Using a DSC-RX100 Mark 4 vs. a dedicated video camera?

K

kat.hayes

Active member
I'm looking to get cameras that can be used to take stills as well as 1080P and 4K video. I've been looking at the SONY DSC-RX100 MARK 4 DIGITAL CAMERA

Can anyone with experience with this camera answer any of the following:
1. How is the quality of the 1080P and 4K footage compared to a dedicated video camera?
2. What disadvantages are there to using this camera vs. getting a dedicated video camera?
3. Is there a way to connect an external mic to this camera?

Thanks!!!
 
The above was the short answer, I had to check something out before giving a little longer answer. Not only is there no where to connect a mic, there is nowhere to attach a mic, so to use a mic with rx100 iv you will need some kind minimal rig anyway. Unlike the mark iii the iv outputs the cameras audio over HDMI. This item

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1128161-REG

diss-embeds the audio from HDMI, I own one and what I had to check out was does it work with the rx100? Yes it does. What you need now is something like the zoom h5, with this you can record good sound with one of the capsule mics available for it and at the same time your sync track coming from the camera through the audio dis-embedder (it gets its power through the HDMI cable). If this sound more complicated than what you want to deal with, then the rx100 iv is not for you. I need to know more to add anything else that might help.
 
The question is waaaay to vague until you narrow down what is meant by "dedicated video camera", do you mean a cheapie handycam from Walmart for a couple of hundred bucks or a Sony FS7 or a Sony EX1? Or any other meaning of the hundreds possible??
 
I have an rx100iv and love it, for what it is - a pocket camera that puts out a fantastic image.

So so to answer your questions:

The 1080 footage is amazing. I haven't done any 4K vids yet but I have shot 4K and down scaled it to 1080p and it looks fantastic. You also have the ability to shoot sLOG, along with custom picture profiles - basically what you can do with the a7s. It also has a built in ND filter, which comes in very handy. The autofocus is also pretty good in my opinion, which may have to do with the smallish 1" sensor. Plus 120fps at full HD. The list goes on.

A few downsides - no mic input (as mentioned above) and it's a 1" sensor so the low light performance, while good, is not amazing like the a7s. I've found 3200 to be clean, but anything beyond 6400iso is pushing its limits.

The biggest downside for me is the lack of zoom range - it's a 24 to 70mm equivalent. But I didn't buy it for the zoom, I bought it because I wanted a cam to take with me everywhere.

and if you need more zoom, the RX10 ii has 24 - 200. Plus, the same great sensor, mic inputs and a hotshoe.
 
Don't forget the clear image zoom is good when shooting hd , so when shooting in this mode you can get out to 140 mm equiv. downside I'm GUESSING is the nice looking grain the camera can give you doubles in size by the time you get to 140.
 
I posted lots of thoughts and tests on the RX100 IV over here, on the NEX subforum (which was obviously not the best place)

Summary: I love it, but it's clearly not for everybody. Just the size and the controls can be the best thing ever or absolutely the worst thing ever depending on who you ask.
 
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