Sections
- Page 1 Sony RX10 Review
- Page 2 Design and Performance Review
- Page 3 Image Quality and Verdict Review
Sony RX10: Image Quality
With the RX10 featuring the very same sensor as that found in the impressive RX100 II, it should come as no surprise that the camera is capable of producing some impressive shots.
The 20.2MP resolution, combined with the 1-inch physical size of the sensor, mean that the RX10 resolves an impressive amount of detail. At the base ISO settings the amount of detail resolved is up there with a DSLR, and even as the ISO increases the level of detail resolved continues to impress.
The same is true when it comes to how the RX10 handles noise at the higher ISO settings. You can safely shoot up to ISO 800 with very little evidence of noise, and even at ISO 1,600 noise isn’t really a major issue.
Noise does become more prominent at ISO 3,200, and although noise reduction does hide its general appearance heavy luminance noise reduction results in image softening. However, this is less of an issue if you’re happy to shoot Raw, and when shooting Raw you can confidently shoot up to ISO 12,800.
It’s also worth noting that Raw files allow for more post production work in terms of exposure and highlight detail that is otherwise restricted in JPEG files. Also the RX10 does a good job of processing JPEG files, the dynamic range is certainly more restricted than in Raw files and as a result it’s best to shoot the latter.
The RX10 also impresses with its colours, delivering images with a pleasing tone and that are well saturated. The automatic white balance is also reliable, managing to cope admirably with a host of different lighting situations.
Should I buy the Sony RX10?
There’s no escaping the fact that the RX10 is an expensive bridge camera. With a price tag currently just shy of £1000, it’s a camera that’s at least £500 more expensive than its nearest bridge camera competitor, and as expensive as some impressive DSLR and lens combinations.
However, there’s no denying the fact that it’s an impressive camera. If you were looking to buy a similarly specified camera including a 24-200mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss lens as separate items the price begins to look a bit more reasonable.
As a standalone package, the RX10 is a seriously impressive bit of kit that goes a long way to justifying the price tag. And once it comes down in price a little, it could become a real gem of a camera.
Verdict
Despite its high price tag the RX10 delivers on almost all fronts with great build quality, impressive images and a solid performance all forming a complete package. If you’re happy to part with the cash you’ll be rewarded with one of the best bridge cameras on the market.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Value 6
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Design 9
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Features 9
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Image Quality 9
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Performance 7
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
