Sony RX10 IV vs Sony TX1: A Tale of Two Cyber-shot Spirits in Different Eras

When it comes to Sony Cyber-shot cameras, a quick glance might make one wonder how the brand managed to appeal to such wildly different users - from casual pocket shooters to intense all-in-one superzoom fans. On one hand, we have the Sony RX10 IV, a beastly large-sensor superzoom bridge camera announced in 2017, boasting cutting-edge tech and a hefty price tag; on the other, the petite and playful Sony TX1, an ultra-compact from 2009 designed for convenience and spontaneity.

At first blush, these two couldn't be more different, separated by almost a decade of tech leaps and contrasting target users. But what if you're a discerning photographer curious about their practical differences and how each stands up today? I've spent countless hours testing both to uncover their story - their strengths, flaws, and which kind of photographer would find their match here.

So, buckle up for a deep dive that stretches across genres, tech specs, and real-world shooting scenarios, sprinkled with personal insights that only come from years behind the lens.

Getting Physical: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Let's start where you’d physically interact with the camera - the body and design. The RX10 IV is a substantial SLR-like bridge camera, while the TX1 fits neatly in the palm of your hand. To put it visually:

At 133x94x145 mm and weighing around 1095 g, the RX10 IV announces itself with presence - solid weather sealing (a rarity on bridge cams!), a robust metal body, and a deep grip that doesn't leave you cramping after a handful of shots. This isn’t a casual stroll camera; it’s a serious piece of kit for heavy users willing to lug a bit more for versatility. The RX10 IV's physical heft aligns with complex internals - stabilization systems, a large 1" sensor, and a monster zoom.

The TX1, by contrast, is tiny (94x58x17 mm, 142 g) and clearly built for stealth and pocketability. It’s a classic ultra-compact, slim, and designed to be almost invisible on the street or party. The moments it trades in for handheld comfort and minimalism are obvious - plastic body, minimal weather resistance, and smaller controls. It’s the quintessential “grab-and-go” camera, perfect for those spontaneous snapshots where carrying a bag would be a bother.

Ergonomically, the RX10 IV sports a wide array of physical controls and dials that allow for quick adjustments on the fly - a godsend when manual tweaking is essential. The TX1’s controls are pared back to the basics, with minimal customization options. What you lose in control you gain in portability.

The User Interface Showdown: Screen and Viewfinder

What’s a camera without a window to your creation? Let’s check out how the RX10 IV and TX1 stack up in letting you frame and review your shots.

Starting with the RX10 IV, it features a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1,440k dots resolution - crisp and reasonably bright for outdoor use. The tilting mechanism is a major boon for shooting at awkward angles, from low to high, and the touchscreen supports AF point selection, which modern photographers have come to expect.

The TX1, meanwhile, offers a fixed 3-inch screen but with a modest 230k dot resolution - noticeably less sharp and bright, especially under sunlight. There’s touchscreen functionality, but frankly, this feels limited and somewhat dated by today’s standards. The lack of any viewfinder means you’re wholly reliant on this LCD, which can hinder experience in bright ambient conditions.

For those who cherish eye-level composition, the RX10 IV includes a high-res electronic viewfinder (EVF) at 2,359k dots with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification. That’s a big plus for precision framing and stable handheld shooting. The TX1 has no viewfinder - understandably, given its form factor.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Sensors are the playground where most quality battles are fought, and here the contrast is massive, not just in size but capability.

The RX10 IV wields a 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 13.2 x 8.8 mm with a resolution of 20 megapixels (5472x3648 pixels). The sensor is part of what makes the RX10 IV a standout: larger than typical compact sensors, offering better dynamic range, high ISO performance, and finer detail. It supports RAW shooting for maximum post-processing flexibility, and its base ISO starts at 125, with a maximum native ISO of 12,800 and extendable up to 25,600.

The TX1 features a much smaller 1/2.4-inch sensor (6.1x4.6 mm) with just 10 megapixels (3648x2736 pixels), lacking RAW support and featuring a top ISO of 3200. The smaller sensor size means more noise in low light, less dynamic range, and generally softer images with less depth.

In practical terms, the RX10 IV consistently produces images with richer, more nuanced colors, better retention of highlight and shadow detail, and superior skin tone rendering, which is crucial for portraiture. The TX1 is decent in bright daytime shooting but struggles as light dims - noise quickly creeps in.

Lens and Zoom: Unmatched Reach vs. Pocket Convenience

If you’re jazzed about focal length options, this is where the cameras diverge even more dramatically.

The RX10 IV sports an impressive 24-600 mm (25x) equivalent zoom lens with a brightish aperture range of f/2.4 to f/4.0 - this is essentially a zoom monster, covering wide-angle to extreme telephoto territory without swapping lenses. Optically stabilized and packed with 24 elements in 18 groups, it’s engineered to deliver sharp images even at full zoom, often a weak point for superzooms.

The TX1’s lens is a 35-140 mm (4x) equivalent with an aperture of f/3.5-f/4.6, modest but adequate for everyday snapshots. Prime for casual street and travel photography, it emphasizes compact design over reach. The macro focus distance is wider on the RX10 IV (3 cm vs. 8 cm), giving it a stronger macro convenience edge.

The RX10 IV's zoom thus opens immense creative flexibility - from sweeping landscapes to distant wildlife shots - without lens swaps. The TX1, though limited, excels at capturing candid street scenes and travel snapshots without bulk.

Autofocus Performance: Tracking, Face, and Eye Detection

Autofocus (AF) systems can make or break a camera’s ability to capture decisive moments, especially in fast-paced shooting.

The RX10 IV features a hybrid AF system with 315 phase-detection points covering a broad area of the frame, complemented by contrast-detection AF. Crucially, it has eye-detection and animal eye AF, which help lock focus with amazing precision on living subjects - a godsend for portrait, wildlife, and sports photography. Continuous AF (AF-C), tracking, and touch-to-focus round out its robust AF toolkit.

In use, the RX10 IV’s AF is astonishingly fast and accurate - even in challenging light or hectic scenes. The camera’s 24 frames per second burst mode with full AF tracking is staggering for a superzoom, effectively bridging the gap between advanced mirrorless cameras and bridges.

The TX1's AF performance is understandably basic: 9 contrast-detection points, no face/eye detection, and lack of continuous AF modes. It’s optimized for simple point-and-shoot use and fair in good light but prone to hunting or lagging under tougher conditions.

Performance Across Photography Genres

Now let’s get down to brass tacks and see how each camera fares across major photography disciplines. I’ve put both through their paces in varied scenarios, balancing technical specs with real-world feedback.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tones, beautiful bokeh, and reliable eye detection. The RX10 IV excels here hands down. Its larger sensor permits shallow depth of field with that creamy background blur - something the smaller TX1 struggles to replicate. The eye and face detection keep your subject impeccably sharp. Plus, the RX10 IV’s lens aperture range is generous enough to help isolate subjects artistically.

The TX1 can do casual portraits, but background separation is minimal, and the fixed aperture affects creative control. Face detection is missing, so manual focus patience is a must.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing. The RX10 IV’s 20 MP sensor captures fantastic detail, and its 100% EVF coverage means precise composition. Weather-sealing adds ruggedness for outdoor shoots - a nice touch for those hiking trips.

Meanwhile, the TX1 - with only half the resolution and no environmental sealing - feels outclassed. Its lens is fine for general vistas, but limited zoom range and lower sensor size impact image quality.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photographers need swift autofocus, long reach, and speedy burst rates. The RX10 IV is a stunning all-in-one option here: its 600 mm equivalent zoom reaches distant subjects, while the fast hybrid AF and 24 fps burst max frame rate ensure many keeper shots.

The TX1 cannot be recommended for wildlife. Its limited focal length, slow AF, and lack of tracking make it ill-suited for anything beyond static shots of nearby animals.

Sports Photography

For sports, fast AF tracking and high-speed continuous shooting are key. The RX10 IV’s burst and autofocus system make it very competent for moderate sports, especially in good light. Low-light performance is also decent thanks to its relatively large sensor.

The TX1 unfortunately lacks the frame rates and AF sophistication necessary, making it best relegated to slow-paced or static subjects.

Street Photography

Here is where the TX1 shines: its ultra-compact body is a street photographer’s dream, enabling near-invisibility and spontaneous captures. The RX10 IV’s bulk and conspicuous presence might intimidate subjects or just slow you down.

That said, the RX10 IV’s excellent image quality and zoom range provide expanded creative tools but at the cost of reduced portability.

Macro Photography

Macro shooting values magnification, precise focusing, and often stabilization. The RX10 IV offers a minimum focus distance of 3 cm, optical stabilization, and crisp focusing aids, making it highly capable for close-ups.

The TX1’s 8 cm minimum focus and less steady construction limit its macro prowess. It can do simple close-ups but won’t satisfy aspiring macro freaks.

Night and Astro Photography

In low light or night scenarios, sensor size and high ISO capabilities dominate. The RX10 IV’s 1-inch sensor and ISO up to 12,800 allow cleaner, brighter images, while its optical stabilization helps avoid blur in longer exposures.

TX1’s tiny sensor and ISO ceiling of 3200 quickly succumb to noise. Night skies will appear grainy and washed out, making it best reserved for well-lit urban nights.

Sony RX10 IV front Sony RX10 IV screen back Sony TX1 front Sony TX1 screen back

Here are some comparative sample images demonstrating the RX10 IV’s superior detail in a low-light portrait, versus the softer, noisier output from the TX1.

Video Capabilities: A Look Through the Movie Lens

For video enthusiasts, these cameras again tell quite different stories.

The RX10 IV shoots 4K video at 30p, with support for popular codecs such as MPEG-4, AVCHD, and XAVC S. It includes microphone and headphone ports - a real perk for videographers wanting quality sound and monitoring options. Optical image stabilization promises steady footage, supplemented by the camera's fast AF and exposure control. This is a serious tool for event or run-and-gun video creation.

The TX1, meanwhile, maxes out at 720p HD video at 30 fps, with no external mic or headphone out. It’s fine for casual or home video but lacks the resolution, flexibility, and connectivity for professional or ambitious projects.

Connectivity and Storage

The RX10 IV offers built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, easing image transfer and remote control - key for workflow efficiency today. It supports SD and Memory Stick cards in a single slot with fast USB 2.0 transfer.

Conversely, the TX1 has no wireless features, limited to USB 2.0 and Memory Stick Duo or internal storage. In our increasingly connected photo world, this limits flexibility.

Battery Life and Endurance

The RX10 IV’s NP-FW50 battery delivers around 400 shots per charge - good for a bridge camera but still worth packing spares for extended shoots, especially when shooting bursts or video.

Sony doesn't list precise battery life for the TX1, but its smaller form and simpler electronics typically translate to modest endurance and a non-removable battery - fine for casual outings but not endurance races.

Overall Performance Breakdown and Ratings

After saturating testing over weeks of mixed shooting, here’s the quick quantitative summary plot comparing ratings for core camera aspects:

RX10 IV scores impressively in image quality, autofocus, zoom, video, and build, while the TX1 predominantly scores in portability and ease of use.

Finer genre-specific insights reveal the RX10 IV as a top choice for portraits, wildlife, and video, and the TX1 hanging on due to portability in street and casual snapshots.

Who Should Buy Which?

Sony RX10 IV: If you’re a photographer or serious enthusiast craving a versatile, all-in-one camera that covers from wide landscapes to far-flung wildlife, with DSLR-like control, professional video, and robust AF capabilities, this still holds strong almost six years after release. It excels in portraits, sports, macro, and low-light shooting, albeit with the cost (both financial and weight) of a premium unit - around $1,700 new.

Sony TX1: Ideal for casual photographers or street shooters who prioritize ultra-portability and simple operation over image quality or manual control. If your snapshots don’t demand advanced AF, raw files, or low-light prowess, and you want a fun, pocket-friendly camera for travel or day-to-day memories - this little retro jewel fits neatly, often found second-hand for under $350.

Final Thoughts: Legacy vs. Modern Power – Both Cameras Tell a Story

The RX10 IV and TX1 couldn't be more poles apart, yet each encapsulates Sony’s effort to cater to distinct user needs across time. The RX10 IV is a landmark bridging compact convenience and powerful specs - one I’ve personally marveled at for wildlife shoots and event coverage. The TX1 reminds us how far compact cameras once pushed pocketability, a category increasingly swallowed by smartphone cameras but still holding charms in discreet photography.

When I first shot with the RX10 IV, I was bewitched by its speed and range - finally a single camera that felt ready for nearly any scenario. Meanwhile, the TX1’s simplicity is almost nostalgic, charming in its own right if you respect its limitations.

So, your choice hinges on what you shoot, how often, and what compromises you accept. Either way, these two tell inspiring but contrasting tales of Sony’s Cyber-shot legacy.

If you want a full performance champion for demanding creatives - grab the RX10 IV. For lightweight ease and casual fun, the TX1 remains a neat pocket companion.

Happy shooting!