Sony has revived its premium superzoom camera line after a nine-year gap, unveiling the RX10 V with faster autofocus, upgraded video features and a price tag that pushes deep into mirrorless camera territory.

The new bridge camera succeeds the RX10 IV and keeps the same core formula: a fixed ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-600mm equivalent F2.4-4.0 lens paired with a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor.

That gives photographers a 25x optical zoom range in a single body, covering everything from landscapes and travel shots to wildlife, sport and close-up work without needing to swap lenses.

The major upgrades are inside. Sony has added its BIONZ XR processor and a dedicated AI processing unit, bringing Real-time Recognition Autofocus from its Alpha mirrorless cameras.

The RX10 V can recognise and track people, animals, birds, insects, cars, trains and aircraft. It can also follow humans even when their face or eyes are not visible.

For action shooting, the camera can fire at up to 30 frames per second with blackout-free viewing using the electronic shutter, backed by up to 60 autofocus and auto exposure calculations per second.

Video has received one of the biggest boosts. The RX10 V can record 4K at up to 60p using the full sensor width, or 4K 120p with a crop for slow-motion footage. It also supports 10-bit recording, S-Cinetone, S-Log3, custom LUT previews and 4K 30p live streaming.

Sony has also redesigned the body with a layout closer to its Alpha cameras, including a larger grip, joystick, extra control dials and a higher-resolution 3.68-million-dot OLED viewfinder. The rear LCD has been upgraded to 1.62 million dots, although it still tilts rather than fully articulating.

Battery life has improved due to Sony’s NP-FZ100 battery, rated at up to 630 shots per charge. USB-C, dual-band Wi-Fi, mic and headphone ports, a UHS-II SD card slot and dust and moisture resistance are also included.

The trade-off is price. The RX10 V will launch in August at A$3,499.

At that level, Sony is targeting serious users who want a powerful all-in-one wildlife, sport and travel camera, rather than casual compact camera buyers.