Sony has announced the RX10 Mark IV, an addition to its long-zoom 1" sensor compact lineup. Among its basic features, the new camera can shoot at 24fps with AF and AE.

Featuring the world's fastest AF acquisition time of 0.03 seconds and up to 24 fps continuous shooting with full AF/AE tracking, 315 phase-detection AF points that rivals those the fastest professional interchangeable lens cameras and a versatile 24-600mmiv F2.4-F4 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens, the new RX10 IV model delivers a combination of mobility and speed.

The RX10 IV camera is equipped with a latest 1.0-type 20.1 MP Exmor RS CMOS stacked image sensor with DRAM chip along with a BIONZ X image processor and front-end LSI. These key components all work together to maximise overall speed of operation and performance.

Other AF improvements in the new RX10 IV camera include an enhanced version of the Eye AF, Touch Focus and Focus Range Limiter. AF-ON setting is also assignable, as well as multiple AF modes including AF-S, AF-C and AF-A, which can be adjusted based on user preferences and shooting situations.

The RX10 IV offers continuous high-speed shooting at up to 24 fps with full AF/AE tracking, with a buffer limit of up to 249 images. Also, for convenience during image playback, continuously shot images can be displayed in groups instead of individual shots.

The RX10 IV also has a high speed Anti-Distortion Shutter (maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32000 second) that reduces the "rolling shutter" effect commonly experienced with fast moving subjects, and can shoot completely silently in all modes, including continuous high speed shooting, when electronic shutter is engaged. A mechanical shutter mode is also available as well if required by the user.

The 24-600mmiv ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens on the Cyber-shot RX10 IV camera features a large maximum aperture of F2.4-F4.0, helping it achieve high image quality throughout the entire zoom range, all the way up to ultra-telephoto. It includes a super ED (extra-low dispersion) glass element and ED aspherical lenses to minimise chromatic aberration, and ZEISS T Coating to minimise flare and ghosting.

The lens also has built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation that helps to reduce camera shake and image blur. When the feature is activated, it is equivalent to an approximate 4.5 steps shutter speed improvement.

Additionally, with a minimum focusing distance of 72 cm (2.36 ft) and 0.49x maximum magnification at a fully extended 600mm, the lens is capable of producing detailed tele-macro images.

The new RX10 IV becomes the latest Cyber-shot RX camera to offer the advantages of 4K (QFHD 3840 x 2160) movie recording, with its Fast Hybrid AF system realising approximately 2x faster focusing speed compared to the RX10 III.

In 4K mode, the new RX10 IV utilises full pixel readout without pixel binning, capturing approximately 1.7x more information than is required for 4K movie output. The camera utilises the XAVC S codec, recording video at a high data rate of up to 100 Mbps depending on shooting mode. Users have the option of shooting at either 24p or 30p in 4K mode (100 Mbps), or in frame rates of up to 120p in Full HD mode.

Super slow motion video recording is also available, with an extended duration of about 4 seconds (in quality priority mode) and 7 seconds (in shoot time priority). This feature gives users the ability to choose among 1000fps, 500fps and 250fps frame rates and among 50p, 25p and 24p playback formats.

The new RX10 IV features Sony's latest 3.0-type 1.44M dot tiltable LCD screen with Touch Focus and Touch Pad function and WhiteMagic technology. Additionally, it is equipped with an approx. 2.35M dot high-contrast XGA OLED Tru-Finder.

The RX10 IV is also dust and moisture resistant, and Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth compatible.

The camera will ship in October for approximately $1700.