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Sony RX100 IV

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
 
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony RX100 IV summary

Sony RX100 IV is Sony's Large Sensor Compact digital camera first released on June of 2015. It has a 20 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 5472 x 3648.

Sony brought out this model in order to replace the older Sony RX100 III (Read Full Comparison) & afterwards launched the fresher Sony RX100 V (Read Full Comparison) to update this camera.

The RX100 IV ranks at #27 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras & over all #275 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please test our Advanced camera finder to find camera results based on your customized criteria.

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The following is a chart of various factors used in the rating system.

Sony RX100 IV history

The Sony RX100 IV is part of a family of products. You can see the full range below.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-VII front thumbnailSony RX100 VII
RX100 IV vs RX100 VII
24-200mm
F2.8-4.5
20MP1"2019
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-V(A) front thumbnailSony RX100 VA
RX100 IV vs RX100 VA
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2018
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-VI front thumbnailSony RX100 VI
RX100 IV vs RX100 VI
24-200mm
F2.8-4.5
20MP1"2018
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-V front thumbnailSony RX100 V
RX100 IV vs RX100 V
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2016
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-IV front thumbnailSony RX100 IV24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-III front thumbnailSony RX100 III
RX100 IV vs RX100 III
24-70mm
F1.8-2.8
20MP1"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-II front thumbnailSony RX100 II
RX100 IV vs RX100 II
28-100mm
F1.8-4.9
20MP1"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100 front thumbnailSony RX100
RX100 IV vs RX100
28-100mm
F1.8-4.9
20MP1"2012

Sony RX100 IV Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the Sony RX100 IV based on factors that are normally regarded as important in a digital camera.

above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
built in lens has zoom (24-70mm 2.9 x zoom)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sized screen (3")
delivers RAW formats
display is selfie friendly
does have HDMI socket
fast at the long end (f2.8)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
has built in flash
has face detection focus
has tracking autofocus
high fps (16.0 fps)
high video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
manual focus
NFC connection
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen has good resolution (1,229 k dots)
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (1")
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
can't use external flash
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lacks phase detect auto focus
missing external microphone socket
missing headphone socket
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Sony RX100 IV Sensor details

The Sony RX100 IV houses the Bionz X processor chip. The sensor dimension in the Sony RX100 IV is 13.2mm x 8.8mm (1"). The 116 mm² sensor is able to capture 5472 x 3648 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 20MP and has a standard ISO range of 125 - 12800. This ISO can be expanded electronically to 80 - 25600. RAW photos are supported therefore the user has wider margin for error.

The graphic below displays the RX100 IV's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The RX100 IV sensor has a crop factor of 2.7 and is showcased in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV sensor size Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony RX100 IV dimensions

Sony RX100 IV weighs in at 0.66 lb (298g or 10.51 ounces) & the volume of the camera is 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6"). The weight of average Large Sensor Compact camera is 396g so the Sony RX100 IV is less heavy in comparison with various competitors.

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The following is a pic of the Sony RX100 IV with a softdrink so you can get a sense of its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV dimensions scale

The top view here will show you the button layout on the RX100 IV.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV topview buttons dials

Sony RX100 IV Lens specs

The RX100 IV features a built-in lens and it has a focal range of 24-70mm giving it a 2.9 x zoom which isn't very good however it will surely be useful in certain cases.

At the widest 24mm, the lens comes with an aperture of f1.8 which will be wonderful for low light events and getting good bokeh. It is going to also allow you to set a much lower ISO in order to get crisper images. On the tele end, 70mm comes with f2.8 which is pretty decent and will allow you to keep high shutter speeds.

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Sony RX100 IV Connectivity

The RX100 IV has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that come with NFC or Bluetooth compatibility are able to be used wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to copy files and at times change camera settings without the hassle of connecting directly to the camera.

Many applications even give a Liveview and release the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external display. Most cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.

Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 IV Video specs

The highest possible video resolution in the Sony RX100 IV is 3840 x 2160 and you can shoot in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S file format. 2160p is an excellent resolution for video. You are able to crop to 1080p in order to get better video. Beware of the massive file sizes and ensure you have got high quality SD cards that have fast write speeds. The camera does not offer a microphone or headphone port which means that you have got little control over the sound. It is perhaps a better idea to find another camera should you want better sound for your videos.

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Sony RX100 IV Weather Sealing

Sony RX100 IV does not include environment sealing so rainy conditions can easily ruin the camera.

Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony RX100 IV has a 3" tilting display screen supporting a resolution of 1,229k dots.

It has got a selfie friendly screen for self portraits and group shots when needed. Sadly the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV screen and viewfinder Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The View Finder specifications for Sony RX100 IV are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 2,359k dots
  • Coverage 100 percent
  • Magnification 0.59x

For bright outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and tough to see, viewfinders can be quite useful.

Sony RX100 IV Shutter specs

Sony RX100 IV continuous shooting speed is 16.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000s. The camera also offers silent electronic shutter of 1/32000s. Beware that the electronic shutter might produce "rolling shutter" under certain lighting conditions.

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Sony RX100 IV Flash and Hot shoe specs

Sony RX100 IV comes with only integrated flash without external flash support. The highest flash sync speed is 1/2000s.

Sony RX100 IV Autofocusing specs

Sony RX100 IV comes with just Contrast Based Auto Focus & lacks Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more quicker and exact in comparison with Contrast Based focusing. The camera has Face detection which is valuable for portrait photography.

It has 25 focus points to select from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for moving subjects. Sony RX100 IV has got manual focusing in case it is needed for low light conditions or you need more accurate control on focusing.

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Sony RX100 IV Battery life

The battery life (NP-BX1) in the Sony RX100 IV is made to last for 280 shutters with respect to the CIPA measurements making it similar to it's competition. The average Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U has got the best (450) battery life for this type of cameras.

Underneath is a listing of Large Sensor Compact cameras which have the highest battery life:

Sony RX100 IV for various styles of photography

The following chart provides a outline of the Sony RX100 IV for various styles of photography. To look at more, scroll to the specific paragraph below.

Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography details

The Sony RX100 IV has a rating of 65 which is nice, and means the camera is a good fit to use for portrait photos. Taking portraits leans greatly towards sensor size, RAW support along with the potential to work with external flash.

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has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support

Sony RX100 IV Street photography highlights

With a great score of 85, the Sony RX100 IV is a outstanding fit to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than others (298g)

Sony RX100 IV Sports photography details

A above average sports photography points total of 68 suggests the Sony RX100 IV is a very decent choice for shooting sports. A camera needs to have excellent tracking and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (16.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus

Travel photography with Sony RX100 IV

Weight is really crucial in getting a camera for travel. In general, the Sony RX100 IV gets a fantastic 86 for a travel camera which makes it a outstanding option to buy for your holidays.

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lighter than competition (298 grams)
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)

Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography advice

For anybody who is looking to purchase a camera for landscape photos, the most essential aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Sony RX100 IV at it's nice rating of 74 as a landscape camera is a fine option in the current market.

Photography Glossary
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)

Sony RX100 IV Vlogging highlights

A camera for vlogging should really posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Sony RX100 IV is a superb option as a vlog camera as it delivers a wonderful score of 81.

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quite wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition (298 grams)
no microphone support

Sony RX100 IV Alternatives

If you are searching for replacements to the RX100 IV, below is a range of the top ranked cameras that fall within the class of Large Sensor Compact.

The graph here provides you a summary of the RX100 IV vs it's top ranked competitors mentioned earlier.

Following are additional cameras you may view as alternatives. To read through a thorough comparison, visit the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model type
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class
Large Sensor Compact
Introduced
2015-06-10
Physical type
Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Chip
Bionz X
Sensor size
1"
Sensor measurements
13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area
116.2mm²
Sensor resolution
20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
5472 x 3648
RAW format
Maximum native ISO
12800
Maximum enhanced ISO
25600
Min native ISO
125
Min enhanced ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points
25
Lens
Lens support
fixed lens
Lens zoom range
24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture
f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance
5cm
Focal length multiplier
2.7
Screen
Type of screen
Tilting
Screen diagonal
3"
Screen resolution
1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.59x
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
70
DXO Color Depth rating
22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating
12.6
DXO Low light rating
562
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed
1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate
16.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize
1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
298g (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions
102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
Other
Battery life
280 images
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery ID
NP-BX1
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse feature
With downloadable app
Type of storage
SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots
Single
Launch cost
$898