Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 V

The Sony RX10 V is the long-awaited update to one of the most flexible cameras around, packing a huge 24-600 zoom into something that looks and feels more like a mirrorless camera with a standard kit lens. The 1in Type sensor may be smaller than a mirrorless camera, but the zoom range is longer than any interchangeable lens. Crucially the autofocus can actually capture wildlife and sports in practice, while weather-sealing means you’ll take it everywhere. A lot is inherited from the earlier Mark IV, including the lens and sensor, but the Mark V upgrades the viewfinder, battery, autofocus and general video modes, while also adding a joystick and USB C charging, but the super slow motion HFR videos and popup flash of the Mark IV have gone and there’s sadly no pre-burst mode. The price has also jumped into territory where you could alternatively buy, say a Sony A6700 with a Sigma 16-300, giving you a bigger sensor, but ‘only’ reaching 450mm. Ultimately if you want a longer 24-600 range from a new all-in-one camera with performance that can genuinely handle sports, wildlife and action, there’s nothing to rival the RX10 Mark V, and even though the price has gone up, it’s a relief to actually have it available.

The RX10 V’s self-contained nature is very much part of its appeal. You never have to think about which lens to buy or bring with you: you already have a combination that extends from wide-angle to super telephoto. However, to achieve this range means the camera has a moderately sized sensor which, combined with its modest aperture range, puts an upper limit on image quality. If you need the full breadth of the RX10 V’s features in a single package, it’s genuinely excellent, and it’s hard to think of a more responsive, engaging ‘compact.’ However, if you only need a subset of what the RX10 can do, you may well be able to find a different combination that offers better image quality or an even greater aptitude for sports at a comparable price. What you won’t find is a camera that offers the RX10 V’s combination of range, capability and size, for the same price. If your shooting needs everything that the RX10 V offers, it’s the only game in town, so for those users, it’s a Gold.