Sony finally notices that people like small cameras, releases RX1R III

[eatstoomuchjam]

While looking to see what was on the Deal Zone today, I noticed this banner on B&H.

RX1R III announced.

61 megapixel sensor
35mm f/2 lens (probably the same excellent one that was in the previous RX1R series cameras)
10-bit 4kp30 video, or 8-bit 120fps in full hd
ISO 100-32000
Support for user LUTs
Multi-function shoe
NP-FW50 battery (big improvement over older ones)
Body design seems to be an evolution over the old one, looks nice
Has an EVF, but the LCD is fixed
USB-C charging, shitty micro HDMI port
Price is a mere $5,100.  Most people have about that much in spare change between the couch cushions these days so it should be a big seller.

Will it overheat?  Only time will tell.  The video specs are ho-hum enough that it might not.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/news/sony-revives-its-pocket-powerhouse-with-rx1r-iii-digital-camera

 

[newfoundmass]

14 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

$5,100

!

[Phil A]

For a moment I had buyer's remorse that I finally picked up a Fujifilm X-M5 as my new EDC recently because I'd have loved this camera instead... but then I saw the price. They position it as direct competition to the Leica Q series. I'd rather get an A7C II at that point and buy a whole bunch of lenses with the left over money.

Now the screen has higher resolution (than FX2) but won't even tilt? The feature sets on the newly releasing cameras are so disjointed.

[MrSMW]

33 minutes ago, Phil A said:

For a moment I had buyer's remorse that I finally picked up a Fujifilm X-M5 LUMIX S1Rii

...and then mere nano-seconds later, thought, nah.

I am in the process of trading my Sony A7RV and Nikon Zf for a Lumix S1Rii.

Why?

Brings it all in house as my 3 video units are Lumix so it makes sense to have my stills camera also Lumix for cross compatibility.

I will miss both however...

The A7RV has been my workhorse 'pro' camera for 1.5 years now and it just delivers and never disappoints, at least when it comes to build, handling and most importantly results.

HOWEVER, it has only one 'fault' and that is as much as I like and respect it, there is something missing, - that 'if a camera had a soul' thing. 

The Nikon Zf on the other hand is hands down the best shooting experience stills camera I have ever owned...and I have had dozens.

BUT, only with small AF primes. It is probably fantastic with MF primes, but I have never tried and I didn't care much for it with the 3 adapted Tamron E Mount primes I have tried with it. Nope, works best with the Smallrig grip and the plastic fantastic 40mm f2 SE lens.

If it's so fantastic, why sell it?

Well at one point, I was hoping that Sony would indeed pop out an RX1Riii, ie, my A7RV in a 'rangefinderesque' style body, but probably at a stupid price.

And guess what, they have done exactly that!

Would I trade my Zf for that? Not a chance.

Would I trade the A7RV for one? Are you having a laugh?

But trade both for an S1Rii that kind of straddles the gap between the two...if you squint a little. Yes.

[eatstoomuchjam]

I'd say that if I had $5,100 burning a hole in my pocket for a compact camera (and I don't), I'd be a lot more likely to buy a GFX 100 RF for $300 less than that and then take myself and a friend to a nice restaurant and share a meal and some wine with the rest.

(The 100RF really needs to start aging and showing up in big numbers on the used market already, would love to buy one at a big discount from one of the buttholes who bought one for retail and is now trying to sell for $7k)

[Marcio Kabke Pinheiro]

A 2.36mp EVF and a fixed LCD in a $5100 camera. Oh boy.

[Emanuel]

They're nuts!

[Emanuel]

As FX30 user in a daily basis, I must add there's something wrong with this release, no doubts on this one! : X 

[Andrew Reid]

Love the RX1R III.

Hate the price.

Then again, people will pay this much and more for a Q3, and they are defining the market at the moment. Rich idiots

[Django]

As a Leica M user (28mm f/2 crew), I get the appeal of premium fixed-lens compacts like the Q or X100.. great balance of size, IQ, and shooting feel. But after watching this RX1R mk3 announcement I can't help but feel underwhelmed.

It uses the 61MP sensor from the A7R V, which is solid but no longer new, and you can pick up an A7R V for almost half the price. Pair that with the same Zeiss 35mm f/2 and Sony’s typical UI, and it starts to feel like a repackaged spec sheet rather than something truly fresh or innovative.

Meanwhile, Fuji recently dropped the GFX100RF in the same price range with a 100MP medium-format sensor, a dedicated aspect ratio lever, teleconverter toggle, retro dials, built-in ND, and beloved film simulations. It’s a camera made for photographers who want both insane IQ and tactile shooting joy. If it weren't for the f4 lens it would be my dream camera.

Compared to that, the RX1R III feels safe and soulless. Leica Q shooters get simplicity and killer glass; Fuji GFX shooters get medium format, dials galore and genuine character.

At $5K+, you want more than specs, you want experience. 

FWIW I actually really dig what Sony did with the FX2 by adding the tiltable EVF, that alone excites me. Not this.

[eatstoomuchjam]

41 minutes ago, Django said:

It uses the 61MP sensor from the A7R V, which is solid but no longer new, and you can pick up an A7R V for almost half the price.

If you want small and don't care about 8k video, you could also go with the A7CR which also has a 61mp sensor - maybe the same one?  I don't follow Sony too closely, but the specs look awfully similar.

[ArashM]

1 hour ago, Marcio Kabke Pinheiro said:

A 2.36mp EVF and a fixed LCD in a $5100 camera. Oh boy.

2.36mp EVF, in 2025, OMFG...... what is Sony's obsession with using the worst quality screens/EVFs on their cameras.

Also I'm not sure who mentioned it, but at that price honestly I would much rather grab the GFX100RF!!!!!

[newfoundmass]

1 hour ago, ArashM said:

2.36mp EVF, in 2025, OMFG...... what is Sony's obsession with using the worst quality screens/EVFs on their cameras.

It's almost certainly because they bought a boatload of them and need to get rid of them.

[MrSMW]

12 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

If you want small and don't care about 8k video, you could also go with the A7CR which also has a 61mp sensor - maybe the same one?  I don't follow Sony too closely, but the specs look awfully similar.

Nah, A7RV KILLS the A7CR.

Unless you absolutely must have that body type, it has; better stab, MUCH better EVF and rear fully articulating LCD, twin type B CF Express with write back up (stills anyway, not sure about video) and is just a much better platform.

I have one for sale if anyone wants one? EU only!! 

But that's not why I'm rating it well over the A7CR, - it's simply a much better camera in every regard except as above, unless you must have a rangefinderesque body.

[eatstoomuchjam]

1 hour ago, MrSMW said:

unless you must have a rangefinderesque body

Yeah - I was talking as an alternative tiny camera for the people who might be a target market for the rx1r iii.  515g (a7cr body only) is closer to 498g (body+lens of rx1r iii) than 723g (a7r v).  Though they're all big enough that they won't fit in a pocket, unless you're wearing some Matty G cargo pants.

(Maybe someday, some vendor will make a decent quality digital Olympus XA-1 - come on, OM System!  Get with it)

The ergonomics on the V look a LOT better, as you said.  But sorry if I was unclear that I meant the specs on the sensor look similar between the two cameras.  I'm willing to bet that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in still photos or 4K video taken on the A7CR and A7R5.  😃

[Davide DB]

7 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

Yeah - I was talking as an alternative tiny camera for the people who might be a target market for the rx1r iii.  515g (a7cr body only) is closer to 498g (body+lens of rx1r iii) than 723g (a7r v).  Though they're all big enough that they won't fit in a pocket, unless you're wearing some Matty G cargo pants.

(Maybe someday, some vendor will make a decent quality digital Olympus XA-1 - come on, OM System!  Get with it)

The ergonomics on the V look a LOT better, as you said.  But sorry if I was unclear that I meant the specs on the sensor look similar between the two cameras.  I'm willing to bet that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in still photos or 4K video taken on the A7CR and A7R5.  😃

 

Or a new LX10, or bette lr a GM 1with rhe latest Lumix technology 

[BTM_Pix]

Comparing the a7RC versus the RX1R III, it is £1700 cheaper.

There are plenty of compact 35mm full frame e-mount lenses that will leave you with enough change to buy a few (many) more focal lengths if you don’t want to be locked into the 35mm.

Its going to be bigger of course but so is your bank balance.

This might actually tip people over the edge to the a7RC that were sitting on the fence waiting for the MkIII of the RX1R.

So the bastards win either way.

[Andrew Reid]

The RX1R can be had for as little as 700 quid and has the same very good Zeiss lens.

The Leica M Typ 240 remains the cheapest and most underrated Leica for 2 grand if that floats your boat. I regret selling mine.

The Sigma Fp-L with EVF-11 has same sensor as the RX1R III, but like the a7rc isn't as pocketable with a 35mm F2 on the front.

The attraction of the RX1R for me has always been the fun factor and size, plus that Zeiss lens is one of the best you can get, perfectly optimised for the sensor and it sits right up against it, without the optical compromises of E-mount.

But in some ways the Mark III goes backwards from the RX1R II, which sells for around £2k second hand.

No articulated screen any more, and the beautifully engineered pop-up EVF is replaced with a boring standard one for cost reasons.

If you don't need 4K or 60MP, that 42MP Mark II does a lot of things right including phase-detect AF.

One thing I am curious about with the new model is whether they have modernised the lens.

As the original lens had a big heavy element that moves around and slows down the AF system.

The RX1R III at £4200 in the UK bodes well for the used price in a couple of years, probably down around £2800 unless they are really scarce.

The US price seems to have been Trump-fucked.

One final thought is I wish Sony would do a camera this size with E-mount, to give us something other than the Fp-L and Panasonic S9 to play with.

[MrSMW]

49 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

I'm willing to bet that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference in still photos or 4K video taken on the A7CR and A7R5

100%

24 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

If you don't need 4K or 60MP, that 42MP Mark II does a lot of things right including phase-detect AF.

I'd easily pick the II model over the III...and was considering it but scratched that itch with the Zf...and despite that being my favourite ever camera to shoot with, selling it, for the second time, but needs must.

Anyone EU also want to buy a minty Zf?! 🤪