Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500

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Sony RX10 IV

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

$1,639.99
3%
off

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Panasonic FZ2500

20 MP | 1 BSI-CMOS Sensor

$997.99
17%
off

Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Large Sensor Superzoom cameras. Both Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 cameras have 20.0MP 1 sensors. We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Large Sensor Superzoom cameras. Out of 8 cameras in this class, Sony RX10 IV is ranked #3 with an overall score of 79 and Panasonic FZ2500 is ranked #1 with an overall score of 82.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony RX10 IV Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2017-09-12

20MP - 1 BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800

24-600 mm F2.4-4.0 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3″ Tilting Screen

2359k dot Electronic viewfinder

24.0 fps continuous shooting

3840 x 2160 video resolution

960fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

1095g. 133 x 94 x 145 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III Compare

Panasonic FZ2500 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-09-19

20MP - 1 BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80-25600)

24-480 mm F2.8-4.5 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3 Fully Articulated Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

12 fps continuous shooting

4096 x 2160 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

915g. 138 x 102 x 135 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-FZ2000

Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Compare

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV over Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500

Number of Focus Points	315 vs 49	266 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution	1.440k dots vs 1.040k dots	38% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	24.0fps vs 12.0fps	12 fps faster
Battery Life	400 shots vs 350 shots	50 more frames with a single charge
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Tele	600mm vs 480mm	120 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	25x vs 20x	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	2.40 vs 2.80	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	4.00 vs 4.50	faster lens at tele
Top LCD	Yes vs No	Help viewing and changing settings easily
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV

Max Shutter Speed	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster shutter speed
Weight	915 g vs 1095 g	180 g lighter
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Flash Coverage	13.2m vs 10.8m	2.4m longer range
Viewfinder Resolution	2360k dot vs 2359k dot	0% higher resolution
Price	$998 vs $1,640	$642 cheaper
Max Video Resolution	4096 x 2160 vs 3840 x 2160	Higher Resolution Video
Built-in ND Filter	Yes vs No	Use larger aperture under strong light
Selfie Friendly LCD	Yes vs No	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
4K Photo Mode	Yes vs No	Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
Focus Stacking	Yes vs No	Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode	Yes vs No	Change focus point after taking a shot

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	All the lenses are stabilized
Articulating Screen	Yes vs Yes	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe	Yes vs Yes	Better for flash photography
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	20 MP vs 20 MP	Bigger prints and more details
Continuous Shooting	24.0fps vs 12.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Microphone Port	Yes vs Yes	High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port	Yes vs Yes	better video control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
Focal Length - Tele	600mm vs 480mm	Very good Telezoom
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection	Yes vs Yes	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level	Yes vs Yes	Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote Control	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500

Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500. Sony RX10 IV is 5mm narrower and 8mm shorter than Panasonic FZ2500 but it is also 10mm thicker.

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500.

Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic FZ2500 is significantly lighter (180g ) than the Sony RX10 IV which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX10 IV

FZ2500

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX10 IV

FZ2500

Min

Average

Max

Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 have 1 sized 20.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the RX10 IV and FZ2500 sensor size comparison.

Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500 Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX10 IV features a 24-600 mm F2.4-4.0 25x zoom lens whereas Panasonic FZ2500 features a 24-480 mm F2.8-4.5 20x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.40, Sony RX10 IV is faster than Panasonic FZ2500 at this focal length. On the tele end, Sony RX10 IV has 120mm longer reach than the Panasonic FZ2500. At f4.00, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

RX10 IV

FZ2500

Widest - Samsung WB2200F

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

RX10 IV

FZ2500

Longest - Nikon P900

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

RX10 IV

FZ2500

Fastest - Olympus 1

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

RX10 IV

FZ2500

Fastest - Sony RX10 III

Average

What types of Photography are Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony RX10 IV for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Panasonic FZ2500 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Average sized 1 sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony RX10 IV for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Panasonic FZ2500 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.40
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1 sensor
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Sony RX10 IV for Sports Photography

GOOD

Panasonic FZ2500 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 24.0fps
Environmental Sealings
315 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
600 mm Tele Lens
Fast Lens at Tele: f4.00
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
480 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony RX10 IV for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic FZ2500 for Daily Photography

GOOD

RAW shooting capability
Environmental Sealings
25X Optical Zoom
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
1095g
Body Thickness 145mm
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
20X Optical Zoom
Average sized 1 sensor
Medium size Body
915g
Body Thickness 135mm
Read the details

Sony RX10 IV for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic FZ2500 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1 sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony RX10 IV vs Panasonic FZ2500: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony RX10 IV and Panasonic FZ2500 scores compare:

Sony RX10 IV

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #2 out of 107 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #76 out of 1131 in all Cameras

Panasonic FZ2500

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #1 out of 107 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #52 out of 1131 in all Cameras

Panasonic FZ2500 has a higher Overall Score than the Sony RX10 IV and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Sony RX10 IV

$1,639.99
3%
off

Panasonic FZ2500

$997.99
17%
off

Panasonic FZ2500 vs Sony RX10 IV Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500
Brand	Sony	Panasonic
Announced	2017-09-12	2016-09-19
Body Type	SLR-like (bridge)	SLR-like (bridge)
Price	$1,639.99	$997.99
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1	1
Dimensions	13.2 x 8.8 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	116.16mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	20 megapixels	20 megapixels
Max Resolution	5472 x 3648	5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	25600 ISO	25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	125 ISO	125 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity	64 ISO	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	315	49
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-600 mm (25x)	24-480 mm (20x)
Max Aperture	F2.4-4.0	F2.8-4.5
Macro Focus Range	3cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Tilting	Fully Articulated
Size	3″	3
Resolution	1,440k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	2,359k dots	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.7	0.74
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed	1/2000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	10.80 m (at Auto ISO)	13.20 m (at Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	24.0 fps	12.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160	4096 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S	MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	1095g	915g
Dimensions	133 x 94 x 145mm	138 x 102 x 135mm
Battery Life	400 shots	350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	70
DxO Color Depth	not tested	23.0
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	12.6
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	538
	Report a correction	Report a correction