Quick Summary
Sony has announced a new bridge camera some nine years after the previous version was launched.
The Sony RX10 V is the antidote to smartphone photography, offering a versatile all-in-one package with a 24-600mm lens and plenty of control for photographers.
Cameras are enjoying something of a renaissance, as photographers turn their back on the convergence that's defined the last decade of technology. They are looking again for better quality and a more authentic experience than smartphones offer.
And that's largely why Sony has just announced the RX10 V, some nine years after the previous version.
Sitting in what used to be called the "bridge" category, the advantage that the Sony RX10 V offers is a proper lens, with a range from 24-600mm, the equivalent of 25x optical zoom.
While some smartphones will offer high zooms, they lean on digital zoom with AI processing, captured through lenses that are comparatively small compared to a traditional camera. The advantages are stacked in the favour of the Zeiss lens, combining years of optical knowhow into Sony's RX10 V.
Yes, the RX10 V is larger than a smartphone: you can't slip this into your pocket, but that's partly the point. It offers a real photography experience, with plenty of control from the f/2.4-4.0 lens, through to the 30fps high speed capture (with full autofocus and auto exposure tracking) and 4K 120fps video shooting.
There's 1-inch type stacked 20-megapixel CMOS sensor, with BIONZ XR image processing engine, and the battery now offers 630 shots, a big increase on the previous version of this camera.
While it offers a more authentic approach to photography, the Sony RX10 V uses AI to help with real-time autofocus. This can recognise people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft, so the camera knows what you're trying to focus on and keep things sharp.
Fast moving capture is no problem, with the camera calculating AF/FE 60 times a second, something that Sony has long had a great reputation for.
The return of Sony's bridge isn't a surprise: the RX10 IV has been popular, long after it was discontinued, offering a versatile set of features without having to worry about changing lenses. It's a great choice for those who want a camera that does everything.
There's been a price hike, of course, with the previous model costing around £1,500: the new model costs £2,200, with pre-orders now open. That sounds like a lot for a bridge camera, but we're in an era where technology prices are soaring.
Ultimately, cameras like the Sony RX10 V offer respite from the happy snappy automation that smartphones offer. You'll still have your phone in your pocket for that low light selfie, but if you want something a little more tactile, a little more authentic, then the Sony RX10 V just about does it all.
