Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10

The Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 is a bridge camera from 2013, so the lens is built in and never comes off. A 20-megapixel one-inch CMOS sensor sits behind that fixed lens.

That all-in-one layout suits photographers who want a single body for everything, with no lenses to buy, carry or swap. You accept one optical package and work within it.

Carrying it takes commitment. At 813 grams and 129 by 88 by 102 millimetres, this is a camera for a strap rather than a pocket, though nothing else needs to travel with it.

Stills start with a 20-megapixel one-inch CMOS sensor and the Bionz X processor. The ISO range runs from 125 to 12800, and the 1/3200-second top shutter speed helps in strong light.

Burst shooting reaches 10 frames per second, which is quick enough to catch a fleeting expression or a peak action moment. Treat that figure as the maximum rate rather than a sustained pace for the whole sequence.

In-body stabilisation counteracts camera shake, so handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds becomes more practical. It will not freeze a moving subject; that still takes a fast shutter speed. The autofocus system offers 25 points, and the electronic viewfinder's 1.44-million-dot panel shows enough detail to judge focus and framing.

Our Optics score of 63/100 rates this as a good package, sitting around the middle of cameras in our database for optics. The defining constraint is the fixed lens: what is attached is what you shoot with, permanently.

Video tops out at Full HD resolution, and the camera's fastest frame rate is 60fps, which keeps fast motion smooth in clips. That covers everyday family footage and online sharing, though there is no 4K option.

Recording formats include MPEG-4, MOV, AVCHD and XAVC S. Having four options lets you match the file type to your editing workflow or to how you plan to share the footage.

There is no built-in timelapse mode, so interval shooting needs an external timer or plenty of manual patience.

The video score of 56/100 sits in modest territory. Video here is a useful extra rather than a headline capability, which fits a camera of this age.

The 3-inch WhiteMagic LCD carries 1.23 million dots, so images look detailed on playback and menus stay readable. Live view puts the scene on the screen while you compose.

There is no touchscreen, and the screen does not flip or tilt away from the body. Menus and focus points run through the buttons and dials, and for high or low angles you move yourself rather than the display.

Lighting options are flexible: a built-in flash handles quick fill light, and external flash units are supported for stronger work. Wi-Fi is built in, though Bluetooth is missing. Weather sealing guards against dust and moisture, without making the camera waterproof.

One card slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards plus Memory Stick Duo variants, so finding compatible storage is easy. With only a single slot, a full card means pausing to swap rather than continuing on a second.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated at 420 shots. That rating gives a rough guide rather than a guarantee, so a spare earns its place on longer days.

USB charging is absent, so a drained battery stops the shoot until a charged battery goes in. Our Storage and Battery score of 24/100 is limited, and the practical takeaway is simple: pack extra batteries and check card capacity before heading out.