Sony RX10 V: technical features

Bridge cameras have been one of the best-selling products in past years, before the decline of the camera market which led to the disappearance of some products in favor of others. Now, the Japanese manufacturer has announced (almost 10 years after the previous model) the new Sony RX10 V, an all-round camera with an integrated lens that allows for an equivalent focal length of up to 600 mm. Here are the novelties.

This model aims to confirm itself as a reference solution for those seeking extreme versatility in a single body, without having to change lenses when switching from wide-angle to super telephoto. Clearly, such a choice has its limits, and therefore it will be up to the user to assess if a bridge solution is truly what they need to capture their photographs.

The heart of the Sony RX10 V is its ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens, capable of a 25x optical zoom that provides an equivalent focal length from 24 mm to 600 mm (9.1 mm up to 210 mm), with an aperture ranging from f/2.4 to f/4.0 (thus remaining quite bright even at the maximum focal length). It is possible to install 72mm filters in front. With such a wide focal range available, it allows you to tackle any scenario: from everyday shots to sports photography, including birdwatching and wildlife, without ever having to stop to change lenses. The system also allows for very close macro shots, up to about 3 centimeters from the subject in wide-angle.

In this historical period, camera manufacturers are not exempt from incorporating artificial intelligence into their products. Sony has therefore chosen to introduce in this generation an autofocus system with real-time recognition based on AI. According to reports, the system can identify and track people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains, and airplanes, with an automatic mode that automatically recognizes the category of the subject. Thanks to a dedicated AI processing unit, the camera can track individuals even when the face is not visible, such as when wearing a helmet or when they are facing away, relying on body pose estimation. To activate tracking, simply touch the subject on the screen. Both for videos and photos, there are 575 focus points (phase-detection AF), although there is also a hybrid AF (phase-detection AF and contrast-detection AF).

This intelligence is accompanied by high shooting performance: the burst mode can reach 30 fps without view interruption (blackout free) and with autofocus and exposure calculations up to 60 fps, thus ensuring that you don’t miss the decisive moment even with unpredictable fast-moving subjects. The sensor is a 1-inch CMOS Exmor RS (13.2 x 8.8 mm) of the stacked type with about 20.1 effective megapixels, paired with the BIONZ XR image processor. This combination ensures good performance even in low light and noise reduction at high ISO sensitivities (up to 12800 ISO). On the video front, the camera supports 4K recording up to 120p, with the ability to slow down recordings (slo-mo) by up to 5 times while maintaining 4K resolution. There are also tools designed for those who work in post-production, such as S-Log3 and S-Cinetone profiles and support for up to 16 customizable LUTs to monitor directly during shooting.

The design of the new Sony RX10 V reflects the aesthetics and ergonomics of the professional Alpha series mirrorless cameras. The grip and control layout are designed for intuitive use. The OLED electronic viewfinder has been enlarged and improved in resolution (3.69 million dots), while the 3" rear screen offers higher definition than before.

The NP-FZ100 battery allows for about 630 photos on a single charge, a significant step forward from the previous model. Completing the equipment are dust and moisture resistance, dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, a USB-C port supporting 4K streaming at 30p, and compatibility with the Creators app for remote control and direct content transfer to cloud and smartphones. The total weight with battery and SD card is 1111 grams, while the dimensions are 136.4 x 94.5 x 151.3 mm. The new Sony RX10 V camera is available for pre-order now at a price of 2500 euros on the manufacturer's official website.