p.17 #2 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
zhangyue wrote:
Why this camera has to be used in summer?
Even here in north California summer, it is common upper 40, low 50 around beach.
it’s never summer in SF, was just back there for the weekend, everybody was in fleeces at the beach, lots of complaining that it was too cold as soon as the sun started to set.
p.17 #3 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
I'd switch from my 3 months old GFX100RF, but Sony made easy for me, the lack of tilting screen.
I'm 190cm, most time shooting my kids, where two factors are essential: eye tracking AF and tilting screen. I shoot even lower than waist level, I just can't get away with fixed screen.
Leica Qs are disqualified because the eye tracking AF performance. Rx1rii because of old AF, no tracking at all. So I stick with GFX100RF because it is still the most balanced package. F4 is not great but shooting small kids close distance gives sufficient separation. AF not great, but works well, only misses when they moving fast or unexpectedly. Lot of cropping ability, 28mm great when shooting indoors, 35mm bit tight. And screen and EVF are magnificent.
If I have lot of spare money I'd get the Rx1riii for the lens and AF as company of RF. But this fixed screen just killed it as only camera. A7CR also killed by the articulating low resolution screen, it seems Sony dislike 2M dot tilt screens.
p.17 #4 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
chez wrote:
Big difference Gggdan. I’m actually interested in a high mpix fixed lens compact camera for my travels. I’ve looked at the Gfx100rf and now this. You on the other hand have zero interest in these cameras and yet here you are chest beating how the lack of ibis makes these cameras archaic. You did the exact same thing on the Fuji thread to the point multiple people called you out. Maybe all you want is to be heard…well we’ve heard you, now just crawl away.
p.17 #5 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Did some research, apparently, it is made in Japan at Sony Koda site. Tariff for Japanese good is 25% right now, future? it may be lower. I dont think this camera charge 25% more but maybe 10% more and maybe global sale price get affected as well due to US tariff. But for camera like this at 2025, given its niche market item, $4500 is not unreasonable.
For anyone complain about hardware features, are you ready to pay more or accept bigger or heavier for those? or you just want to have more with the price?
There are some original reviews come out of WeChat after Sony introduction event in China claim the AF is very reliable and lens have no problem to resolve 61M sensor at f2 for in focus area. Not a surprise for anyone familiar with this Sonnar. This lens is still show flaws of bokeh fringing as before, again, not new to me. Not sure how credible source are, but there are claims that lens updated with improved reliability. Also, each camera gone through macro adjustment individually to guarantee peak performance, Sony did mention this in their market materials.
It is an expensive camera for sure. I am willing to pay more to get something I really enjoy to use even with flaws here and there. I know how that feels 10 years ago with original RX1. and this one fixed almost all major flaws to me: battery, AF, a better resolution LCD screen, much more responsive shooting and image reviewing.
For camera this size, flip screen is not a must for me as I can easily hold it at different level or angles without hand constrain. I can't clearly see the details or expression on 3" screen half to one meter away from my eyes anyway. For composition, or put subject in certain position, hold it low without flip screen is fine or if in need turn on horizon aid for composition. For family stuff, I would imagine just aim and fire more shots to pick one to secured the moments, that is what this camera for, at least for me.
I prefer tight build and flush top of new design personally for a small device like this. and I am happy to see an E shutter which I use all the time for non moving stuff with M11. 1/10s read out speed is fine. I can hand hold M11 with 28mm even 50mm lens with 1/30 easily, I expect similar performance with RX1r3. (Somehow, I never be able to do 1/30s reliably with leaf shutter on original RX1.)
The only real concern is camera seems 1cm deeper compare to before, (half of it from eye cap) so I may have to size up my jacket
p.17 #7 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Lukacs wrote:
I'm 190cm, most time shooting my kids, where two factors are essential: eye tracking AF and tilting screen. I shoot even lower than waist level, I just can't get away with fixed screen.
I remember when I was small my father bending his knees like a Jack-in-the-box to take a picture of me at my level, using his rangefinder camera. It looked ridiculous to me as a 4 or 5 year old.
People seem to manage with their phones.
I'd switch from my 3 months old GFX100RF, but Sony made easy for me, the lack of tilting screen.
Most of the tilting screens I’ve seen are useless with the camera oriented vertically.
p.17 #8 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Ripolini wrote:
A7CR has IBIS, and is a much more versatile tool, being a ILC.
2000 $ for a 35/2 lens is way overpriced. My CV 35/2 Apo-Lanthar costs half as much. Yes, it's a MF lens; however, for the same price, you can find so many 35/1.8-2 primes, both AF and MF, with excellent overall quality, including the Zeiss Milvus 35/2 for DSLR.
Consider that an excellent, and much more complex by design, 28-70mm f/2 zoom lens costs $3500 ...
If you're going to talk like that anything is comparable.
You're comparing the A7CR and it's a much bigger camera to the RX1R III.
Might as well compare the A7rV or even the older A7RIII. It's a much more versatile tool.
$2000 is not overpriced for this beautiful Sony 35mm f2 lens. Cheaper than the $4200 Leica 35mm f2 and with AF.
See how that works.
p.17 #9 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Fred Miranda wrote:
Although the RX1R III and A7CR share similar specs, the point of the RX1 series is to offer the smallest possible setup with a built-in, high-performing lens. In that sense, they are not really comparable.
p.17 #10 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Jman13 wrote:
I mean, the X100VI is a fantastic camera too, but if Fujifilm was charging $3,000 for it I’d say that was ridiculous too. It’s hard to swallow a $5,300 RX1R III with this corner cutting when a medium format GFX100RF can be had for $500 less.
It’s not that this camera is bad…I just think it’s a terrible value.
The pre-order price at B&H (for example) for the RX1R III is $5098, compared to $4899 for the GFX100RF. Given that the Fuji has been out for a bit, maybe there are ways to get it for less. But just that simple comparison puts the difference at $200.
Not saying that fundamentally changes the point you are making, but wanted to clarify the price in the US.
Not sure there is an obvious value play here, each camera will have strengths and weaknesses vs each other. Not a lot of options in the FF or better fixed lens market. It's effectively a niche.
A lot of the Fuji medium format cameras are on backorder at many places here in the US. I guess that is somewhat typical for Fuji, but it makes me wonder if they are prioritizing shipments to more stable markets vs the US right now,
p.17 #11 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Not all photographers live in North California and not everyone has a different camera for each season, assuming they actually live in a place with 4 seasons. I didn't know that RX1Rxx is not supposed to be used in summer.
zhangyue wrote:
Why this camera has to be used in summer?
Even here in north California summer, it is common upper 40, low 50 around beach.
p.17 #12 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
You guys are swirling on the season and weather thing. Where do you live, how many seasons are there there? Jacket, no jacket, what kind of jacket.? Do XXL jackets have bigger pockets than small jackets?
Not everyone lives in the same place, that's definitely true. At the end of the day, an individual will make a decision on how pocketable it is.
p.17 #13 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
yup, was meaning to try and make it a manual focus lens but have not gotten around to it.
Is it possible/practical? How far back into the camera does the lens protrude? If you have an elegant solution, this would sell like hot cakes. I want one yesterday! Pleeease.
p.17 #15 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Jaree wrote:
Not all photographers live in North California and not everyone has a different camera for each season, assuming they actually live in a place with 4 seasons. I didn't know that RX1Rxx is not supposed to be used in summer.
I suspect this “summer camera” notion came from the people who envision a fixed lens camera as their vacation camera, combined with someone mentioning that these arguable not “pocketable” cameras might fit in the pocket of a cool season jacket.
p.17 #16 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
If we are speculating that 10% of the RX1R III's cost is due to the Trump tariffs, I bet Sony won't lower the price by 10% if/when that trade war issue gets resolved? I don't see them automatically lower the price to $4,500 to please consumers.
p.17 #18 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Damn the morbidly obese and their full frame sized pockets! MY ENVY!
tsdevine wrote:
You guys are swirling on the season and weather thing. Where do you live, how many seasons are there there? Jacket, no jacket, what kind of jacket.? Do XXL jackets have bigger pockets than small jackets?
Not everyone lives in the same place, that's definitely true. At the end of the day, an individual will make a decision on how pocketable it is.
p.17 #20 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
For a bit of fun, this my imagined dialogue between Sony Marketing and Engineering in a meeting during the development of the RX1RIII:
Engineering: We can fit IBIS, but it will add $xx in cost and add 3/16” to depth and between 1/4 “ & ˝” to the width. It will also slightly reduce battery life.
Marketing: Nix that. The small size of the camera and low manufacturing cost are most important. Fuji doesn’t have it on their RF camera and they cannot keep up with demand. Leica M11owners spend $15K plus on the camera & lens and do not have it.
Engineering: Adding OS to the lens would require a whole new lens design. We checked with our Lens Development department and they are swamped with new f1.2 lenses, developing super-zooms to replace obsolete lenses like the 24-240mm and developing other lenses to keep up with Canon and Nikon.
Marketing: Nix OS.
Engineering: Adding a tilt LCD will add 3/16” to the camera width and add $XX in cost.
Marketing: Nix that. We are rigid in our quest to keep the small camera dimensions and maximize profitability.
Engineering: We are a bit concerned about releasing a 2025 camera that is missing these features when the rest of our camera lineup has such.
Marketing: Not to worry. We will announce the camera without providing pre-production units to the usual YouTube crowd, as we have done for other products. We will selectively provide units to our preferred Sony shills, for some great reviews. We will also release glitzy videos that feature dramatic landscapes and pretty models in tight leotards.
Engineering: Can we sell these at $5,100?
Marketing: Doesn’t matter too much. Our production capacity is maxed-out with the A1 II and filling inventory with our upcoming A7V. Plus, those cameras come with the ability to sell more lenses, which we do not want to displace with our fixed-lens camera.
We do not want to leave any money on the table. If we find the price is too high, we can have a price cut in the future. Besides, we have proven with equipment like the A1 II and GM 50-150mm f2 that folks will happily pay a usurious premium for unique equipment.
Engineering: How about $300 for the thumb grip and $200 for the lens hood?
Marketing: In six months, the Chinese will release exact replicas for $60 and $40. We might as well make some fat initial profits while we can. Besides, buyers will not realize how much they need these items until after they have made the initial camera purchase, which we think is a clever way to get $5600 for the camera.
