Sony RX10 user experience thread

Dave Blackhurst · May 1st, 2015, 02:18 PM

If you poke around the web, you'll find a lot of still shooters that found the RX10 is a handy camera and ends up getting more use than their "big" SLR kit... the "fun" factor is also a component of why people like to shoot this camera, it actually is "fun" as well as producing good output.

As Noa notes, get a screen protector for a couple extra $$ (I picked up Sony ones on ebay for around $10!), the Sony LCD's seem to attract "scratchies" and the screen protector is better than replacing the LCD... which as also noted, would benefit from being fully articulated, and better aligned so it doesn't conflict with the tripod screw mount... minor niggles, but...

Once you've made a mental note of the 30 minute limit, it's not really that big a deal.

Random oddities seem to crop up in electronics, usually an on/off cycle and or a battery removal to clear the cobwebs does the trick - I've had strangeness with other Sonys, and those do the trick.

The slow zoom could likely be "fixed" in firmware - I believe it was done to prevent motor noise while recording, a common complaint when zoom motor noise gets too loud with too much speed... I don't expect a "fix", though variable zoom would seem like a nifty feature. Personally, I'd rather see 4K in new firmware... but one can pair the RX10 with an AX100 for a potent multicam package that fits in a small bag if you want 4K.

Anthony McErlean · May 1st, 2015, 03:15 PM

Dave, thank you as well, just to say thanks to you all for your advice, it really is very helpful.

Simon Denny · May 1st, 2015, 04:21 PM

One thing I noticed was having the camera set up before shooting begins, by this I mean having video and picture settings set as having to adjust settings on the go is a bit slow at times and the shot could go by.

I have the dial Memory1 set for stills & Memory 2 set for semi auto video and the video dial set for manual video.

This way I'm set for most situations as there are so many functions on this camera to choose from.
My video picture profile is neutral -3:-1:0 and also I use multi metering most of the time. Changing metering on the RX10 can result in very different images so I would recommend playing around with these.

Also I have the Exposure Comp Dial set to -0.3 which seems to help a bit with reducing whites blowing out.

Anthony McErlean · May 1st, 2015, 04:47 PM

Thank you Simon for sharing your PP setting.
It will become more clear to me once I buy the RX10.
I just intend to use it for video only at my weddings btw.

David Dixon · May 2nd, 2015, 12:53 PM

Looking for a hybrid video/stills camera that can also serve at times as a B cam to my Sony X70. My focus is 75% video/25% stills.

Does the RX10 allow the following WHILE SHOOTING in ALL video modes, even in 120fps and when using Active Stabilization?

auto and manual focus changes
auto and manual exposure adjustments
zooming
audio recording

Some cameras lock exposure or zoom setting at the start of a clip and some don't record audio in 120fps, etc. These are all deal-breakers for me.

Thanks in advance!

Simon Denny · May 2nd, 2015, 03:17 PM

Hi David,
Here are the answers to your questions.

auto and manual focus changes: YES
auto and manual exposure adjustments: YES
zooming: YES
audio recording: YES, internal mic or using an external mic

When one sets up the RX10 using auto or manual it's a click of a button or switch.

David Dixon · May 2nd, 2015, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Denny

Hi David,
Here are the answers to your questions.

auto and manual focus changes: YES
auto and manual exposure adjustments: YES
zooming: YES
audio recording: YES, internal mic or using an external mic

...and it can make all these changes on the fly while shooting video, and it does record audio even in 720p120 mode? Great!

Early posts seemed focused on the slow zooming - I don't see that as a big problem, but has that changed in recent months with firmware updates?

Thanks for the info. It's pretty amazing that even 1 1/2 years after its introduction the RX10 is in many ways still the best long zoom camera of this type.

Simon Denny · May 3rd, 2015, 03:43 AM

As I mentioned in an earlier post, one can set up the camera to cover most shooting situations

Can make all these changes on the fly while shooting video: YES
Does record audio even in 720p120 mode: Im in PAL land so 100/50P and YES audio is recorded.

Firmware is at 2.00 so no new updates on the slow zooming. It's slow which I find useful at times although I don't generally zoom in during at take.

Anthony McErlean · May 3rd, 2015, 04:00 AM

How does this 30min recording limit work?
Say it was recording continuous for 27mins, and I got a chance to stop recording before it stopped itself, would that reset it...and good to go for another 30mins?

Noa Put · May 3rd, 2015, 04:10 AM

yes, it would

Anthony McErlean · May 3rd, 2015, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noa Put

yes, it would

Thanks Noa, well, that's something. so it doesn't need to switch off.

Thanks.

David Dixon · May 3rd, 2015, 02:52 PM

Thanks for the info - ordered mine today. If interested, B&H just started a new bundle on the RX10. It's still the standard $998 US but tosses in an extra Sony OEM battery (normally $50) and Sony charger ($39) for free.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009156-REG/sony_dscrx10_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx10_digital_camera.html

Dave Blackhurst · May 3rd, 2015, 03:55 PM

The 30 minute recording is a clip length limitation... just find a convenient place to "double tap" record before the 1st 30 is up, and you've got another 30 to go...

It's a rather silly limitation, supposedly a left over from "another era" tax laws when still and video cameras were two entirely different animals... really should be eliminated, but it's easy enough to work around in practice.

Dave Blackhurst · May 3rd, 2015, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Dixon

...and it can make all these changes on the fly while shooting video, and it does record audio even in 720p120 mode? Great!

Early posts seemed focused on the slow zooming - I don't see that as a big problem, but has that changed in recent months with firmware updates?

Thanks for the info. It's pretty amazing that even 1 1/2 years after its introduction the RX10 is in many ways still the best long zoom camera of this type.

I heard that when this camera was presented to one of the senior Sony execs by the developing engineers, he got a tear in his eye... it really is rather special as cameras go. Perfect, no, but close enough, and most importantly makes it fun to shoot again!

There have been rumours of an "RX20", but I think a firmware update for the existing base and a "re-issue" as a RX10Mark2 with 4K would do just fine!

Anthony McErlean · May 3rd, 2015, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Blackhurst

The 30 minute recording is a clip length limitation... just find a convenient place to "double tap" record before the 1st 30 is up, and you've got another 30 to go...

Thank you Dave.

May 1st, 2015, 02:18 PM	#166
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread If you poke around the web, you'll find a lot of still shooters that found the RX10 is a handy camera and ends up getting more use than their "big" SLR kit... the "fun" factor is also a component of why people like to shoot this camera, it actually is "fun" as well as producing good output. As Noa notes, get a screen protector for a couple extra $$ (I picked up Sony ones on ebay for around $10!), the Sony LCD's seem to attract "scratchies" and the screen protector is better than replacing the LCD... which as also noted, would benefit from being fully articulated, and better aligned so it doesn't conflict with the tripod screw mount... minor niggles, but... Once you've made a mental note of the 30 minute limit, it's not really that big a deal. Random oddities seem to crop up in electronics, usually an on/off cycle and or a battery removal to clear the cobwebs does the trick - I've had strangeness with other Sonys, and those do the trick. The slow zoom could likely be "fixed" in firmware - I believe it was done to prevent motor noise while recording, a common complaint when zoom motor noise gets too loud with too much speed... I don't expect a "fix", though variable zoom would seem like a nifty feature. Personally, I'd rather see 4K in new firmware... but one can pair the RX10 with an AX100 for a potent multicam package that fits in a small bag if you want 4K.

May 1st, 2015, 03:15 PM	#167
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread Dave, thank you as well, just to say thanks to you all for your advice, it really is very helpful.

May 1st, 2015, 04:21 PM	#168
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread One thing I noticed was having the camera set up before shooting begins, by this I mean having video and picture settings set as having to adjust settings on the go is a bit slow at times and the shot could go by. I have the dial Memory1 set for stills & Memory 2 set for semi auto video and the video dial set for manual video. This way I'm set for most situations as there are so many functions on this camera to choose from. My video picture profile is neutral -3:-1:0 and also I use multi metering most of the time. Changing metering on the RX10 can result in very different images so I would recommend playing around with these. Also I have the Exposure Comp Dial set to -0.3 which seems to help a bit with reducing whites blowing out.

May 1st, 2015, 04:47 PM	#169
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread Thank you Simon for sharing your PP setting. It will become more clear to me once I buy the RX10. I just intend to use it for video only at my weddings btw.

May 2nd, 2015, 12:53 PM	#170
David Dixon Major Player Join Date: May 2011 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 495	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread Looking for a hybrid video/stills camera that can also serve at times as a B cam to my Sony X70. My focus is 75% video/25% stills. Does the RX10 allow the following WHILE SHOOTING in ALL video modes, even in 120fps and when using Active Stabilization? auto and manual focus changes auto and manual exposure adjustments zooming audio recording Some cameras lock exposure or zoom setting at the start of a clip and some don't record audio in 120fps, etc. These are all deal-breakers for me. Thanks in advance!

May 2nd, 2015, 03:17 PM	#171
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread Hi David, Here are the answers to your questions. auto and manual focus changes: YES auto and manual exposure adjustments: YES zooming: YES audio recording: YES, internal mic or using an external mic When one sets up the RX10 using auto or manual it's a click of a button or switch.

May 3rd, 2015, 03:43 AM	#173
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread As I mentioned in an earlier post, one can set up the camera to cover most shooting situations Can make all these changes on the fly while shooting video: YES Does record audio even in 720p120 mode: Im in PAL land so 100/50P and YES audio is recorded. Firmware is at 2.00 so no new updates on the slow zooming. It's slow which I find useful at times although I don't generally zoom in during at take.

May 3rd, 2015, 04:00 AM	#174
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread How does this 30min recording limit work? Say it was recording continuous for 27mins, and I got a chance to stop recording before it stopped itself, would that reset it...and good to go for another 30mins?

May 3rd, 2015, 04:10 AM	#175
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread yes, it would

May 3rd, 2015, 02:52 PM	#177
David Dixon Major Player Join Date: May 2011 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 495	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread Thanks for the info - ordered mine today. If interested, B&H just started a new bundle on the RX10. It's still the standard $998 US but tosses in an extra Sony OEM battery (normally $50) and Sony charger ($39) for free. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009156-REG/sony_dscrx10_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx10_digital_camera.html

May 3rd, 2015, 03:55 PM	#178
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread The 30 minute recording is a clip length limitation... just find a convenient place to "double tap" record before the 1st 30 is up, and you've got another 30 to go... It's a rather silly limitation, supposedly a left over from "another era" tax laws when still and video cameras were two entirely different animals... really should be eliminated, but it's easy enough to work around in practice.