Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

  • Reviews
  • Recommended Cameras & Gear
  • Learn Photography
  • Contact
  • About
  • Subscribe

Sony RX10 Hands-On

October 24, 2013 By Eric Reagan

Sony RX10-2

The Sony Cyber-shot RX10 is essentially a RX100 with a massive 24-200mm f/2.8 lens. And it looks like this is going to be a great combination.

Sony RX10-5

I was surprise at how light the body is when I picked it up. I was expecting it to have more of a mirrorless or DSLR feel to it; however, it’s really just plastic housing holding the guts of a RX100. (Update: Apparently, the housing is magnesium alloy with some weather sealing; however, it just doesn’t have a very robust feel to it.) The lens is another story. There’s a lot of glass in this point and shoot superzoom. The RX10 is definitely front heavy. The overall balance isn’t bad, but you’ll definitely notice it.

Sony RX10-7

There are two rings on the lens barrel. One ring is marked as the aperture ring and the other ring can act as a focus or zoom ring, which is a drive-by-wire design. The big ring works as a zoom ring when in AF modes and as a focus ring when in manual focus mode. There’s also a zoom rocker switch around the shutter release for an alternate zoom method. While the zoom ring works well, the drive-by-wire feel isn’t as fast or smooth as a true mechanical zoom ring.

Sony RX10-6

We all have a pretty good idea of what to expect for image quality with the RX10, which should be very solid as we’ve seen in the RX100. In my short time of shooting with the RX10 on the show floor, the striking thing about the RX10 is the nice bokeh you get from the f/2.8 lens at the long end. It’s also going to help out with giving better shutter speeds in low light (The RX100 gives you f/4.9 at the long end with a 100mm equivalent reach).

Sony RX10-3

Let’s not forget that this thing shoots 1080p HD video as well. This could be a great little all-in-one option for run and gun video.

Sony RX10-4

A lot of folks are going to be turned off by the $1300 price tag; however, the value is in the lens, and for the people who appreciate what this camera offers, it could be a match made in heaven. With the 1″ sensor, the RX10 is still going to be a ways off from a mirrorless camera or DSLR with an APS-C or larger sensor. However, you won’t find a 24-200mm f/2.8 lens on either of those cameras and a comparable kit is going to run you at least $2500 in lenses alone.

Sony RX10

In sum, for those looking for an all-in-one camera solution, the RX10 is certainly something to look at. The RX10 has just redefined the “superzoom” category. Just as the RX100 became the new measuring stick for pocket cameras, the RX10 is going to do the same with superzoom cameras.

You can find the Sony RX10 here at B&H Photo.

Sony A7 and A7R

Filed Under: Sony Tagged With: Cyber-shot, PhotoPlus 2013, RX10, Sony, superzoom

 

Comments

  1. Eduardnic says

    October 25, 2013 at 4:39 am

    Sony declared magnesium alloy body, you said plastic. That lens really require some metal structure to hang! Anyway, this camera push all my buttons! Too bad no swivel screen, no touch screen. Hope Canon or Nikon will replay with similar or better featured camera and take the cream from the top. Great info! Thanks!

    • Eric Reagan says

      October 25, 2013 at 11:27 am

      It may very well be magnesium alloy, but the body feels light and plastic-ish. Particularly so with that big chunk of lens hanging off the front.

  2. ZoranNS says

    October 25, 2013 at 8:28 am

    It has swivel screen.

    • Shamael says

      October 26, 2013 at 8:32 am

      It has a tilt up and down screen only, no swivel screen. It feels plasticish says Eric, and to me and many more people, it is at least 400$ overpriced, same as RX100 that sells at least 200$ too much. OUR Rx 10 was a RX100 with an APS-C sensor, not this utopia.

Support Photography Bay


Recent Posts

  • WD 22TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive Now In Stock
  • Reader Photos Roundup: March 19, 2023
  • Computational Photography & AI: Where Do We Go From Here?
  • Reader Photos Roundup: January 15, 2023
  • Panasonic Lumix S5 II and S5 IIX Cameras Announced with 6K Video and Improved AF

Pages

  • 2022 Black Friday Camera and Photo Deals
  • About
  • Camera and Photo Deals Newsletter
  • Canon 1D X
  • Canon 1Ds Mark IV
  • Canon 5D Mark III
  • Canon Rebel T4i
  • Contact
  • Disclosures
  • DSLRs
  • How to Subscribe
  • Learn Photography
  • NAB 2016 Live Blog
  • Nikon D4
  • Nikon D800
  • Photography Laws
  • Recommended Cameras & Accessories
  • Reviews
  • Sony Alpha A77

Copyright © 2023 | Photography Bay