RX10 newbie's first impressions

Saint 112 · Apr 16, 2015

Hi all

I have been using my new RX10 for a couple of weeks.

Boy! What a lens! Well, that's the reason why I bought it in the first place. I like everything in it. What a range! What an aperture! What a sharpness! What a change (1)! Of course that's why the thing is heavy as a dead donkey as we say here. But the weight gives a sense of reliability and precision. It's pretty reassuring. It's my shoulder that doesn't like it. ;-)

The sensor is excellent as well: good DR, good WB, good colors. The settings are generally quite accurate. I love the images I take and I don't need to correct them very much afterwards if at all.

I love the EVF too. It's clear, accurate, comfortable. Too bad the screen is not fully articulated but that's OK.

What I like less is the user interface (the menus). I find it extremely confusing but maybe it's because I'm not yet used to it. Obviously I'll have some more questions about how to's for you guys.

I am mostly pleased by what I discover.

Nick

1) Of course I can't compare with my Canon G15. They don't play in the same league. Yet the G15 is still very handy when it's a light, small, quick camera that's needed.

KBKB · Apr 16, 2015

What about the old skool cable release threads on the shutter button? I thought that was pretty cool when I saw it on my wife's RX10. (I'd be so happy if I had that option - or any cable release option - on my NEX-7.)

Of course, you can plug new fangled cable releases, including wireless ones as well as intervalometers, into the Multi port too.

Saint 112 · Apr 16, 2015

Isn't it surprising on a hi-tech, digital thing? As a matter of fact, while I was doing my shopping for a new camera the remote control was on my feature list so I closely examined that detail. Sony offers a nice cable remote that can switch the camera on and off, control the zoom and so on. Yet there are probably very few retailers that sell it. There are several third party, more or less sophisticated, gimmicks too. Yet I came to the conclusion that the best is probably a smartphone with Sony's app that gives full control on practically all the functions, besides on-off. If the phone has a good screen you get a decent full remote live-view. And it's a no cost option if you already own a smartphone.

Nick

Billious · Apr 16, 2015

Saint 112 said:
I have been using my new RX10 for a couple of weeks.

What I like less is the user interface (the menus). I find it extremely confusing but maybe it's because I'm not yet used to it. Obviously I'll have some more questions about how to's for you guys.

I've been using my RX10 since the first came out, and am still often confused by the menus. (My other camera is a RX100 which I use daily. It is surprising how different their menus are.)

Snapsh0t · Apr 16, 2015

KBKB said:
Of course, you can plug new fangled cable releases, including wireless ones as well as intervalometers, into the Multi port too.

As long as you have firmware 2.0 installed. Only the genuine Sony remotes work with v1.0.

Saint 112 · Apr 17, 2015

Billious said:
I've been using my RX10 since the first came out, and am still often confused by the menus. (My other camera is a RX100 which I use daily. It is surprising how different their menus are.)

I am at loss understanding the logic of the menus. I'll try to customize the thing as much as possible.

Nick

Saint 112 · Apr 17, 2015

Snapsh0t said:
KBKB said:

Of course, you can plug new fangled cable releases, including wireless ones as well as intervalometers, into the Multi port too.

Click to expand...

As long as you have firmware 2.0 installed. Only the genuine Sony remotes work with v1.0.

Did you try with a smartphone?

Nick

elliottnewcomb · Apr 17, 2015

Where's here?

The menus are too extensive to remember, which is why they give you the Fn feature. That is the key to easy and effective access to the settings you change.

It is a 12 item menu, you choose which ones you want, and with 1 button press you have visual access to 12 settings, presto, change at will, shoot.

Ed Form made an RX10 indexed manual, much better than Sony's, I bet you will like it.

http://www.theformsonline.com/RX10/DSC-RX10-Manual.pdf

symbols, bottom right, it is downloadable.

elliottnewcomb · Apr 17, 2015

Billious said:
Saint 112 said:

I have been using my new RX10 for a couple of weeks.

What I like less is the user interface (the menus). I find it extremely confusing but maybe it's because I'm not yet used to it. Obviously I'll have some more questions about how to's for you guys.

Click to expand...

I've been using my RX10 since the first came out, and am still often confused by the menus. (My other camera is a RX100 which I use daily. It is surprising how different their menus are.)

Have you set up your 12 item Fn button menu? It is the key to staying out of the huge menu, you pick the 12 settings you might change frequently, 12 of them, then, one button press, you get visual menu of those 12 settings, change at will, shoot.

Bill Borne · Apr 17, 2015

Saint 112 said:
Hi all

I have been using my new RX10 for a couple of weeks.

Boy! What a lens! Well, that's the reason why I bought it in the first place. I like everything in it. What a range! What an aperture! What a sharpness! What a change (1)! Of course that's why the thing is heavy as a dead donkey as we say here. But the weight gives a sense of reliability and precision. It's pretty reassuring. It's my shoulder that doesn't like it. ;-)

The sensor is excellent as well: good DR, good WB, good colors. The settings are generally quite accurate. I love the images I take and I don't need to correct them very much afterwards if at all.

I love the EVF too. It's clear, accurate, comfortable. Too bad the screen is not fully articulated but that's OK.

What I like less is the user interface (the menus). I find it extremely confusing but maybe it's because I'm not yet used to it. Obviously I'll have some more questions about how to's for you guys.

I am mostly pleased by what I discover.

Nick

1) Of course I can't compare with my Canon G15. They don't play in the same league. Yet the G15 is still very handy when it's a light, small, quick camera that's needed.

Seems lately I'm using my RX100 and HX400 mostly. Then when I go out with the HX10 I cannot figure out how to change the aperture to save my life. Then next time I use it I see it on the lens, Duh!

Saint 112 · Apr 17, 2015

elliottnewcomb said:
Where's here?

The menus are too extensive to remember,

I don't understand the logic of the menus,
Very often I don't understand what's written, especially with the abbreviations.

elliottnewcomb said:
which is why they give you the Fn feature. That is the key to easy and effective access to the settings you change.

It is a 12 item menu, you choose which ones you want, and with 1 button press you have visual access to 12 settings, presto, change at will, shoot.

I didn't look thouroughly through this feature yet. The default selection is rather convenient for me. Ten of them only are active (probably because I shoot in RAW). I'll make my own selection.

elliottnewcomb said:
Ed Form made an RX10 indexed manual, much better than Sony's, I bet you will like it.

http://www.theformsonline.com/RX10/DSC-RX10-Manual.pdf

I had downloaded it even before I bought my RX10. Ed did a pretty good job compared to the original.

Obviously at Sony's, user-friendly interface and manual are not among their best skills. Canon, even though they are not eagles in that respect, are much better.

Nick

Snapsh0t · Apr 17, 2015

I probably did but it would have been more than a year ago. If I remember correctly, the Android app forced the camera into P mode and there were no user adjustments. It may have been improved since then.

Corkcampbell · Apr 17, 2015

A good investment for you would be the Alexander White book on the camera. It used to be about $10 three different electronic files - well worth it. It would be the best alternative to barraging the forum with questions that have been discussed here before, and you can have the book on a kindle, phone, iPad, etc., so it's always with you.

I believe it's on Amazon or you can go to the website which (I think) is: whiteknightpress.

Bill Borne · Apr 17, 2015

Corkcampbell said:
A good investment for you would be the Alexander White book on the camera. It used to be about $10 three different electronic files - well worth it. It would be the best alternative to barraging the forum with questions that have been discussed here before, and you can have the book on a kindle, phone, iPad, etc., so it's always with you.

I believe it's on Amazon or you can go to the website which (I think) is: whiteknightpress.

--
"Knowledge is good." Emil Faber

--
Bill
Bill's Photos

Saint 112 · Apr 17, 2015

Corkcampbell said:
A good investment for you would be the Alexander White book on the camera.

As I mentioned in my prior threads, RX10 newbie question: shutter priority mode and “safety shift” and RX10 newbie's question: Memory Recall I first researched my questions in his book, Photographer's Guide to the Sony DSC-RX10, and didn't find an answer. I bought it even before I bought the camera.

As a matter of fact I am underwhelmed by this book. I bought it in Kindle format.

The Kindle app is obviously designed to read novels, stuff you read linearly, and is not really suited for structured documents like manuals or reports. It's extremely clumsy to browse through the document, compared to a pdf for example. The content pane for instance is not hierarchical so you are lost when you want to find a chapter or a particular section.
White's book is not well structured either. The sections are not numbered.
It's in many respects a 'for the dummies' book. It's not that I am against the dummies. I used to be a dummy myself too. The issue is that for each feature White explains linearly what it's about (including very trivial functions) and how to implement it on the RX10. He should make a clear format distinction between the two because one has to browse a complete page of trivia to find the two lines of information one needs.
His fan attitude is a little irritating too.

Corkcampbell said:
It would be the best alternative to barraging the forum with questions that have been discussed here before,

If you feel I am barraging the forum with my questions you don't need to read my threads and even less so to answer.

Nick

Bill Borne · Apr 17, 2015

Saint 112 said:
Corkcampbell said:

A good investment for you would be the Alexander White book on the camera.

Click to expand...

As I mentioned in my prior threads, RX10 newbie question: shutter priority mode and “safety shift” and RX10 newbie's question: Memory Recall I first researched my questions in his book, Photographer's Guide to the Sony DSC-RX10, and didn't find an answer. I bought it even before I bought the camera.

As a matter of fact I am underwhelmed by this book. I bought it in Kindle format.

The Kindle app is obviously designed to read novels, stuff you read linearly, and is not really suited for structured documents like manuals or reports. It's extremely clumsy to browse through the document, compared to a pdf for example. The content pane for instance is not hierarchical so you are lost when you want to find a chapter or a particular section.

White's book is not well structured either. The sections are not numbered.

It's in many respects a 'for the dummies' book. It's not that I am against the dummies. I used to be a dummy myself too. The issue is that for each feature White explains linearly what it's about (including very trivial functions) and how to implement it on the RX10. He should make a clear format distinction between the two because one has to browse a complete page of trivia to find the two lines of information one needs.

His fan attitude is a little irritating too.

Saint 112 said:

It would be the best alternative to barraging the forum with questions that have been discussed here before,

Click to expand...

If you feel I am barraging the forum with my questions you don't need to read my threads and even less so to answer.

Nick

I'm pretty sue you can get it in pdf format for free check you digital library.

Saint 112 · Apr 17, 2015

Bill Borne said:
I'm pretty sue you can get it in pdf format for free check you digital library.

Wherever I looked (Apple store, Amazon, the publisher, etc.) the pdf $9.95 or $9,99. I would probably make the expense if I found the book really good. It's not that bad though. It's just so-so. I'll do with the Kindle edition for the time being. Anyway for all my gears I always managed with clumsy documentation… and a little help from nice people.

Here is an example of what I meant:

One thing should strike you at first sight: there are four chapters listed in the left pane. You have to look carefully to spot them. It's not hierarchically displayed. It should.

IMHO, anyone who intends to use such a prosumer camera and especially intends to work in S mode should already be familiar with 90% of the content of these three pages, including the two middle images. OK, maybe it's not just a how-to guide but such trivia should be presented in a different format to make clear where are the photographical generalities and where are the specifics of the RX10.

I highlight what's relevant to me but it's a chore.

Nick

Bill Borne · Apr 17, 2015

Saint 112 said:
Bill Borne said:

I'm pretty sue you can get it in pdf format for free check you digital library.

Click to expand...

Wherever I looked (Apple store, Amazon, the publisher, etc.) the pdf $9.95 or $9,99. I would probably make the expense if I found the book really good. It's not that bad though. It's just so-so. I'll do with the Kindle edition for the time being. Anyway for all my gears I always managed with clumsy documentation… and a little help from nice people.

Here is an example of what I meant:

One thing should strike you at first sight: there are four chapters listed in the left pane. You have to look carefully to spot them. It's not hierarchically displayed. It should.

IMHO, anyone who intends to use such a prosumer camera and especially intends to work in S mode should already be familiar with 90% of the content of these three pages, including the two middle images. OK, maybe it's not just a how-to guide but such trivia should be presented in a different format to make clear where are the photographical generalities and where are the specifics of the RX10.

I highlight what's relevant to me but it's a chore.

Nick

That's funny cause when I bought it from amazon I got pdf, epub, and kindle.

--
Bill
Bill's Photos

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