Sony has officially unveiled the RX1R III, a highly anticipated follow-up to the RX1R II after nearly ten years. Priced at $5,100, this fixed-lens compact camera is designed for street photographers and serious enthusiasts, aiming to rival the Leica Q3 and Fujifilm GFX100RF.
The RX1R III features a 61-megapixel full-frame Exmor R sensor paired with Sony’s latest image processing technology, delivering high dynamic range and low noise performance. Despite the power, the camera remains compact and lightweight at just 17 ounces—lighter and smaller than its closest competitors.
A major contributor to its small form factor is the Zeiss Sonnar T 35mm f/2 lens, which is partly recessed into the body. While it maintains the optical design of its predecessor, Sony claims improved sharpness and color reproduction. It also includes a macro ring allowing users to focus as close as 20cm and introduces a new “Step Crop Shooting” mode for simulated focal lengths of 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm via sensor cropping, similar to the GFX100RF’s functionality.
The camera boasts up to 15 stops of dynamic range and forgoes an optical low-pass filter to enhance sharpness, though this may introduce moiré artifacts. Shooting speed is modest at 5 fps, reinforcing its role as a tool for thoughtful, not action, photography.
It has a 2.36M-dot EVF with 0.7x magnification and a fixed 2.4M-dot rear display—removing the tilting feature found on the RX1R II to reduce size and weight. Notably, it lacks both in-body and optical image stabilization, relying instead on digital stabilization.
Equipped with Sony’s Bionz XR and AI processors, the RX1R III features advanced subject recognition and tracking—including human eyes, heads, and bodies—even when partially obscured. The autofocus system includes 693 phase-detection points, covering about 78% of the frame, much like the A7R V.
While not a video-centric camera, it can shoot 4K at 30 fps with 10-bit 4:2:2 color and 1080p at up to 120 fps. There’s no log recording option, though Sony includes S-Cinetone for enhanced dynamic range. Additional features include one SDXC UHS-II card slot, a mic input, microHDMI, and USB-C ports—but no headphone jack.
The RX1R III will be available for pre-order soon and is expected to ship by July 31st. Sony is also offering premium accessories, including a $300 thumb grip, $250 body case, and $200 lens hood.
