Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I love using the RX10, I find it fun to shoot and take stills with and the image that comes out for me is excellent. I really like the 1 inch sensor for video although I wish it had 4:2:2 and a flip out screen.

I have just been in China for 8 days and took the RX10 along and put the camera through every setting I could find for my work flow. Sony have really done well here with this camera for size, functions, quality and price. I'm considering selling all my shoulder cameras and using the RX10 along with a A7S as my kit, period.

While I was in China I used the Active steady shot on everything and this is a great feature to have and works very well, at first I thought the Active steady shot was cropping in on the image with resolution drop but since I'm back home and a few tests later I'm hard pushed to see any difference between Active v Std and Off with resolution drop.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Thank you Simon. I can't get over just how many people love the quality of this camera.

I have an PMW320 and I can see were your coming from regarding selling them for something like these.

Thank you again.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I hate the semi-fixed lcd screen on the rx10 which gets all dirty during a wedding shoot and I already have several small scratches on it, I hate it's ridiculously slow zoom, I hate the 30 minute recording limit but other then that it's a lovely camera :)

All joking aside, the rx10 is the best "bridge" camera that shares some characteristics from a dslr but is almost as easy as a video camera to shoot with.

The only odd things I have encountered is that it gets very unresponsive at times, if I want to go into the menu or press any button on the camera there is a abnormal long delay before something happens. It doesn't last all day, it just occurs from time to time. I also had the lens returning to it's previous position when I restart it, a behavior that is not supposed to happen, this again happened for a while but now doesn't do that anymore.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Thanks Noa, that's good to know.
I suppose you just have to get used to the 30min recording time.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

That recording limit on dslr's I will never get used to but not much that can be done about that.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

...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.

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.

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?

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

yes, it would

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

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

Thanks.

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

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.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

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!

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Thank you Dave.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Here's my wish list:
Internal 4:2:2
Better Gamma curves like (Gamma 4 in the A7s)
Swivel LCD screen
I know it's a 1 inch sensor but better low light performance for video.

I'm thinking of adding the A7s with the Sony10-18mm f/4 OSS Alpha E-mount Wide-Angle Zoom Lens both for low light situations and I need a wide frame.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

While it is what it is, a reviewer of the camera pointed out, last year, that the time limit "could" be due to cooling issues. I forget what he felt about the camera could make it susceptible to overheating but it seemed to make sense when I read it. He was speculating of course.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

The Lcd display, is it not very difficult to see what your recording in bright sunlight?

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Very difficult, you need an LCD hood from Amazon. I can't tell you the details, but measure your screen then find the right size.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

OK Jeff, Thanks.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

The camera has a excellent viewfinder, I never use the lcd screen.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I remember the LCD hood I had was a Belkin. I lost it a few months ago and it took me a minute to think of it.

Noa's right, the viewfinder is great, but if you rely on the LCD screen as I do the RX10 is very difficult to use under sunny conditions. And it does not articulate, which makes it even trickier.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I'm familiar with overheating issues in certain APS-C Sony cameras... I think there is a warning in the manual, but I don't recall seeing ANY reports of an RX10 overheating (or an RX100, which is smaller and would be more likely to have issues dissipating heat), and never run into it myself doing the aforementioned "double tap" on the record on this or other small sensor Sony cams I've worked with.

I'm sure in hot enough conditions you "could" run into overheating, but unlike some Sonys with "known issues", I'd relegate the "review" to speculation without verification...

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

OK, thanks.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I have had the RX10 on for long periods and not had any overheating issues.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Hi Simon, how long was the camera on at any one time?

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

"Thank you, your order has been placed"

Well, just placed an order for the RX10 from Amazon. (no new in stock at the moment but had one in the Amazon Warehouse Deals section, £50 cheaper)
Want to say a big thank you, to you all for your advice and help.
Might need a bit of help with picture profiles :)

Looking forward to receiving it now.

Thank you all again.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I would say the longest was about 2hrs, mind you the camera was stopped during between takes for re-framing etc...

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Thanks Simon. 2hrs, good to know.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I found a great solution for getting time-lapse into the RX10. It's called the "Mudder Wired Timer Remote Shutter Release Control Cable Cord Intervalometer" Or "Shoot"

This unit is so easy to use and requires 2 x batteries. There is no off switch so remember to remove the batteries after use.

Now I can shoot time lapses with the RX10.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Well, I cant get over the quality of the video image I'm getting from the RX10, its unbelievable.
I have never used a DSLR before and am trying to get used to the different settings it provides.

I've read all of the posts (again) in this thread and find it all very informative, thanks to Noa for starting it off.
I'm trying to get used to using full manual but its not easy :) I only have it a few days so a bit of practice needed yet.
I will use it at my weddings but won't do until I get more familiar with settings and buttons.

I got myself extra batteries, led screen protector, two SanDisk 64GB SDXC UHS-I/U3 Cards BTW, so good to go.

Thanks for the help and if you can advice me in some of the setting or presets, please do :)

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

The only thing I dislike is how easily highlights can clip on this camera, it's dynamic range is not that impressive and you need to have your exposure spot on.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Thanks Noa, i"ll watch out for that.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

I continue to be amazed and delighted how good the video quality is I get with the RX10, so much so that I really see little point in 'upgrading' to 4k (for viewing on my 24 inch Dell monitor).

I generally find the vivid mode excellent in situations where the scene is a bit flat with little to no blacks and the landscape mode about right when I want to preserve blacks. I generally employ plus 2 sharpening.

I have no problem with highlight clipping in fact I find I get remarkably good detail in puffy white clouds with ease. I should add that I have no problem with blown highlights here and there, and for that matter I see that happening in commercial films too. Perhaps the dynamic range is also limited by the viewing equipment. Actually I have never had anyone notice and comment on blown highlights when viewing my output and I believe we fuss over this dynamic range thing overly much. I would go so far as to say that some footage I have viewed where the editor has gone out of his/her way to preserve dynamic range looks unnatural, a bit flat and lifeless.

In my experience the RX10 is a great video camera and it delivers excellent photographs too. A little more reach would be nice.

Re: Sony RX10 user experience thread
 

Thanks John.