It’s been a long wait for Sony‘s new RX1R III compact camera — almost a decade has passed since the RX1R II was launched — but it’s finally here. And by ‘here’, we mean Sony has announced the thing. A compact full-frame 35mm camera with a massive 61MP sensor, the shooter “combines Sony’s design savvy with the latest innovations in imaging technology”.
An RX1R III snapshot
Sony just announced the long-awaited update, with company vice president of Imaging Solutions Yang Cheng saying, “The RX1R series has resonated greatly among discerning photographers, and we’re proud to now deliver the next generation of this popular camera model.”
There’s a fair bit to be proud of. Sony has packed its latest compact with a 61MP Exmor R 35mm full-frame sensor, tucking it away behind a Zeiss Sonnar T* 35 mm F2 lens. An anti-reflection coating has been applied to the sensor, and Sony has yanked the optical low-pass filter “to achieve superior image quality.” The company’s BIONZ XR image processing engine handles translation from reality to still, and an AI image processing unit, from Sony’s Alpha range, is jammed into the internals.
The RX1R III features ‘Step Crop Shooting’, a new feature that lets the fixed lens function as three different prime lenses. Users can switch between 35 mm, 50 mm, and 70 mm focal lengths via the camera’s controls, with alteration available post-shot if shooting in RAW mode.
Fifteen stops of dynamic range are available, as are up to 693 points of phase-detection autofocus. The RX1R III’s body is manufactured from magnesium alloy, an XGA OLED electronic viewfinder ensures that subjects are easily visible, and Sony reckons the camera’s battery will handle 300 shots on a charge. Recharging is possible via USB-C, with battery extension possible via the same port (and an external power source).
The big headache for South African camera nerds is that it has yet to be announced here. Once it is, the second headache arrives — the price. Americans can expect to pay $5,100 for the basic camera, with accessories costing extra. Locally, you can expect something above R92,000 to be extracted from your bank account before you’re allowed to take the Sony RX1R III home.
