When I see something special that I want to immortalize (and possibly share), I point and shoot. So, in a way, the idea of a “point-and-shoot” camera is the perfect tool to help me express this passion.
According to Wikipedia, a “point-and-shoot,” also called a “compact camera,” “is a still camera designed primarily for simple operation,” and it is “popular with people who do not consider themselves photographers.” The RX100 MK IV not only fulfill that definition but brings much more to the table because , unlike other point and shoots, the RX100 isdefinitely geared towards advanced photographers as well.
The RX100 MIV has a quick and accurate autofocus with face and smile detection. However, what is of much more value to me is that the RX100 also offers manual focus override, called DMF (Direct Manual Focus), with magnification of the area around chosen focus point for a chosen period of time. This is one of focusing modes available along with single shot AF-S, continuous AF-C, and fully manual operation by way of the ring around the lens. These functions are expanded by a choice of area options, including flexible spot and lock-on (following) focus.
Fishing for some tasty bits in the RX100’s menus, we find on the very first page something that I really like having access to: aspect ratio choice. What is really cool about this function on the RX100 is that it doesn’t crop and discard image outside of your chosen aspect ratio but only “covers” it in metadata and you have the whole image ready to use in post – just reset crop.
Bracketing option is available even with self-timer which makes it handy when we don’t have a remote trigger at hand and want to capture HDR level of dynamic range for later tweaking. This reminds me – if you have a smartphone, just install “Smart Remote Control” app on the camera for the option to control the RX100 shutter from your smartphone, as well as a plethora of other features. As the RX100 comes with a handy pop-up flash, we can set its mode and compensation.
Another very neat option is the addition of three stops ND filter to slow down exposure during the day.
I shoot almost exclusively RAW and do all and any of my post-production in Lightroom. The RX100 produces very capable files in terms of dynamic range (nearly 13 stops) and detail recovery. However, if you shoot jpg and want to apply some changes in camera, the RX100 offers a whole lot of functionality under Creative Style. Photographers have a choice between vivid, B+W, landscape, portrait, etc., and styles can be tweaked further in areas like contrast, saturation, and sharpness – which can then be saved as custom, unique effects. There is even an option for skin softening. To summarize, beautiful and “already developed” images are available “straight off the camera”. I think that also sums up the whole point-and-shoot idea pretty well.
Equally worthy of praise is the RX100’s SteadyShot, aka image stabilization, capabilities. The camera is great at speeds of half a second and slower with very reliable results, especially when we take few extra frames, just to be sure.
I’m not going into details on all of the options but a few “feel good” self- explanatory settings are also available. Just to mention a few: zoom speed, focus assist, grid lines, auto review, pre-AF, optional silent electronic shutter, and finally function menu settings and custom key settings.
Fully customizable function menu is also available from the dedicated button next to the LCD at the back of the RX100 and allows users to set 12 camera shortcuts to be summoned with the press of a button. This is amazing, especially for intuitive and individual workflow – especially for less obvious and more obscure options like Picture Profiles, Frame Rate for “slo-mo”, ND filter, aspect ratio or bracketing order. Last but not least, my absolute favorite: custom key settings where we can reprogram most buttons at the back to suit our needs. For example, my “flash on/off” button changes ISO, self-release timer sets my Focus Mode and C button deactivates LCD monitor. You can make them almost whatever you want. This adds to RX100’s unique versatility and allows you to tune it to your individual needs.
A function available straight from the box is access to several applications. I was able to add time lapse and double exposure in no time to the list of this camera’s capabilities, and there are even more apps to get.
As we can see the Sony RX100 MKIV has created a category for itself. Even though it’s an extremely potent “point-and-shoot,” it goes well beyond that, being a tool that slowly begins to rewritehow photographs can be taken.
* All accompanying photographs were taken by Marcin Lewandowski using Sony RX100 MK IV 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 to check out some of the overviews I did for Adorama, have a look around at Adorama TV channel on YouTube.
Keep looking, keep shooting.
