Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV

The Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV is a bridge camera released in 2017. Its lens is fixed to the body, so the camera and its optics work as one package with nothing to swap before you shoot.

That all-in-one design suits photographers who want a single camera for travel, family and outdoor shooting without a bag of extra lenses. Its one-inch sensor serves both stills and 4K video.

At 1095 g, the body carries noticeable heft. Weather sealing helps in dusty or damp conditions, though it is not the same as waterproofing.

The 20-megapixel CMOS sensor uses the one-inch format and the Bionz X processor. Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 12800. That resolution leaves room to crop into a tighter composition.

For moving subjects, the camera shoots at up to 24 frames per second. That figure is a maximum rather than a promise of sustained speed, but it gives you plenty of frames to choose from when action peaks. The autofocus system offers 315 points for focus placement.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps you hold the camera steady at slower shutter speeds. It does nothing for subject movement, so a runner still needs a fast shutter. The maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 sec can also restrict wide apertures in strong light.

Because the lens is fixed, its character defines the camera and there is no mount for other optics. Framing and focus checks happen through the electronic viewfinder, whose 2,359,296 dots show the scene in fine detail.

Video recording is well supported. The camera records in 4K, its maximum resolution, which leaves room to crop footage in post. Files are written in XAVC S or AVCHD.

The camera also records at up to 120 frames per second, enough for slow-motion footage when a project calls for it. How slow the result appears depends on the playback frame rate. The 120 fps maximum and the 4K resolution are separate limits, with no combined recording mode specified.

Handheld clips benefit from the same in-body stabilisation that steadies stills. It reduces camera shake for steadier framing, though it cannot stop movement within the scene.

There is no built-in timelapse mode, so interval sequences take extra steps outside the camera rather than a single menu setting.

A three-inch TFT LCD with 1,440,000 dots handles live view and image review. It responds to touch and flips to help you shoot from high or low angles.

Lighting options run from a built-in flash for quick fill light to support for an external flash when you want more power and control.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in for wireless connectivity. There is no GPS, so the camera itself cannot tag images with location data; a phone or external device could still provide it.

The body is weather sealed against dust and moisture, which helps in changeable outdoor conditions. Sealing is not waterproofing, so heavy rain still calls for care.

Storage goes on a single card slot that accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC media along with Memory Stick Duo, Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo. With only one slot there is no in-camera backup or overflow, so everything from a shoot sits on one card.

Power comes from the NP-FW50 battery, rated at 400 shots per charge. Treat that figure as a planning guide because real-world endurance varies with how you shoot. A spare battery is sensible for long outings.

The battery charges over USB, which makes topping up between shoots convenient. Treat it as a way to refill the battery rather than a substitute for carrying a charged spare on important days.