AVCHD: 28M PS (1920 x 1080/60p) / 24M FX (1920 x 1080/60i) / 17M FH (1920 x 1080/60i) / 24M FX (1920 x 1080/24p) / 17M FH (1920 x 1080/24p), XAVC S 4K: 30p 100M (3840 x 2160/30p) / 30p 60M (3840 x 2160/30p) / 24p 100M (3840 x 2160/24p) / 24p 60M (3840 x 2160/24p), XAVC S HD:60p 50M (1920 x 1080/60p) / 30p 50M (1920 x 1080/30p) / 24p 50M (1920 x 1080/24p) / 120p 100M (1920 x 1080/120p) / 120p 60M (1920 x 1080/120p), MP4: 28M (1920 x 1080/60p) / 16M (1920 x 1080/30p) / 6M (1280 x 720/30p) Movie Recording Mode (PAL) [PAL] mode AVCHD: 28M PS(1,920x1,080/50p) / 24M FX(1,920x1,080/50i) / 17M FH(1,920x1,080/50i) / 24M FX(1,920x1,080/25p) / 17M FH(1,920x1,080/25p), XAVC S 4K: 25p 100M(3,840x2,160/25p) / 25p 60M(3,840x2,160/25p), XAVC S HD:50p 50M(1,920x1,080/50p) / 25p 50M(1,920x1,080/25p) / 100p 100M(1,920x1,080/100p) / 100p 60M(1,920x1,080/100p), MP4: 28M(1,920x1,080/50p) / 16M(1,920x1,080/25p) / 6M(1,280x720/25p) HFR Recording: NTSC/PAL Selector: [PAL] mode XAVC S HD:50p 50M (1,920x1,080/250fps), 50p 50M (1,920x1,080/500fps), 50p 50M (1,920x1,080/1000fps) / 25p 50M (1,920x1,080/250fps), 25p 50M (1,920x1,080/500fps), 25p 50M (1,920x1,080/1000fps) When the Sony RX10 III launched in March 2016 it was more of an alternative to the RX10 II as opposed to a direct replacement product, meaning that when comparing the two, the differences weren't as obvious as with an entirely new model.

We consider resolution excellent at 200mm (2,600 lines), but it does fall off a little bit at longer settings. Still, I have few complaints about the results at 300mm (2,150 lines). The lens loses a little bit of resolution at 400mm, dropping to a just-good 1,950 lines. The Fn button launches an on-screen overlay menu that provides direct access to a dozen additional settings. By default it includes useful settings such as the drive mode, flash, autofocus area, ISO, metering pattern, white balance, and control over the RX10 II's in-lens 3-stop neutral density filter. Like the physical control buttons, you can customize the entries in the Fn menu to suit your needs. I was extremely pleased with the original version of the RX10 thanks to its balance of size, image quality, zoom range, and its excellent close focus capability. When it first went on sale it sold for as much as the RX10 II—the RX10's price was cut right after the introduction of the Panasonic FZ1000—and even at that price point it was awarded a 5-star rating (a very rare score from this reviewer). It's no longer peerless, and I wouldn't go quite as high today given the competition in the market, notably the FZ1000, the Panasonic G3 X, and of course, the RX10 II. The RX10 II's LCD is tilting, rather than vari-angle, but this does at least make it easier to shoot from low down. And, as in other high-end Sony cameras, it's not a touchscreen.According to CIPA standards, you can expect to get about 290 images using the EVF or 440 shots if you primarily opt for the LCD for framing. The actual number of images you get will vary with how you use the camera—you'll get more if you enable burst capture. The 4K footage is the star here. It's extremely crisp and very lifelike. The RX10 II adjusts to changes in the scene with smooth and swift adjustments to focus. The footage is very slightly cropped to the left and right of the frame, but you don't lose too much in way of wide-angle coverage. Recording handheld can be a challenge—I found that my footage was jittery when holding the camera away from my body and recording at 200mm, but the stabilization system was able to steady it properly when I held the camera to my eye. At wider angles, the stabilization system did a solid job steadying the footage.

Battery life isn’t quite as good as the RX10 III; it’s dropped down to a maximum 400 shots from its predecessor’s 420, but that slim difference is hardly a deal breaker. Making a camera with a touchscreen that is going to be a disgusting mess that must be peered through is not my idea of photography. It's just gross. Wi-Fi (with NFC) is built-in. As with other Sony cameras, it's possible to copy images and videos to your iOS or Android device over Wi-Fi using the Sony PlayMemories Mobile app. Video transfer is limited to MP4 clips, but you can copy images shot in Raw over to your phone—they're converted to the JPG format that Android and iOS devices recognize on the fly.The improved video capabilities allow the RX10 II to directly compete with Panasonic’s FZ1000 (which offers 4K video albeit with Sony’s previous generation 1in sensor) and of course an increasing number of other models which also now offer 4k with alternative sensors. Indeed one of the more interesting rivals is the Lumix FZ330 / FZ300 which may employ a much smaller 1/2.3in sensor, but in turn delivers a longer zoom range at a lower price, and still with 4k video recording. While the RX10 II and FZ330 / FZ300 are aimed at different price points, they arrived for testing at the same time, so we thought it would be interesting to pitch them head to head to see what difference the sensor size and optical range made in practice. Read my full review to discover which of these two bridge superzooms is the best option for you. btw, i have been in and around the same business for more or less the same amount of time and mostly professionally too.