After nearly a decade, Sony has announced a new version of its fixed-lens compact RX1R camera that was last updated in 2015. The new third generation RX1R III arrives with the same 35mm full-frame Exmor R sensor as its predecessor, but with a bump from 42.4 to 61 megapixels. It also benefits from Sony’s latest Bionz XR and AI image processors to deliver better autofocus that can track the movement of human bodies and more accurately focus on their heads and eyes.
The RX1R III will be available sometime in July for approximately $5,099.99, according to Sony. That’s considerably more expensive than the RX1R II, which launched in 2015 for $3,300. The RX1R III’s compact size and Zeiss Sonnar T 35mm F2 lens puts the camera in competition with the $4,899.95 medium format Fujifilm GFX100RF and the $5,995 full-frame Leica Q3 – both of which also feature fixed lenses.
To compensate for that lens limitation, the RX1R III includes a Step Crop Shooting function that allows photographers to switch between 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm focal lengths achieved through sensor cropping. The camera also features a macro mode activated by a ring on the lens that can be used to focus on subjects as close as 20cm.
The camera has a body made of magnesium alloy. To help make the RX1R III as light and portable as possible, Sony is now using a fixed screen on the back that can no longer be tilted up and down. The change means you may find yourself having to contort your body when trying to capture low-angle shots using the camera’s screen or 2.36 million dot OLED electronic view finder.
Sony is once again positioning this camera as a high quality shooter that’s far less cumbersome to carry than larger mirrorless options or DSLRs, and its performance reflects that. Shooting speeds max out at just five frames per second, and the RX1R III can capture 4K video at 30 fps or 1080p at up to 120 fps (the RX1R II maxed out at 1080p) with the option to use Sony’s S-Cinetone picture profile for a more cinematic look.
The RX1R III also includes 12 different quick access Creative Looks that can be customized and applied to both stills and video. And like the Sony A7R V, its autofocus system features 693 phase-detection points and is capable of tracking human motion to determine where a subject’s eyes are supposed to be, even if they’re not looking directly at the camera or their face is obscured.
It seems like a worthwhile upgrade over the last generation, but if you don’t mind a bit more bulk, there are more capable and affordable alternatives from Sony.
