The SONY RX100 IV is a professional’s camera or a professional pocket camera. Just like many photographers, I am concerned with quality and manual control capabilities on any camera I use (except maybe on instant cameras, but that’s a different story). It’s enough to look at current market trends where more and more cameras offer manual, analog control over most important functions, trying to get back to the roots of photography…but I’m veering off the topic a bit. As I am a working photographer, there are always some DSLRs lying around, but it’s not necessarily something I would always be willing to carry with me when I go for a walk with my son, go for milk in the morning, or walk the dog. The RX100 IV, on the other hand, is so light and small that I simply put it in my pocket, or over my neck/shoulder whenever I leave home. I know that many of you will think about the camera phone and that it is a camera that already accompanies me wherever I go, that’s true, but in fairness, however good camera phones are, they don’t allow for a fraction of control that the RX100 IV gives, not mentioning access to RAW files. Another thing is that I like the freedom of NOT having the phone with me. As far as quality goes, I’m even happy to trust the RX100 IV with certain professional assignments, especially when they are destined to be used online. With a small camera like this one you can be more opportunistic, and grab a worthy image without a DSLR around.
Above images were used in the overview video of 24-7 bags collection (you can check it out here). Both are a bit opportunistic photographs and both were created when “out and about,” doing something else other than photography. Top image was shot at 1/5 of a second, f11, ISO 80 and widest angle available to get enough interesting features in the background. I exposed it for the sky not to lose any details in highlights and then brought back details in the shadows in Lightroom. Photograph was shot hand held which is another testament to the RX100 IV’s SteadyShot capabilities. Bottom photograph was shot at 1/3 of a second, f8, ISO200, again at widest angle and handheld while cycling. (I would love to see footage of me cycling up and down the street trying to get good exposure.) In this instance, I also fired flash to freeze the bag while moving to get a bit of tunnel vision.
In the images below, it was too dark to shoot handheld so I was shooting from a “tripod.” I put it in quotes as it really is a “stand” that was made with – wait for it – camera phones in mind. The Joby GripTight Stand, along with Attachment Grip AG-R2, screen protector and a few spare batteries was the best addition to my RX100 IV. Now I always have tripod at hand.
Some might call it table top but it is so handy in many more situations.
Settings in photo below: 5s, f8, ISO200, “tripod” standing on the railing of a walking bridge.
Let’s come back to a few more “work” photos which you can see below this paragraph. Seeing some colorful graffiti on an open parking lot, I placed headphones on a booth of a parked car and simply waited for someone in the opposite row to drive away and light both the wall with graffiti and the headphones (2s, f2.0, ISO400). Second shot (also parking lot, this time multi-story) was exposed for 30 seconds which allowed me to highlight headphones with LED light of my camera phone and get some movement in the background (30s, f11, ISO80).
On the other side of the photographic spectrum the RX100 IV is a camera that becomes part of the family. If you have been reading my articles about this camera, you probably noticed that I sneak in a photograph with my son into each part – and this time is no different. Whenever we have a stroll, the RX100 IV is with me. Another fantastic thing about it is that I don’t have to remember to turn on silent mode like I do on my phone, unless I want the ninja-like, hush-hush electronic shutter. The photographs produced are good enough quality to print in a quite large size. I printed them in A2 and they look rather cool.
That’s all from me this time, next time the highly anticipated, at least by me, video…1000fps, 4K. I’m already excited!
All accompanying photographs were taken by Marcin Lewandowski using the Sony RX100 MK IV (except two shots of the RX100 IV itself) and slightly seasoned to taste in Lightroom…
If you would like to see more of my work, please have a look at my website, soundofphotography.com, and if you want me to look at some features and capabilities of the RX100 IV in particular, please just mention it in the comments.
