To many photographers -- amateurs and professionals alike -- digital SLRs represent quality. The fact that you can remove the lens and swap it for another is inconsequential to those who never buy a second optic, and it's that segment of the market that Sony's targeting with its Cyber-shot RX10. Everything about the RX10 is DSLR-like -- its form factor, built-in EVF, focusing performance and image quality are all on par with many higher-end SLRs -- but its mighty 24-200mm lens is permanently attached. By opting for this comparatively inflexible design, Sony's able to deliver a constant f/2.8 aperture and very high-quality optics in a comfortable package, with a price tag far below what a similar removable lens would command, were it to exist in the first place. The result, put simply, is spectacular, but as $1,300 is at the high end of even deep-pocketed consumers' budgets, you'll want to catch our full review before making a purchase.
Aesthetically, the RX10 is similar to a digital SLR in nearly every way. There's a pronounced grip, a top-mounted monochrome LCD, a pop-up flash, a hot shoe (in this case, Sony's Multi Interface Shoe), dedicated mode and exposure-compensation dials, an XGA OLED viewfinder, a 3-inch 1.23M-dot LCD that tilts up 84 degrees and down 43 degrees and a relatively large SLR-like lens up front. Internally, however, the RX10 is akin to its smaller counterparts, the RX1 and RX100 Mark II. In fact, the 10 features the same 20.2-megapixel 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor as that latter model, which, while still quite large, is smaller than the APS-C and 35mm chips in conventional DSLRs. It also includes Sony's powerful new BIONZ X processor, which can also be found in the Alpha 7 and 7R, along with Sony's recently announced A5000.
But back to that lens. The 24-200mm Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* optic is undoubtedly the star of the show, thanks in no small part to its constant f/2.8 aperture. Why is that significant, you ask? Most zoom lenses, especially those permanently attached to a camera, include variable aperture lenses. While some may let you shoot at f/2.8 at the widest focal length (24mm in this case), you won't find many point-and-shoots that offer that same aperture at the tele end as well. Typically, a lower-end lens supports apertures no larger than f/5.6 or f/6.3 at 200mm, and with f/2.8 available instead, you'll be able to snap much sharper images in low light, or shots with creamy bokeh (shallow depth of field) during the day. You still have f/5.6 (all the way up to f/16) at your disposal, of course, directly accessible using the dedicated ring dial around the base of the lens, should you be after different imaging effects, instead.
We'll speak more to the camera controls in the next section, but there are still plenty more hardware components to explore, too. Sony's put a lot of emphasis on connectivity with the RX10. On the audio front, you'll find headphone and mic jacks, stereo microphones up top and compatibility with Sony's advanced audio accessories using the accessory port that doubles as a hot shoe -- for mounting wireless receivers and shotgun mics. There's an HDMI port with clean, uncompressed output, a micro-USB port for data transfers and charging the camera's 1,080mAh battery pack (the same cell included with NEX cams and select recent Alphas), a dual Memory Stick/SDXC card slot and a tripod socket on the bottom. The camera is very comfortable to hold, and while it's heavier than you'd expect, it won't weigh you down as it dangles from the neck strap.
Sony hasn't changed its UI much since the NEX series' inception in 2010, but like the other RX models and recent Alphas, the RX10 features a tab-based interface that we much prefer. Settings are easy to locate and with everything presented in a linear format, it's easy to jump from category to category to make all the adjustments you require without first returning to a home screen. Shooting options like file size, ISO and SteadyShot are presented in the first tab; custom key adjustments and display options are in the next tab, followed by wireless-connectivity features, then playback; and finally general settings like volume levels and monitor brightness are in the fifth tab.
There are also plenty of dedicated controls on the camera, so you won't actually need to spend much time in the main menu at all. A function button to the right of the LCD launches a quick-adjust mode, with direct access to drive mode, flash options, ISO, white balance, metering, et cetera. A display button cycles through different display modes, including a full-screen live feed, an advanced settings panel with histogram and physical alignment indicators and an image preview screen with a comprehensive settings readout positioned at the border. There's also a dedicated video capture button, a secondary settings dial and a control ring on the rear. Up top, there's a backlight button for illuminating the monochrome LCD, a flash release button, a user-configurable button, an exposure-compensation dial and a zoom toggle around the shutter release. There's also a focus-mode selector on the front of the camera, just below the lens.
With built-in WiFi, you can also control the camera using a smartphone or tablet running Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app. After connecting to the camera's wireless hotspot, you can only shoot in auto mode through the app -- as soon as you connect, auto will override any of the current camera settings. Images are transferred to the connected device immediately after capture. While this is a decent solution for group self-portraits or other tripod shots, due to the lack of control options, we'd recommend shooting directly on the camera then transferring images to the app either from the camera's playback mode or the live gallery viewer in the app. Wireless connectivity makes sharing images online a breeze, however -- your Instagram account will benefit tremendously from the RX10's large sensor
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