RX10, mk111 versus mk1V? (2 Viewers)

[Hotglove]

Hi all
I am interested in a long-term bridge camera, after much research I bought 2 cheap used cameras, a mint RX10 mk1 and a good H400. So far I like the RX10 in pretty well every department except the 8X zoom, the H400 has a 65X zoom, but is inferior (imho) to the RX in every other way.
The 2 cameras, with a few extras (spare batteries, charger, cases) only cost a total of £200 and I have been offered a trade in for more than that for the RX alone, so, effectively, I can evaluate them for free.
So far, I am leaning towards a more recent RX10 with 25X zoom, so that means a mk111 or 1V,
There is a big gap in price between them for a good used example and the mk1V is much more expensive than my original target budget of £400-£500.
All advice or observations, including thoughts on other brands of bridge camera are most welcome.

 

[MalR]

I have owned the RX10 IV for a couple of years and find it to be an excellent camera overall. I never owned the Mark III, but as I understand it, it's more or less identical to the Mark IV apart from having a much inferior auto-focus system. If you can live with that, it's probably better value. However, the Mark IV's auto-focus is excellent, even allowing for birds in flight, which is not usually a strong point for bridge cameras.

Of course, it doesn't have the reach of models with a smaller sensor, and it's heavier, bulkier and much more expensive than those cameras. Only you can decide which factors are most important to you.

A few years ago I had a Canon SX50, which trumped the Sony when it came to weight, size, price and reach. But, in my opinion, the Sony is a vastly superior camera. Of course, with its hefty price tag, it should be.

Malcolm

 

[BirderNL]

I'd go for the Sony RX10 M4. Using it for quite a while now and it's excellent.

 

[KenM]

Another for the RX10 IV…wouldn’t leave home without it! 👍

 

[Hotglove]

I have owned the RX10 IV for a couple of years and find it to be an excellent camera overall. I never owned the Mark III, but as I understand it, it's more or less identical to the Mark IV apart from having a much inferior auto-focus system. If you can live with that, it's probably better value. However, the Mark IV's auto-focus is excellent, even allowing for birds in flight, which is not usually a strong point for bridge cameras.

Of course, it doesn't have the reach of models with a smaller sensor, and it's heavier, bulkier and much more expensive than those cameras. Only you can decide which factors are most important to you.

A few years ago I had a Canon SX50, which trumped the Sony when it came to weight, size, price and reach. But, in my opinion, the Sony is a vastly superior camera. Of course, with its hefty price tag, it should be.

Malcolm

Thank you for broadening my perspective.
For 10 years I used a Canon Ixus 220 HS in a waterproof housing for SCUBA photos and videos. The Ixus produced amazing results for a tiny pocket camera, but 2 years ago I changed to an Olympus TG6.
One of the main reasons for the change was the slow autofocus of the Canon when shooting video, there is a reef that I often visit where the colours of the coral, in the morning light, are stunning, but I was never able to shoot a panning sequence with no blur. I tried really hard to shoot as if I was a steadicam, in fact, I used to think of a line from a Clint Eastwood Western where the hero is told to remove his pistols from their holsters, “Real slow, like molasses in the winter” so there was I, hovering in the most still manner that I could, like a sort of “Ultra slow motion Tai Chi” and STILL never managed a perfect sweep across the rich coloured corals.
Sorry for the long winded reply, but I am now very intrigued as to the autofocus performance in video with the Mk 1V.

 

[Rmwdn]

Hi all
I am interested in a long-term bridge camera, after much research I bought 2 cheap used cameras, a mint RX10 mk1 and a good H400. So far I like the RX10 in pretty well every department except the 8X zoom, the H400 has a 65X zoom, but is inferior (imho) to the RX in every other way.
The 2 cameras, with a few extras (spare batteries, charger, cases) only cost a total of £200 and I have been offered a trade in for more than that for the RX alone, so, effectively, I can evaluate them for free.
So far, I am leaning towards a more recent RX10 with 25X zoom, so that means a mk111 or 1V,
There is a big gap in price between them for a good used example and the mk1V is much more expensive than my original target budget of £400-£500.
All advice or observations, including thoughts on other brands of bridge camera are most welcome.

The mark 4 does birds in flight and fast action very well indeed. The mark 3 doesn’t but is otherwise identical IQ wise. I had the 3 but got the 4 in lockdown. Perfect camera for everything.

 

[MalR]

I wouldn't recommend the RX10 IV for its auto-focus capabilities in video. I always use manual focus and just use a higher f-stop to ensure decent depth of field, which avoids having to refocus too much. Equally, handholding the camera is not going to give you perfectly smooth video (at least, it doesn't in my hands!). However, I don't shoot much video, so others may be better qualified to comment.

The video quality is decent (the camera has an excellent Zeiss lens). You can do 4K and various slow motion modes at lesser resolution.

Malcolm

 

[Hotglove]

Thanks for all the helpful input, I now have an RX10 Mk1V and have sold the Mk1 and H400 that were so helpful in learning a bit about bridge cameras (even made a modest profit on the 2 cameras, and found a mint Mk1V with extras at an excellent price)
All in all a very satisfactory experience.
Thanks again.

 

[MalR]

Congratulations. I think you made the right choice. The RX10 IV is an excellent all-round camera. Good luck, and have fun.

Malcolm

 

[Ignatius]

Another for the RX10 IV…wouldn’t leave home without it! 👍

I wouldn't buy a camera that produces 57% rejects. But apparently folks think this camera is great, so my mileage varies.