Sony has unveiled the RX10 V, and it’s been upgraded to meet the needs of photographers of all skill levels and genres. We had the chance to put this camera through its paces in all areas it excels, so let’s see what it can do for wildlife, sports, macro, and travel photography.
Wildlife
If you want to photograph birds and wildlife up close and personal, but don’t want to lug around a bunch of heavy camera equipment, look no further. As a true all-in-one camera, the RX10 V is the perfect lightweight option for anyone seeking a versatile imaging tool that captures just about anything without breaking the bank.
What’s not to like? 30 fps blackout-free shooting in compressed RAW allows you to better freeze that decisive moment, not to mention the incredible advancements made in subject recognition and tracking accuracy with the BIONZ XR processing engine. Of course, this camera’s bread and butter is the full frame equivalent focal range of 24-600mm make capturing sharp, frame-filling images of distant subject matter possible to begin with.
If you’re worried about those fast frame rates resulting in full memory cards, you can use a custom button to engage Sony’s Speed Boost feature. This allows users to jump to the fast 30 fps only when the button is pressed, say when that bird is in flight or your subject is hitting the exact pose you want.
Additionally, wildlife videography has been enhanced, with 4K 120 fps shooting with a crop and 4K 60 fps shooting oversampled from 5.4K with full sensor readout. The camera even offers S-LOG 3 recording as an option for those who want to color grade their videos in post.
As you can see, there’s much this camera has to offer for wildlife and bird photographers, and videographers alike. If you’re in the market for a compact camera to capture nature and wildlife, the RX10 V is the camera for you.
Sports
From 30 fps frame rates to the vast zoom range, many of the same features that make the RX10 V such an incredible wildlife camera, make it one perfect for capturing your kids’ sporting events and beyond. The zoom range alone makes this camera capable from one side of the field to the next, but this only scratches the surface of what the RX10 V can do.
What really matters here is the stacked sensor design and fast albeit varied aperture of 2.4-4.0. First, the sensor. The same 20.1MP Stacked Imaging Sensor found in the previous generation returns, and for good reason. The stacked architecture makes it so fast-moving objects—like baseball balls, tennis rackets, and such—remain undistorted in the frame.
As for the aperture, users will find the camera superb at making their subject pop in the frame. Across the entire zoom range, these apertures deliver incredible backgrounds, but at the long end, this camera really shines. The f/4 aperture can capture incredible subject isolating background blur, especially considering the great lens compression of the longer 600mm focal length.
As you may expect, the same BIONZ XR processing engine and its animal detection is even more adept at recognizing and tracking humans. The processor brings human pose estimation to the camera, so it can not only find and focus and follow the subject, but it can also predict where your subject is going.
If you’re looking to capture sports or fast action in a portable camera but with stellar image quality, look no further than the Sony RX10 V.
Travel
Are you planning your next trip and looking for one camera to capture every part of it? If so, the RX10 V is an excellent option. Above, we praised the camera’s incredible focal range, focusing speeds, and shooting speeds, and while these features can be essential for certain trips, there’s more that this camera brings to the table.
At the wide end of its zoom range, the RX10 V delivers wide landscapes and cityscapes, and with just a little nudge of the zoom switch, you’ll be in portrait territory. Versatility is the camera’s specialty, and while it may not be the smallest cameras, it’s incredibly lightweight and compact for the features it delivers.
It’s simple in design, and more importantly, it’s a breeze to operate. This allows you to shoot without worry and capture those special moments while staying in the moment.
So, if it’s an all-in-one, fairly compact camera that you want, the RX10 V could be the camera for you.
Macro
Whether you’re traveling, photographing wildlife, or just a hobbyist learning your niche, there’s a good chance you’ll dabble in close-up macro photography. Now, close-up photography may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you consider the RX10 V camera. That said, if you’re looking for an all-in-one imaging tool that can deliver exceptional macro images, the RX10 could be your next camera.
The built-in 24-600mm lens has macro capabilities across its range, with focusing distance of approximately 1.1” (3 cm) at the wide end, and 28.3” (72 cm) at 600mm. In either case, it can really make some of the smallest objects look larger than life. And with custom autofocus tracking options, you can stay locked on to your subject even as they are moving themselves.
For faster subject matter, the very same 30 fps that makes this camera so popular among wildlife and sprots photographers can aid us in capturing the exact moment that a bee flies into the spot of light you’ve been hoping it would. We also have 120 fps recording in 4K video, so you can better showcase insect behaviors in even more detail.
So, if you want an all-in-one compact camera that has the versatility in range and incredible close-up capabilities, consider the RX10 V.
Learn More
For more information about the new camera, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page for the Sony RX10 V.