Getting the best from my RX100iv
Discussion
I was not using my Nikon DSLR much so thought I would buy a compact, and the RX100 was the most recommended by far. Got one from Jessops on Friday.
I am very happy with it, and like the fact I can carry it about easily.
Any thoughts from other users on best settings to get the most out of it? I like the auto HDR but wonder about the colour settings and so on.
I am very happy with it, and like the fact I can carry it about easily.
Any thoughts from other users on best settings to get the most out of it? I like the auto HDR but wonder about the colour settings and so on.
Great choice of camera if you don't mind me saying 
I have the RX100 MK1 which I am mighty impressed with, though having read many posts on here I decided to take it out of AUTO mode and try 'A' for Aperture Priority, and what a hell of a difference that made. Also consider changing the focus area to 'Center', you can always focus then recompose.
I took a few pics earlier today of some tulips and just look at the bokeh achieved with the photos taken at f1.8 and no zooming.
I have the RX100 MK1 which I am mighty impressed with, though having read many posts on here I decided to take it out of AUTO mode and try 'A' for Aperture Priority, and what a hell of a difference that made. Also consider changing the focus area to 'Center', you can always focus then recompose.
I took a few pics earlier today of some tulips and just look at the bokeh achieved with the photos taken at f1.8 and no zooming.
GetCarter said:
I would set it to auto exposure bracket. I have both mine set that way and usually end up working on the under exposed version.
Yep just done this on a Poland trip. Auto bracket 3 shots on 1 EV steps. Its so quick anyway it can rattle them off and get you pretty much 3 identical frames with different exposures. Lets you choose later in LR which to use or gives you the HDR merge option if you want.I have found if you want to get the best out of the lens, stopping down a bit is best, its a bit soft wide open (F1.8 on the periphery of the lens).
If its dark... dial in some under-exposure on the compensation and set the shutter speed limit to slow or slowest. The OIS is capable enough IMO to hand hold at some pretty slow shutter speeds and this helps keep the ISO down as the camera likes to reach for the big numbers quite often.
Its got a 1 inch sensor but its still fairly small in the grand scheme of things so noise performance isn't that magical. I find it to be about as good as my old NEX-6 which is of course a few years old now. ISO 6400 can look quite horrible in some cases, depends what you're shooting.
Also I would avoid using the spot-focusing option (i.e. the movable spot). I don't find it works all that well. Camera seems to focus much better on the normal "wide" and "centre" settings and if you must use flexible spot, go for the expanded option.
Oh and finally, take some time to map out the buttons to various functions and fill the quick menu (FN) with options you are likely to use. You can map most of the buttons and the dial on the back to pretty much whatever. Its worth doing and stops you having to delve into Sony's menus, which whilst much better these days are still a bit dense to wade through.
(P.S. get a large class 10/U3 SDXC card then you can access the 4K video and the HFR shooting mode. Its good fun!)
Otispunkmeyer said:
(P.S. get a large class 10/U3 SDXC card then you can access the 4K video and the HFR shooting mode. Its good fun!)
As a matter of interest if you shoot 4k video what sort of file size do you get per minute?I'm not really a video person but my phone seems to be able to shoot 4k so I tried it. 3mins and 5 secs delivered a 1.3GB file. It looks great although I have nothing with 4k display capability on which to view it .... but at that file size it's a bit of an overhead. Just wondering if Sony have gone with any form of compression for their implementation.
LongQ said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
(P.S. get a large class 10/U3 SDXC card then you can access the 4K video and the HFR shooting mode. Its good fun!)
As a matter of interest if you shoot 4k video what sort of file size do you get per minute?I'm not really a video person but my phone seems to be able to shoot 4k so I tried it. 3mins and 5 secs delivered a 1.3GB file. It looks great although I have nothing with 4k display capability on which to view it .... but at that file size it's a bit of an overhead. Just wondering if Sony have gone with any form of compression for their implementation.
I take 4k footage on another camera (drone) and it works out at at just under half a gB per minute.
Looks astonishing on a 4k monitor! Miles and miles and miles better than 1080.
This is a single 1/8th size frame from 4k - squashed to buggery (clicky)
Looks astonishing on a 4k monitor! Miles and miles and miles better than 1080.
This is a single 1/8th size frame from 4k - squashed to buggery (clicky)
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 27th April 11:19
GetCarter said:
I take 4k footage on another camera (drone) and it works out at at just under half a gB per minute.
Looks astonishing on a 4k monitor! Miles and miles and miles better than 1080.
This is a single 1/8th size frame from 4k - squashed to buggery (clicky)
So that sound like the same rate given that, iirc, the actual 4k pixel dimensions can vary a tad and still claim to be 4k.Looks astonishing on a 4k monitor! Miles and miles and miles better than 1080.
This is a single 1/8th size frame from 4k - squashed to buggery (clicky)
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 27th April 11:19
I ran the clip through a convertor to give me an HD file of a "reasonable" size in compressed form for full HD and the difference, as one would expect, was very very obvious.
It is somewhat remarkable how much can be delivered by a tiny sensor in a mobile phone using a tiny lens. Presumably it's that much better again using a decent camera if one has the means to view it in all its glory.
I have a RX100iii, and have got some fabulous images from it but it is much better to shoot in RAW and process in Lightroom than having the camera JPEGs. Astonishing dynamic range for what is still a fairly small sensor. I have hardly used by Canon 5DMkII since I got the little Sony.
The camera should come with the option to use Capture One raw processing software. A free option for Sony users or the full "Pro for Sony" version for a small upgrade fee.
It is worth taking up the offer and having a look at Capture One.
The included offer is restricted to developing RAW files from Sony cameras. There is a full license available that is not restricted to Sony.
It is worth taking up the offer and having a look at Capture One.
The included offer is restricted to developing RAW files from Sony cameras. There is a full license available that is not restricted to Sony.
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