Sony is putting its weight behind 4K video recording in a huge way this year.
The company announced on Wednesday three new cameras capable of recording 4K video, which are targeted toward the amateur, advanced and professional shooter.
However, the RX100 IV, RX10 II and A7R II won’t shake up the camera world with dazzling new designs, as they look virtually identical to their predecessors. Take a look:
RX100 IV
First up is the RX100 IV, the follow-up to the RX100 III, a point-and-shoot camera that blew me away last year. (I loved it so much I bought one after I reviewed it.)
The tiny little camera has a 20.1-megapixel sensor, a revamped 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens, ISO 12,800 and 16 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting, and faster autofocus.
The 3-inch screen isn’t a touchscreen, but at least it flips up for selfies.
In addition, everything that made the RX100 III so great is back, including the 2.35 million dot electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash that can be flipped up for a bounce effect, and built-in Wi-Fi and NFC.
The 4K video recording is the weakest feature of the bunch. While you can record video at 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, the RX100 IV can only record footage in five-minute clips.
Slow-motion video junkies will also appreciate the new 480 fps and 960 fps “super slow motion” mode.
The RX100 IV will be available in July for for $1,000. Pre-orders will start on June 17.
RX10 II
The RX10 II shares much of the same genes (same image sensor and image processor) as the RX100 IV, but obviously has a bigger body and fixed lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture.
The camera has a 20.2-megapixel sensor, 14 fps continuous shooting and an ISO sensitivity of up to 12,800.
The RX10 II does have a leg up in the 4K video-recording department: 29 minutes per video clip at 100 Mbps in the XAVC S codec.
It also can shoot super slow-motion video at up to 960 fps — 40 times slower than what most consumer cameras can do at this time.
The RX10 II will be available this July for $1,300. Pre-orders start on June 17.
Alpha 7R II
On the high end of the Sony camera spectrum is the A7R II, a full-frame mirrorless camera with the best 4K video recording of the bunch.
This bad boy shoots with a whopping 42.4 megapixels, Sony’s highly touted BionzX image processor, five-axis image stabilization, ISO that goes as high as 102,400 and a whole slew of features that professional videographers would love.
Sony says the camera is 3.5x faster than A7R.
The magnesium-bodied camera will cost an arm and a leg when it comes out this August, though: $3,200 for the body only.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.