High-end bridge cameras: Sony RX10, Panasonic FZ1000 etc

[G.K.Jnr.]

Hi Dave.

As usual 'it depends' is the answer - if 24mm is wide enough for you and you're not a pixel peeper I would expect you'll be happy with an RX10iv for general photography and landscapes etc. It's not going to match a full frame camera with dedicated wide angle lens but hopefully you'd know that in advance! The corners are not super sharp at 24mm but they're not terrible either, and lack of shallow dof and noise (usual small sensor issues) are not typically a problem for landscapes.

Here are a few samples (just holiday snaps really but will give an idea). Happy to help with any other questions


Shieldaig by Mike Smith, on Flickr


The Torridon Estate by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Eilean Donan by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Beinn Eighe from Loch Coulin by Mike Smith, on Flickr


The Forth Bridge by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Bamburgh Castle by Mike Smith, on Flickr

"Excellent" set of landscape style captures Mike, liking all of these very much.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Couple shots from today in the garden with the RX10 iv.

Beautiful Demoiselle by Ajophotog, on Flickr

Azure Damselfly by Ajophotog, on Flickr

Two very nice macro/close up style captures Alby, with some lovely colours and good detail.

 

[dibbly dobbler]

"Excellent" set of landscape style captures Mike, liking all of these very much.

Thanks George! Hope all is well with you

 

[ajophotog]

Two very nice macro/close up style captures Alby, with some lovely colours and good detail.

Thanks George, glad you like them.

 

[johnty52]

Couple of Demoiselles from the weekend using the 600mm end of the RX10iv - remarkable lens for small beasties



Untitled by John Hallard, on Flickr



Untitled by John Hallard, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

These are great John, well done!

 

[johnty52]

These are great John, well done!

Thanks Mike, I've had the camera almost a year now, always impressed with the quality and the little bit of 'noise' can easily be overcome with current software, although I really like the jpegs, to me they have a unique quality.

 

[johnty52]

Not sure of the ID on this one but it was quite small, this is a v large crop and the details is amazing 600mm lens , hand held again.




Fly by John Hallard, on Flickr

 

[johnty52]

Reed Bunting



Reed Bunting by John Hallard, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Reed Bunting



Reed Bunting by John Hallard, on Flickr

I got one of these today too! Must go and process it...

 

[johnty52]

I got one of these today too! Must go and process it...

there was a Sedge Warbler chuntering nearby but I couldn’t tempt him out to pose for a shot

 

[dibbly dobbler]

there was a Sedge Warbler chuntering nearby but I couldn’t tempt him out to pose for a shot

Good stuff. My Reed Bunting is not as good as I thought (nowhere near yours!) so won't put it up, but enjoyed the walk anyway

 

[johnty52]

Good stuff. .....

Yeah, I was sort of half lucky in that I could move across the barbed wire fence so that the bird was now facing the sun [camera right] and I knew that should give me a catchlight in his black eye. always hard to differentiate in a black face.

 

[dibbly dobbler]

A couple from today - you can get a pretty decent macro with an RX10


There once was an ugly duckling... by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Andrena clarkella (I think?) by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[ajophotog]

Sony rx10 iv shoots Brown Bears.

Brown Bears by Ajophotog, on Flickr

Brown Bear - Mum and Cub by Ajophotog, on Flickr

Brown Bear by Ajophotog, on Flickr

Itchy Back by Ajophotog, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

These are great Alby!

 

[ajophotog]

These are great Alby!

Thanks Mike, I could have watched them all day and more.

 

[johnty52]

Nice ones. Definitely needed the 600mm there Abby !!

 

[ajophotog]

Nice ones. Definitely needed the 600mm there Abby !!

Yes John there were lots in amongst the cliffs with young, the 600mm end came in very handy.

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Linnet with RX10iv at 600mm, f4, 1/1000, and iso100


Linnet by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Whitethroat by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[johnty52]

British Jetski championships round 3 at Crosby, Liverpool using the 600mm end and about 1/1600.



BJSC_Rd3 -085 by John Hallard, on Flickr



BJSC_Rd3 - 235 by John Hallard, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Still fiddling around to see how good a macro I can get with no flash or additional optics etc - to be honest my 90mm prime is hanging on by a thread, if these were just a wee bit better I wouldn't ever need my 'proper' macro setup


Andrena Mining Bee by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[johnty52]

Still fiddling around to see how good a macro I can get with no flash or additional optics etc - to be honest my 90mm prime is hanging on by a thread, if these were just a wee bit better I wouldn't ever need my 'proper' macro setup


Andrena Mining Bee by Mike Smith, on Flickr

Just now selling my Fuji 80macro Mike, I use the RX10 much more and it's good enough for my needs.

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Just now selling my Fuji 80macro Mike, I use the RX10 much more and it's good enough for my needs.

I'm inching towards a similar decision - it's interesting as the smaller sensor, although lacking resolution (relatively) does give you plenty of depth of field so there are pros and cons for macro. More testing needed

 

[dibbly dobbler]

A few more from Bamburgh with the RX10


Mrs Linnet by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Yellowhammer by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Bamburgh Castle Jousting by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[ajophotog]

Great yellow hammer Mike, l have loads local to me, always up high singing their little heads off.

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Great yellow hammer Mike, l have loads local to me, always up high singing their little heads off.

Cheers - yes, was chuffed with that one I must admit

 

[ajophotog]

Three from my recent travels with the rx10 iv.

Tiger by Ajophotog, on Flick

Red Kite by Ajophotog, on Flickr

Trees by Ajophotog, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Oh yes Alby! Three great shots

 

[johnty52]

Fabulous Tiger yawn Alby

 

[dibbly dobbler]

More from Bamburgh


Lesser Whitethroat by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Rock Pipit by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Bamburgh Beach by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[ajophotog]

Oh yes Alby! Three great shots

Thanks Mike, glad you like.

Fabulous Tiger yawn Alby

It looked straight at me then yawned, that's what it thought of me John.

 

[ajophotog]

Another Brown Bear with cubs shot on the RX10 iv.

Brown Bear and Cubs by Ajophotog, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Sony RX10iv as usual


Dipper with snack by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Number 718 by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Water lilies by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

A couple of near macro shots/close up shots with the RX10iv. It's interesting (to me anyway!) to see what you can get with just the native lens and no flash - because of the longer focal length and focus distance (about 1 metre) there is plenty of depth of field so no need for a small aperture or a flash. It won't work for really tiny stuff but anything from a small bee upwards seems to work fine

(ps they look much sharper on Flickr, if you are interested please click through)


Plasterer Bee (1) by Mike Smith, on Flickr


Plasterer Bee (2) by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Another wee bee


Plasterer Bee by Mike Smith, on Flickr

 

[ajophotog]

Another wee bee


Plasterer Bee by Mike Smith, on Flickr

Superb detail Mike.

 

[dibbly dobbler]

Superb detail Mike.

Cheers

 

[Clive K]

I have recently upgraded my old Panasonic FZ38 to a s/h FZ1000, the red dot version. There was no CD with the camera and the old version of Silkypix that came with the FZ38 does not recognise the newer camera's RAW files. Is there a third party app or program that I could use to edit and convert the RAW files?