Sony introduces large-sensor ‘high-zoom’ Cyber-shot RX10

Sony has announced an addition to its RX-series of premium fixed-lens cameras, the Cyber-shot DSC-RX10. With the same 1″ sensor as the RX100 II, the RX10 offers a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 24-200mm equivalent zoom lens with an F2.8 constant maximum aperture. It uses a Bionz X image processor with offers improvements in resolution, noise reduction, and diffraction reduction. Other features include a tilting 3-inch LCD, OLED electronic viewfinder, Wi-Fi with NFC, and 60p video recording. Sony expects the RX10 to become available for purchase in November with a $1300 MSRP.

Click here to read our RX10 first impressions review.

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• Sony DSC-RX10 first impressions review
• Press Release
• Specifications
• Additional Images

Press Release:

Sony Adds High-Performance Zoom Camera to Acclaimed Cyber-shot® RX Line

New RX10 Model Combines Versatile 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) F2.8 Lens with Legendary RX Series Image Quality

SAN DIEGO, October 15, 2013 – Sony’s new Cyber-shot RX10 camera adds a high-zoom model to its premium line of Cyber-shot RX series cameras.

The new camera features a 1.0-type, 20.2 effective megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor combined with an impressive 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) F2.8 Carl Zeiss® Vario Sonnar T* zoom lens to deliver the ultimate combination of performance and versatility in a high-zoom camera, giving photographers the ability to shoot impressive high-resolution still images and crisp, clear full HD videos with ease. 

This unique pairing of large, high-resolution sensor and premium zoom lens is complemented by an advanced BIONZ™ X processing engine and AF system, ensuring that all content shot with the new RX10 camera – still images and full HD videos alike – is richly detailed, crisp, and continually in focus.

“The innovative new RX10 high-zoom camera is a natural extension to our popular RX family of products, carrying on its legacy of balancing compact size and high-performance imaging in the ultimate package,” said Patrick Huang, director of the Cyber-shot camera business at Sony Electronics. “It’s an unparalleled all-around performer that will leave enthusiasts, hobbyists and even professionals reaching for their DSLRs less and less.”

Sensor and Lens

The new RX10 camera shares the same high-resolution, 1.0-type 20.2 megapixel Exmor ® R CMOS sensor used in Sony’s popular RX100 II compact camera. About 4x the size of a standard compact camera sensor, it excels in producing high quality images in all types of lighting conditions. The BIONZ X processor is about 3x faster in processing speed compared to previous BIONZ predecessors, and reinforces the impressive image quality of the sensor by applying new detail reproduction technology and area-specific noise reduction.  It also utilizes diffraction-reducing technologies, which compensates for the lens diffraction at smaller apertures.   

The fixed Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 24-200mm lens offers superb clarity and resolving power, with a wide F2.8 maximum aperture across the entire zoom range that delivers extra brightness and bolsters low-light capabilities. The wide aperture combined with a seven-bladed iris diaphragm allows for easy creation of professional-looking photos with smooth, defocused backgrounds.

AF System, EVF Viewfinder and LCD

The new Cyber-shot RX10 camera features an extremely speedy and responsive new contrast-detection autofocus system thanks to a new-generation Direct Drive SSM (Super Sonicwave Motor) mechanism that works with the Exmor R CMOS sensor and powerful BIONZ X processor.   

Additionally, the camera has lock-on AF that accurately tracks moving subjects, even if they disappear momentarily from the frame. Users also have a choice of three selectable sizes for the spot AF frame, cutting the risk of accidental focus errors with very small subjects. It also has an upgraded ‘Eye AF’ that ensures crisp portraits focused accurately on the subject’s eyes. 

The new RX10 high-zoom camera can shoot at up to 10 frames per second with continuous autofocus. This capability combined with the advanced AF and versatile 200mm, constant aperture F2.8 lens makes it an outstanding choice for shooting fast action and sports.

The camera also features a high-contrast OLED Tru-Finder™ that provides crisp edge-to-edge visibility and a wide viewing angle of about 33°, as well as a clear, bright 3.0-type White Magic™ LCD tilts up or down for easy framing for even more compositional freedom.

Impressive Full HD Video Shooting

The Cyber-shot RX10 camera has a host of advanced HD video shooting capabilities, including the ability to capture full HD video either 60p (AVCHD progressive) or a cinematic 24p frame rate, with full control over P/A/S/M exposure modes. Additionally, the camera can read and process data from every one of the large sensor’s pixels to create extremely smooth, highly-detailed Full HD videos. It also has a ‘clear’ HDMI® output which allows footage to be reviewed on an external monitor or recorded to a separate storage device.

The RX10 has an audio level meter with adjustable levels to ensure that movies sound as good as they look and there’s a microphone jack and headphone output for accurate level monitoring. Further, the RX10 model is compatible with the XLR-K1M adapter, which takes users into the world of pro-quality sound recording and allows for the addition of an external microphone via a balanced XLR terminal.   

Design and Control

Aesthetically, the new Cyber-shot RX10 features a variety of fully customizable controls and settings that offer DSLR-like flexibility for advanced users. The lens itself has a manual control ring that can be used for zoom or focus control, as well as a dedicated aperture ring that can be set to ‘stepped’ (clicking) or smooth and silent (very useful for movies) when making adjustments.

The camera has six different customizable buttons plus a top-mounted LCD for instant confirmation of exposure and other key settings. The camera has a premium feel thanks to its light, rigid magnesium alloy build, and is also dust- and moisture-resistant for use in outdoor situations.

Wi-Fi and Other Convenient Features

The RX10 model has on-board Wi-Fi for easy connection with any iOS or Android™ smartphone, and features NFC (Near Field Communication) one-touch for simple connection to NFC-enabled Android devices. Consumers can share photos wirelessly on a connected mobile device, HD TV or home networked devices.  Additionally, a connected phone can be used as a smart remote control to fire the camera’s shutter. 

The new camera plays back high-resolution still images directly on a connected 4K television, offering four times the detail of Full HD. It also features support for TRILUMINOS™ Color, delivering an impressive variety of rich, natural colors when content shot with the camera is played back on a compatible BRAVIA™ television with TRILUMINOS Display.

There’s a range of compatible accessories for the RX10 camera including the new LCJ-RXE premium jacket case that protects the camera from dust and knocks. Additionally, the ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone can be attached via the camera’s Multi Interface Shoe™ for crisp dialogue and ambient sounds while shooting HD video, and the HVL-F43M  flash and HVL-LEIR1 Video IR light ideal for capturing subjects and taking creative shots in low light.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony Cyber-shot RX10 high-zoom camera will be available for purchase this November for about $1300. The new camera and all compatible accessories will be available at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.

Please visit www.blog.sony.com for a full video preview of the new Sony RX10 camera and follow #SonyCamera on twitter for the latest α camera news.

Product specifications

Additional images

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10

Comments

This is a neat little camera. Good specs and a nice lens. However, the price is going to turn a lot of the super zoom crowd away.

I just can’t fathom the majority of super zoom users looking at an FZ200 next to this camera and then deciding to spend twice as much on it.

I know what specs count so I can see how this camera might be worth twice as much. The average user will simply see that it has much less than half of the zoom that the other cameras have with twice the price.

They also will see the DSLR and mirrorless cameras right next to this one for about half the price and about the same size or smaller. The average user has no idea what F2.8 even means. Unfortunately, I think this camera will be a flop despite it being an excellent hybrid video/photography tool.

I just hope that the manufactures don’t use this as an example of “What we don’t want” if it doesn’t sell. Eventually the average consumers will get educated about Focal Ratio, Resolution, Pixel size, and ISO.

Now we are talkin’! This camera is aimed directly at me. Directly. My only complaint is the inability to turn the back LCD face-in to protect it. That’s just the way Sony rolls.

DPR, your description is misleading as always.The lens is 8.8-73.3/2.8, as seen from the picture. Those numbers do not appear anywhere in the specifications??? If you say that it is equivalent to 24-200, which is fine, you must say that it is equivalent to f/7.6. F2.8 is nonsense, it is f/2.8, and if you multiply the top by the crop factor, you should multiply the bottom by the same factor, like saying that the lens is 8.8-73.3/2.8, which is what it is, equivalent to 24-200/7.6, which is true.

Just read the comments to see how many people you fooled into thinking that this is a 24-200/2.8 lens.

This is covered here:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/10/16/very-big-and-very-fast-sony-cyber-shot-rx10-first-impressions-review?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=news-list&utm_medium=text&ref=title_0_1

Finally Cybershot gives up an R-1 replacement 🙂 this is an exciting camera!

Carl

Looks great but no Phase Detect AF and the bracketing is limited to 2/3 EV. Come on Sony?

Actually this is what so many have been waiting for for many years: a bridge camera with a larger sensor and a reasonable, not exxagerated zoom lens, and at constant 2.8 at that.
If those same people are willing to pay the high price is another question.
If other enthusiasts are not more likely to invest in a mirrorless system for that price too.

Too expensive, no thankyou

Haha!

Find a 24-200mm f/2.8 Lens in any manufacturer for under 1200 bucks alone, too expensive my ar$%! And it’s got an aperture control ring and its a Zeiss too.

People…

Find a 24-200/2.8 lens from Sony…

Right above your comment.

too bad they didn’t put the GPS in there that can be found in their smaller cameras. For traveling, it’s nice to sometimes tag photos in remote areas.

Impressive, Sony gather all good ideas from others camera and put it in a all-in-one camera. wide-tele constant zoom, quite big sensor, top lcd, direct exposure compensation wheel, mic and headphone jack (very rare in other camera), aperture ring, wifi. All you need is 1300$ 🙂

Wow. I never thought I’d say this, but Sony’s camera section rocks…

Wow, this is a beautiful camera IMO and is that a first, a compact with a top mount LCD just like a full size DSLR?

A very good travel companion for a DSLR, but what’s with the slow min shutter speed of 1/3220 on an f/2.8 lens.

Looks like a fine camera on paper, though one of my pet peeves is the unnecessary pixel count of the RX cameras as 12 megapixels would have given the same amount of detail with reduced noise, better dynamic range and smaller file sizes.

Can’t have it all. That sensor rocks in Raw. I have no problem criticizing Sony at any level, but that sensor is excellent.

Great Super Zoom camera, 1in sensor and Zeiss 24-200 f2.8 are amazing, the 1/3200 max shutter is going to be a real problem without ND filters. What a great box of electronics designed to be a nice format (DSLR like) camera. If it is fast operationally as well, then seems like they have hit a home run with this camera! I am sure a screw on adaptor to give 280 F4 and 400 F5.6 will be available in time. The perfect camera from 24-400?

The lens is NOT 24-200 f2.8.

Perfect traveling camera for me. I didn’t go for the RX100 for it limited zoom and f-number at tele setting. The body looks much more ergonomic than RX100 and this 24-200/2.8 is a perfect traveler/tourist lens. I am ready to pay the price for this outfit.

At last, a bridge camera with a decent EVF!!! 1.44M dots!!! When you’re shooting video of eagles, 200K won’t do it.

Yes, the ASPC sensor would be nice . . . yes an even longer zoom would be nice . . . yes the price is a bit steep . . . YES they are going to sell a TON of these!

Oh yes, a 20-1000 F2.8 constant APS-C bridge the size of a match box. Law of physics ? who cares 🙂 🙂

No they will not at that price dpr microcosm not withstanding. Mom and pops shooters will never pay those prices.

It’s only now I realized why it is isn’t APSC sized sensor. They don’t want to compete with their NEX line.

Bzzt, wrong answer. How big do you think this camera would be with an APS-sized sensor and a 24-200 f/2.8 lens?

I think the minimum sensor size for any camera unit these days, should be APS-C. Smaller sensors are available in mobile devices, and there should be a tangible difference between the two.

True, the 24-200 lens is tangible, but not at that price tag.

Right. Because 1″ and 4/3″ sensors give terrible results (for 99% of users), and who cares about the benefits of their smaller-yet-often-great lenses?

Oh my…they did it…Ive been whining for RX100 sensor in a super-zoom and a fast lens and they did it. I would prefer 300 or 400 mm on the long end but an f2.8 across the range up to 200mm sounds awesome…

Steep price – very steep but I will anxiously await the reviews…wow…I feel like Sony is listening…crazy

Price is a little steep although it is the first to have a 24-200/2.8 Zeiss lens. That alone is worth $600+. In 6 months is drop below $1000.

The lens is actually 8.8-73.3/2.8, equivalent to 24-200/7.1. A crop camera with a 18-200/3.5-5.6 lens does the same job, more or less, less wide (but faster there) but more reach.

Good laaaawwd!! that’s expensive!

Yeap, but it’s a 24-200 f2.8 zeis sonar and top evf and lcd, with a 1″ sensor.

I think 24-600 F2.8 to F5.6 will be alot more interesting…

Overprice… Should have been ASPC sensor or price point under $1000.