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Sony's latest Cyber-shot cameras offer intensely high frame rate

Sony's new cameras can shoot 960 frames per second for two seconds and can reach 1/32,000 second shutter speed -- for under $1,300.

Aloysius Low Senior Editor
Aloysius Low is a Senior Editor at CNET covering mobile and Asia. Based in Singapore, he loves playing Dota 2 when he can spare the time and is also the owner-minion of two adorable cats.
Aloysius Low
2 min read

If you're looking for a small portable compact with great performance, the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV has plenty to offer. Lori Grunin/CNET

If you're hankering after the latest Sony camera, in particularly the new Cyber-shot RX100 IV and RX10 II , the good news that you'll be able to get it this month if you live in Australia or countries in Asia.

Sony is making a big push to retail its latest two compacts in the region, and you can expect to lay your hands on the cameras in the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

The RX100 IV will retail for $948 or approximately AU$1,268 while the RX10 II will be slightly more expensive (thanks to its zoom capabilities) for $1,298, which converts to around AU$1,738.

For those wondering if either of the cameras are worth getting, here's a quick rundown of what each camera has to offer.

The RX100 IV is the more affordable of the two, but both it and the RX10 II pack a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor like the older RX100 III but uses a new technology called the "stacked CMOS sensor". Basically the light receptors are located alone on top, while the circuit is under that. Current CMOS sensors put both on the same level, and changing this allows for potentially bigger and more sensitive pixels.

Sony RX10 II: Completely new where you can't see it (pictures)

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Both cameras are capable of shooting at high frame rates -- up to 960 frames per second for 2 seconds, allowing you to capture slow motion shots of things happening Mythbuster-style. They also shoot 4K video.

Besides a fast frame rate, both cameras also have a high shutter speed -- up to 1/32,000 second, but bear in mind you'll need plenty of light to make full use of this feature or end up with a terribly underexposed image.

The main difference between both cameras (apart from the obvious pricing) is that the RX10 II comes with a 200mm f2.8 lens, while the RX100 IV packs a more modest f1.8 to f2.8 24-70mm. For more information, be sure to check out the first takes for the RX100 IV and RX10 II .