The RX10 Mk 4 is an excellent bridge camera and could be the best all around camera ever.
I bought the Panasonic FZ2500 a couple of weeks ago and, also, the RX10IV Sony. I got tired of reading reviews of which one was best and decided to compare them side by side. IMHO the Panasonic is a far out camera. It has more function buttons than you can shake a stick at. It has all the buttons and great thought out planning. I think the word is the ergonomics of the camera is great other than they should have placed the battery a little farther over from the tripod insert. The weight is just superb compared to the RX10IV and I do not care if it has less magnesium aluminum than the RX10IV! Now lets talk about things that makes me a little angry, yes, the Panasonic FZ2500 has time lapse and 3 { I made a mistake I think there are 6 adjustments} adjustments for built in nd filters. TheRX10 series once did and now does not. I get the feeling that Panasonic says, "Here let me try to serve you with the best possible bridge camera that I can build," and Sony says, " Well, I am going to take away your filters and your time lapse, but if you are lucky and one more bridge camera later, I will offer it to you if you got more jingle in your pocket."
I have bought Alexander White's book and on p. 88 he talks about using the DRO ( Dynamic Range Optimizer) on the RZ10IV. It can take the place of the dn filters and uses the contrast of 3 or more pictures and stack them together, thus evens out the bright and dark spots of the photograph. it is called HDR (High Dynamic Range) and solves some of the problems that a neutral density filter would do on photos, but I do not think it works for the video part of the camera, not yet sure about that. The book also tells about 3 or 4 remotes that can be purchased and discusses the Vello Shutterboss III wireless remote that does the most things. You can set up a series of indefinite series of shots. You can set up intervals between shots for 100 hrs less one second for intervals for time-lapse photos. If you decide to get this you must specify the model for the Sony Multi terminal.
I heard that Sony Enterprise was very much hurt by the earthquake a few years back and it was very important for the RX10IV to do well. I have the feeling that the withdrawal of certain accessories on the RX10 series had a lot to do with it. They had to make a quality product but there were also a profit margin that had to be achieved to lift Sony out of the belly of the red. Just guessing. I hope for its great success for many years to come. What a great camera, but it is to bad they had to take some accessories off it.
I bit the bullet and bought the RX10IV or Mark four and sent the Panasonic back. How many reviewers, other than professionals have actually written in that they have tried both cameras side by side? I have! The lens and the processor of the Mark 4 takes the prize, and it is just unbelievable.
Sony has made improvements on the menu, even though the camera is heavier than the FZ2500, it is water and dust resistant. The Panasonic is not. This camera's Zeiss lens is so very good! I am 74 years old and I feel this camera could very well be the last camera that I will buy. However, if the Panasonic FZ2500 had this same lens I would have bought the Panasonic. I have been buying Panasonic bridge cameras for a while and I own the FZ200 and FZ1000, both are very good cameras. I must have got one of the better Panasonic FZ2500's because this one had a very good lens. The only reason, for me buying the FZ2500 would be for its outstanding video capabilities. As it is, I can take my ultra high definition videos on my FZ1000 and convert them to 8 megapixel stills, If I so desire, another thing that the Sony cannot do.
In the old days when Sears Mail Order was king and in their catalogs they would feature three similar products, one being good, the next one being better, and the next being best. I would classify the FZ2500 Panasonic as being very, very good, and the Sony RX10IV being the best.
My final word is, Sony has read me perfectly, It was worth the extra money for me to buy RX10IV, because of its superb lens.
January 8, 2018: Now that I have had this camera for around 3 months I have to admit it is the best camera that I have ever wrapped my hands around and I have a closet full of Canons and Minolta Cameras along with a bag full of lens. I am an Amateur but this is one sweet camera! With the Zeiss lens, I think it is the best all around camera in the world.
Happy picture taking!
Rick
I think everyone that has never seen the RX10IV at its best should turn to U-tube and pullup :
Sony RX10IV 4k Sample Video All-real World & Lab Testing Footage by Jay Sony Apha Lab.
He takes a 4K video with his RX10 camera. It has zoom shots of geese on a lake.These zoom shots are spectacular. These zooms do not stop at 600mm, but just like the energizer bunny just keeps on going and going, right on up to 100x. I watched those videos and wept I was so jealous. IMHO videos such as these will eventually be the demise of the ILC.
Up date 03-07-2019 Final note: Sony has a problem organizing their cameras. They do not do as well as the Canon cameras. I am trying to say the right words to express what I am trying to say. There should be an easier way of scrolling through their different subject matter of programs to make it easier to find out what the camera does. Again, Alexander White's book is a God sent book for the RX10Mk4. It is a complicated camera and once you figure the system out, it will do about anything that camera's do with in reason and then some. It is a wonder camera but it is complicated and Sony has always had trouble making their cameras less complicated and simpler to use.
Bottom line the Sony RX10MK4 camera has an one inch sensor that slows the camera down a little in low-light situations.
I love this camera but it is easy to forget what you have learned with this camera that has so many complicated things to learn, being a 75 year old man that I am.
Rick
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