ISO 6400. Noise is noticeable, but the image holds up fine nonetheless.
ISO 6400. Noise is noticeable, but the image holds up fine nonetheless.
ISO 12,800. Noise is expected, but you can still make out the small text found on the vodka bottle. Quite impressive for a 1-inch sensor.
ISO 12,800. Noise is expected, but you can still make out the small text found on the vodka bottle. Quite impressive for a 1-inch sensor.
100% zoom into said text at ISO 12,800. Five-figure ISO setting on a 1-inch sensor, and you can still tell it's lemon flavored vodka bottled in Sweden. Pretty neat.
100% zoom into said text at ISO 12,800. Five-figure ISO setting on a 1-inch sensor, and you can still tell it's lemon flavored vodka bottled in Sweden. Pretty neat.

Sample Images

These photos were taken using the Sony RX100 IV. The photos have not been post-processed and are copyright to SPH Magazines. They are provided for your reference only and we ask that you do not reproduce them elsewhere. Click for the full-resolution images.

24mm, f 2.8, 1/640s, ISO 800
24mm, f 2.8, 1/640s, ISO 800
44mm, f 9.0, 1/160s, ISO 800.
44mm, f 9.0, 1/160s, ISO 800.
100% zoom of the above photo.
100% zoom of the above photo.
33mm, f 2.8, 1/15s, ISO 800.
33mm, f 2.8, 1/15s, ISO 800.
100% zoom of the above photo, for the details on the building.
100% zoom of the above photo, for the details on the building.
24mm, f 1.8, 1/15s, ISO 800, street lighting.
24mm, f 1.8, 1/15s, ISO 800, street lighting.
24mm, f 1.8, 1/320s, ISO 6400.
24mm, f 1.8, 1/320s, ISO 6400.
100% zoom of above photo, for the details on the building.
100% zoom of above photo, for the details on the building.
52mm, f 9.0, 1/13s, ISO 6400.
52mm, f 9.0, 1/13s, ISO 6400.

Conclusion

If you want the best premium compact camera in the world today, it's hard to beat the Sony RX100 IV. This is a camera that produces high-quality stills with a large 1" sensor, with leading-edge features like high-speed shooting and high frame-rate video. It gives most people an easy way to get great pictures, while offering the experienced user full manual controls to fine-tune exposure settings.

Those who already own a previous edition of an RX100 might think twice before upgrading. Even with all the new features, we still find S$1,399 for a high-end compact tough to stomach. What first started out as an attractive premium compact just shy of a thousand bucks is no longer true, even with the wonderful under-the-hood upgrades taken into consideration.

Consider also that with the higher price tag, you'd think Sony would at least pack an external charger or extra USB with the camera, especially since the battery life took a hit. But no - all you get is a single USB cable.

The strongest alternative to the Sony RX100 IV might, in fact, not be a competitor's camera, but the previous model, the Sony RX100 III. If you don't fancy the high-speed photo shooting or slow-motion video features, the RX100 III might be looking pretty attractive now, especially since it should be going for less than the S$1,199 it launched at late last year. The RX100 III's battery life is also rated for a longer 320 shots per charge, instead of the RX100 IV's 280 shots.