Fan reacted with dismay when Sony seemingly phased out its range of bridge cameras, with the CyberShot RX10 IV being discontinued in 2024. After all, these relatively lightweight and highly versatile superzoom cameras can shoot anything from landscapes to distant wildlife and macro, and Sony’s was the best of its kind.
It’s not just Sony, mind you — I’ve looked after TechRadar’s best bridge cameras guide since 2023, and this space has been pretty dormant for a while now, besides the occasional cheap Kodak model, and Panasonic refreshing an old model with USB-C charging, which left our reviewer unimpressed.
So there’s good news for those who miss the good old days of bridge cameras, with Sony springing a major surprise — a shiny new RX10 V.
The RX10 V comes nine years after the Cyber-shot RX10 IV from 2017, and I think it’s a big deal. Not just because the class-leading series is back, but because Sony has fitted the latest model with genuine upgrades that make it a better camera for its key use case: enthusiast wildlife photography. The best bridge camera just got better, and it’s in stores now.
I’ve already tested Sony’s latest superzoom, and you can read my in-depth RX10 V review for more details. It’s a decent upgrade, and based on how many people I’ve seen clamoring for this exact camera, I think it will sell really well, even with its steep asking price.
But should you splash out? Is it the latest model worth upgrading for? Let’s take a look at how the RX10 V compares to the Cyber-shot RX10 IV — their similarities, and what upgrades you can expect.
1. The lens
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- Same 24-600mm F2.4-4 lens (25x optical zoom)
- The cheaper Nikon CoolPix P1100 has a 125x optical zoom
Let’s start with the lens — it’s the feature that most people buy a bridge camera for. There’s no change whatsoever here; the RX10 V has the exact same 24-600mm F2.4-4 optic as the RX10 IV.
Versatility is the name of the game — the 25x optical zoom covers everything from wide-angle landscapes to closeups of insects and wildlife photography.
Both cameras zoom up to 600mm at the telephoto setting, with the maximum aperture still being a respectable f/4. For me, this is the minimum focal length I’d want available to me for bird photography. If image quality could be equally as good, I’d love to see the reach extend to more like a 35x zoom, should Sony make a mark VI, even if the camera was slightly bigger / the maximum aperture at the telephoto end slightly smaller.
Some other bridge cameras beat the RX10 series for zoom, such as the Nikon CoolPix P1100 with its 125x optical zoom which stretches up to 3000mm at its telephoto setting. However, that camera has a much smaller sensor, and it’s physically a much bigger camera. I think the RX10 series has the better balance for size, quality and versatility.
2. Sensor and image quality
- Same 1-inch 20.1MP sensor
- Both shoot 4K 30p video, but RX10 V boosts frame rates up to 120fps
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Another similarity — both cameras are fitted with a 20.1 megapixel 1-inch CMOS stacked sensor, and are capable of shooting RAW & JPEG photos as well as 4K video.
The stacked sensor positively impacts the quality of high-speed photography and video recording. Sony never confirms exact sensor readout speeds, and is vague about this kind of information, but you can expect minimal rolling shutter distortion for high-speed photography and fast-moving subjects when shooting with the electronic shutter, with which the camera’s fastest burst shooting speeds can be enjoyed, as well as 4K video recording.
I would expect to use the RX10 V primarily for wildlife photography, especially bird photography, and so the fast sensor type is highly welcome.
Both cameras shoot 4K 30p video, but the RX10 V can also shoot up 60fps or up to 120fps with a crop. We also get more color profiles to choose from with the RX10 V, including S-Log3 and S-Cinetone, and Sony says the latest Bionz XR chip improves color fidelity compared to the RX10 IV, thanks to real-time subject detection.
3. Processor and autofocus
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- RX10 V features latest Bionz XR processor and AI chip
- Subject-detection autofocus expanded to more subjects, now includes auto
- Burst shooting speeds upped from 24fps to 30fps
Here’s where some of the biggest upgrades kick in — the RX10 V is equipped with Sony’s latest Bionz XR processor and AI chipset — a combined setup just like in the A7R VI and A7 V mirrorless cameras.
The quickest shooting speeds are upped from 24fps to 30fps when using the electronic shutter, or it’s up to 10fps, as before, when using the mechanical shutter. I don’t see that minor improvement as enough reason to upgrade.
There’s a major boost for autofocus performance, however, with the RX10 V enjoying Sony’s latest real-time subject detection autofocus, which covers subjects as diverse as birds, animals and vehicles, with the option for ‘Auto’ subject detection added. For the best outright performance, I’d still recommend selecting the specific subject if you know that’s all you’ll be photographing, say on a bird photography excursion.
It’s now also possible to customize a button to ‘boost’ burst shooting speeds when the action strikes. For example, you can tick over at 10fps in continuous medium, but get an immediate temporary boost to 30fps by pressing a boost button. I found the placement of the available customizable buttons super awkward for this feature (C1 and C2, for example, require your index finger, leaving your middle finger to press the shutter button — not ideal), but it’s still a great option to have to avoid taking too many action shots.
4. Design
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- New control layout, larger EVF and comfier grip feel more Alpha-like
- USB-C port added, larger NP-FZ100 battery boosts shot life by over 50%
- RX10 V misses out on built-in flash and top LCD
There have also been some fairly major design changes, including to the control layout, and the RX10 V looks much more like an Alpha than the RX10 IV did — that cameras feels more like a Cyber-shot compact.
I found the grip comfier, and I appreciated the extra exposure control dials, the addition of a joystick, the tally lamp for video recording, and the ports being neatly tucked away under rigid protective doors. The latest model also adds a USB-C port for charging, which is necessary under EU Common Charger regulations as of 2025, while the RX10 IV lacks this port, which is likely one of the reasons why it was removed from shelves last year.
We get a significant boost in power too, because the RX10 V uses the same NP-FZ100 battery as many recent Sony mirrorless cameras, which is a larger unit than the NP-FZ50 type used by the RX10 IV. Sony says battery life has increased by around 50% — from up to 400 shots to 630 shots. Add on-the-go USB-C charging, and the RX10 V is better equipped to last through a heavy day of photography.
The single SD memory slot is now compatible with faster UHS-II cards, while the older model only supports UHS-I. The viewfinder has a decent upgrade too — it’s a more immersive 0.5-inch 3.68m-dot unit, versus a 0.39-inch 2.36m-dot type. The viewfinder is also more pronounced, which makes it more accessible. It’s still no match for the even-bigger and brighter unit in many of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, as I discovered when directly comparing it to the A7R V’s.
There are a couple of drawbacks to the newer model. It doesn’t have a built-in flash as the RX10 IV does, but there is a hotshoe, and the RX10 V, like its predecessor, is compatible with an external flash. We also lose the top LCD display, which was a useful reference for camera settings. I prefer the shooting-mode dial placement and top LCD on the RX10 IV, but overall the RX10 V easily handles better.
5. Price and availability
- Cyber-shot RX10 IV discontinued — it was $1,700 / £1,500 / AU$2,000
- RX10 V costs $2,300 / £2,200 (around AU$3,000-3,500)
Here comes the sting — the RX10 V is a lot pricier than the RX10 IV was when it was launched in 2017. That’s to be expected given the nine years between the two cameras, but the RX10 IV was already the priciest bridge camera choice, and firmly out of reach for many of the exact kind of photographer who would want one: enthusiast wildlife photographers looking for a lightweight and versatile all-in-one kit.
The RX10 IV launched for $1,700 / £1,500 / AU$2,000 back in 2017, and it remained at that price point for many years after until it was discontinued. I’ve checked multiple leading camera gear stores, such as KEH (US) and MBP (UK), and secondhand RX10 IV’s are a rarity.
Meanwhile the RX10 V costs $2,300 / £2,200 (around AU$3,000-3,500). That’s a lot of money for such a camera, when it’s possible to pick up an older full-frame mirrorless body and secondhand telephoto zoom for little more. Or, if it’s the telephoto reach you want and you already own a Sony mirrorless body, the 400-800mm F6.3-8 lens costs around the same as the RX10 V.
Conclusion
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The Sony RX10 V is the exact upgrade that bridge-camera fans have been asking for. Its core lens and sensor specs are identical to the RX10 IV’s, but the new processor, subject-detection autofocus and larger battery deliver a major boost in performance, in the key areas that I would hope for.
Throw in a design overhaul, especially the inclusion of a joystick and larger viewfinder, and the RX10 V feels very much the bridge camera for 2026, and one that I expect to be very popular among the photographers who can afford it.
Simply the fact that the RX10 series is back is no doubt going to please many photographers who love the format for its versatility and relatively light weight. That said, if you can find the older RX10 IV for much less (good luck to you), you also won’t be disappointed — it’s still an excellent camera all these years on, offering very similar quality when it nails the shot.
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