p.6 #3 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
nightnight wrote:
Not a word on weather sealing, either... just can't wrap my head around the price at this spec level.
This was the first thing that I looked for and the first thing that let me down. Sony had a ton of flexibility when they first released the RX1 as they were pioneering the up-market fixed lens prime digital camera. Weather sealing has been a shortcoming all along and still is. Kudos to them for an improved battery situation and fixed EVF (albeit small and meh)--then again, ten years later they didn't have a choice to use anything else. X100RF, Q3/43 both offer a more complete experience, so now Sony has what? 35mm and probably class leading AF? Cool. They simply didn't bother to orient toward the actual buyer of a camera in this segment.
sselhtrim wrote:
Actually, whats stopping sony from releasing a 33mp non r model 6 months to a year later.
33MP has always been the right number for full frame sensors. Just need the non-R version to be weather sealed and have a tilting screen....and be $3800.
p.6 #4 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
I know people have been asking for this camera for a long time, so hopefully it meets their expectations. Personal for 5k I can't help but feel a7cr is a lot more capable and quite a bit cheeper, for a bit bigger in size. Would have been cool if Sony did something unique with the RX1R III, such a changeable lenses (Even if it was a new mount with only a few options like a 24,35,50,85), or some new sensor tech.
p.6 #5 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Well for me it’s a no. While I really like it I can’t live with a fixed focal length lens, no IBIS, and. 61 Mpixels. I would have preferred a 42 Mpixel sensor to improve its high ISO performance. I already own the A7CR and A7CII so I know the low resolution EVF is a doable but not at this cost point and see the A7CII’s better high ISO and the flexibility that being able to use different focal length can give me. That why for an APS-C camera like the Fuji X-E5 over the X100VI.
What about features that Fuji X100VI like leaf shutter, 4 stop ND, built in flash, tilt-able rear LCD, and IBIS?
p.6 #7 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
I keep telling people that modern Sony is basically old school Canon, but they never believed me. Tariq Gibran wrote:
Loved the original RX1, which was released towards the end of 2012! Frankly, I'm a bit shocked that Sony finally released this update with so few improvements. Sure, the sensor is higher MP's and the AF should be dramatically better - that's to be expected. But, to not include IBIS nor a fantastic, high MP and high magnification EVF in today's market is a huge fail. Sony's "brand" used to be all about amazing innovation in a very small size. This update just looks like a way to milk an existing design with very little innovation.
p.6 #8 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
thanks for the comparisons fred!
looks like they couldn't get the new sensor as close to the back of the camera as it used to be (meaning the lens sticks out more). that is probably why they lost the tiltable lcd and is obviously why they couldn't add IBIS - the a7cr has a full inch of camera body behind the sensor while the rx1rii basically just has a ultra thin heat sink taking up a few millimeters between the lcd and the back of the sensor.
p.6 #10 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
BSPhotog wrote:
This was the first thing that I looked for and the first thing that let me down. Sony had a ton of flexibility when they first released the RX1 as they were pioneering the up-market fixed lens prime digital camera. Weather sealing has been a shortcoming all along and still is. Kudos to them for an improved battery situation and fixed EVF (albeit small and meh)--then again, ten years later they didn't have a choice to use anything else. X100RF, Q3/43 both offer a more complete experience, so now Sony has what? 35mm and probably class leading AF? Cool. They simply didn't bother to orient toward the actual buyer of a camera in this segment.
33MP has always been the right number for full frame sensors. Just need the non-R version to be weather sealed and have a tilting screen....and be $3800.
Some weather resistance is noted on the B&H page. I do question how good it might actually be but might explain some of the changes with loss of switches, etc. It still appears there are two mic holes on the top of the body though.
"Robust magnesium alloy body offers a durable profile and incorporates dust and moisture seals to protect against harsh environments."
p.6 #12 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
gordec wrote:
I'm not sure how many here truly used RX1 or RX1Rii. The MKii was an amazing camera for it's purpose. Full frame in such a small package, and it's not just any lens. That Sonnar is legendary. The 3 biggest issues most MKii users had are:
1. Horrible battery life. This should be fixed because it's a new larger capacity battery.
2. Popup EVF. Looks like this is fixed. No one expects a A7 size EVF. You just need to see your composition in sun light.
3. Weather sealing. Basically all Rx1Rs eventually get sensor dust. I'm not sure if this is fixed. There is a comment in the description which says: "Robust magnesium alloy body offers a durable profile and incorporates dust and moisture seals to protect against harsh environments." I assume this is weather sealed. Q2 and Q3 almost have not sensor dust issue due to excellent weather seal....Show more →
I had both the earlier models. Absolutely loved the image quality, but the first one was way too slow to operate and I never got used to the pop-up viewfinder on the second one. Sold them long ago. Still, it’s the only Sony model I’m remotely interested in. Just not at this price.
p.6 #13 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Absolutely agree with the EVF disappointment. The EVF resolution is my only complaint with the Sony A7CR, I cannot believe at this price point they would use a low res EVF. For this point alone I would not consider over Leica Q3.
p.6 #14 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
First impression ... beautiful compact design. The EVF and lack of IBIS aren't a big deal. That price, however, is a big limitation. Seems about $1,000 overpriced.
p.6 #16 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Ok, I've taken some time to read up on this new version after just having been plain EXCITED that they released a third version (which I never thought they'd do).
I'm an RX1 and RX1R2 user, and have been for a very long time. I bought the original RX1 in 2014, got it repaired a year ago, and have also used the RII for a few years now. They are basically my primary cameras and I adore them. I take them with me everywhere and love almost everything about them. I am the target market for the new camera.
My main complaints with the existing cameras are:
* Battery life
* AF (although I'm learning more and more about the RII's better AF each day)
So this camera solves both of those. Would IBIS be nice? Sure, but not at the expense of size, in my view. Would a better EVF be nice? Yes, definitely, but not at the expense of size.
I appreciate the little added grip. I will miss the tilting screen, but they likely had to ditch it to keep the camera small with the new EVF placement. As someone else said, I actually really liked the removable tilting EVF on the original. Best of both worlds to me.
I don't need 61MP, and even the 42MP in the RII are more than enough for me. But with the improved battery life and much better AF, I'm in. Now I need to find something to sell in order to fund it
Oh, and thanks for the comparisons Fred. Looks great, but I'm concerned about the removal of the AF selector switch, which I use all the time...
p.6 #17 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Fred Miranda wrote:
I really like the Sony RX1R III, but I definitely don't need another camera. For something portable and truly pocketable, I'm currently using the GR III HDF. It’s actually in my pocket right now, just in case something catches my eye.
I really like it too. Several years ago, I would have been far more interested. Even with IBIS/OIS + tilting screen, I wouldn't pay 5k for this. I spend nearly all my photo budget on vintage gear as I keep drifting further away from the modern stuff (despite sometimes it's must have and I still do enjoy the images). I am also traveling less and I get older and less adventurous
I have looked at the Ricoh! But, I am a DOF guy--I want f2.8 or shallower equivalent. Otherwise, looks spot on!
p.6 #18 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
Sony is drunk, this will be a flop. Even at $3000 its a stretch with that shitty EVF, no IBIS, the tiny battery and so on. You must really love the 35/2 this camera is rocking to shell out $5k for a down spec a7cr. Used Q3's are sub $5k. Even with TikTok FOMO, a price gouged x100VI looks pretty good compared to this.
Note to Sony - the Zed battery is class leading and needs to be in all cameras. The ZVE1 is no bigger than this and it uses the Z battery, and it has IBIS to boot. SMH.
p.6 #19 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
For those planning to stick with their A7CR bodies, there are a few lenses that come close in size to the RX1's 35mm f/2 Sonnar. That said, they're either a bit slower or have a longer FL...and none of them truly match the Sonnar's unique rendering. The Sigma comes closest, but it's also the longest in focal length.
Here are some of the most compact autofocus options for E-mount:
1. A7CR + FE 35mm f/2.8 – About the same size as the RX1's lens, though it's a full stop slower.
2. A7CR + FE 40mm f/2.5 – Slightly longer focal length which some may prefer and a good match in size. (slightly slower)
3. A7CR + Sigma 45mm f/2.8 – Roughly the same size as the FE 40/2.5, only about 1mm longer. While 45mm is quite a bit longer than 35mm, the rendering may actually be closer to the RX1’s Sonnar than Sony's 40mm.
All 3 options offer very similar blur compared to the RX1R's 35/2 lens when focusing a subject at same distance.
There are also other options from brands like Samyang, but those tend to be even larger.
p.6 #20 · Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
There are so many head scratching things here. I think Sony’s desire to keep the body really small is the reason for a lot of these decisions, but with a lens that sticks out so far I think I that’s a poor trade off. Making this a bit larger, and putting in IBIS, a better EVF and a tilting screen, along with a slightly more substantial grip would all be very welcome. And all those omissions while having an eye watering price are just hard to swallow at this stage IMO.
