alphonso49uk

So Ive had the RX10M4 for just over a week. I bought it for overall image quality without the need to change lenses and it seems to deliver on that.
Like others I have found the menu to be cumbersome with far too many options which will not affect the quality of my photos in the slightest and most of them have been switched off.
The My Menu is needed to try and bypass all these options and the ability to set the custom buttons is usefull for the same reasons.
My main gripes are that it only takes the slightest touch on the lcd screen...and I mean slightest...to reset the focus point to somewhere you dont want it...like outside of the area where focus points are active. Usually its the nose (please dont laugh)I may not have the smallest nose on the planet but its hardly in Pinnochio territory! Since the viewfinder cant be extended out Im sure this will be a long term irritation.
The second one is the face recognition which seems to be for people who for some reason are unable to recognize a face and focus on it. If there are 3 faces in the photo then it will lock onto 2 faces and then decide which one it wants to be in focus. That despite ensuring that the focus point was pointing at the face I actually wanted to be in focus. Ive now switched that off too.
I suppose what Im getting at is in my opinion a lot of these features are merely marketing gimmicks rather than being actually of any use.
Are there any users out there who have experienced these issues or is it just me?

le boecere

I've never had a desire for a touchscreen on a camera, and your experience is one of the major reasons. I'm afraid that my schnoz would be making many of the camera's focusing decisions.

And, it's why all my digital cameras are rangefinder style (with EVF on the far left).

Excellent observations on your part. Thanks for posting this.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Since my subjects are non-human in almost every case I have face recognition turned off. I also turned off the touchscreen focus because A] I use the EVF about 99% of the time and B] I have been using the very fast AF in this (RX10m4) and previous Sony cameras with the small, center spot. A half press or a focus-hold press locks the focus and allows a quick re-compose and snap.

As I understand it, however, face recognition allows those who photograph groups of people to train the camera to focus on particular faces and ignore the others. I don't see that as a trivial idea at all.

With the exception of my wife's P900 I don't have other brands but I think that I agree that the menus are awful. That said, with the number and variety of settings available I am not sure I could do any better. The ability to see 12 instant settings areas without the menu system is very handy and the "my menu" seems a valid approach to allowing the user to customize. As for the P900, it's a simplistic camera and my biggest frustration is not that the organization is good or bad but that there are so few choices. For myself, more setting means better Even at the cost of complexity.

So in summary, I really don't agree with the first two posts. YMMV.

Oh, btw, my a6500 has EVF on the far left and that is wonderful with my biggish nose but it makes it very hard to use my left eye which is becoming an issue with my aging peepers. No perfect layout, I'm afraid. Center EVF on the RX10 does force my schnoz up against the big screen but allows equal use of eyes.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Yes, and I fixed it by going to Menu->Setup->Touch Operation and selecting Touch Pad Only. The focus never moves when your nose touches the screen. As far as face recognition, I either register the face so that the camera always picks the face I want, or I don't use face recognition with multiple faces.

This camera is only an irritation when you are not familiar with it. If you have only driven an automatic transmission, having to use a gearshift lever and a clutch is a major irritation. After a week it becomes fun. and on a curvy moutain road with lots of pitch changes - a stick shift is an absolute joy!

I suggest you read the manual and become familiar with the camera. That will help clear up some of your concerns. Check out eye focus - it really works - but like face recognition, not so well when you have groups of people.

alphonso49uk

Thanks for the input, particularly Gene who has solved the nose problem. Hopefully I can now concentrate on enjoying the camera.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

That touch panel is great when you are using the preview screen to compose and focus - so it's great for low-angle macro and video. But I always have it turned off for the most part.

There are two other ways worth mentioning to avoid the nose thing.

1) Menu->Setup->Page 3->Touch Pad Settings->Operation Area - Restricts the operation area for touch pad operations - Right 1/2 screen, Right 1/4, Upper Right, Lower Right, Left 1/2, Left 1/4 and Upper Left.

2) You can turn off the rear display, using only the viewfinder for everything, including using the menu to adjust settings. Menu->Display/Auto Review 1 (page 7/10) ->Finder/Monitor-> select Viewfinder to turn off rear display.

You can also assign whether you use the viewfinder, display or set it to auto by Menu->Tab2->Custom Operation 1->Custom Key (Shoot.)->then you can pick which button to set the "Finder Monitor Sel." function.

Yes there are a lot of options with this camera. When you think something doesn't make any sense, like with the question comes to mind "What was Sony thinking?", my experience has been that they thought about it and facilitated a user accessible choice. Yes, the menu could use some help, but like learning to type, once you've done it enough times, it becomes second nature.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Each brand has its own Menu system, and once you get used to it, it's fine. It's when you switch cameras that you can get confused. One nice thing about the Sony system is that you see all the choices on each screen. To see more choices, you use the top line of choices.

LA Loc: Little Rock, AR

I find Gary Friedman's book on the RX10 IV to be well worth the money. Lots of good info that helps you find the menu choices that work for you. I have been stunned at the IQ produced by the camera.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I only use touch screen focusing when using the liveview screen. I find the touch screen of little value when using the view finder (and simply use Center focus).

And yes, the camera does have a huge number of options; some of which you might use, some you may never use... BUT it is nice to have them if you require them.

I also own a Sony A7S, A7R II and RX10 III. I really like Sony's Camera Apps on the these cameras. I miss them a lot on the IV!!

bwa

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

I agree with you 100% with your advice about Gary Friedman. He has written the Absolut best Manuals on just about every Sony Model that has come out.
I loved the manual he wrote on the Sony a99II and now I'm going thru his Sony RX-10 IV that I just bought.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Isn't Absolut a band of vodka?

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

Yes you are right....
You will need the Vodka with out his book.