Re: Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
I’ve had the original RX1, the very first model, with the popup flash and antialiasing filter, since new, and used it a lot. Here’s my list of what needed improving in that original model, from most to least important:
• Battery life. Improved slightly, but the new camera is slightly deeper and 20g heavier than my RX1.
• Weather sealing. Not claimed at sony.com.au.
• Very noisy AF motor. Unknown yet, even Gordon Laing didn’t get to handle one at the briefing there.
• AF performance. Addressed.
• Brightness of the rear screen. Not listed in the specifications at sony.com.au.
• Sensor noise performance. Addressed.
• Filter thread is baulky. Relevant because I have an ND filter for it. Probably not fixed, as the lens appears to be the same.
• Lossy raw compression only. Presumably fixed.
I don’t want a viewfinder for this kind of camera, and never bought the accessory one. I also like the GN 6 pop-up flash on my RX1, which is where the viewfinder is on the later cameras—the leaf shutter syncs at 1/2000 wide open and 1/4000 from f/4 and the tiny flash is useful for fill. The ergonomics are fine for holding out in front of you. An articulated screen would be nice but might be fragile on such a small camera. In short, I think starting with the II Sony strayed from the original concept of this camera.
Compared to my RX1, this new camera adds 4K but deletes 24p, 50i and 50p. I live in a PAL region and don’t need the grief of 23.98p and 29.97p. Only 25p is really the frame rate from this camera that is usable on a PAL-native timeline. (Yes, I checked the video specs at sony.com.au.) Just as well I’d only use it for stills, but one expects better for the money being asked.
Another step backwards in my book is the removal of the antialiasing (low pass) filter.
The screw-in cable release on the original won’t take the cable release I’ve had forever and used on at least 3 different film systems. If I ever actually used it I’d want to see an electronic release or at least the screw-in one made standard. Of course it’s a marketing feature, there for looks and soft touch shutter release accessories.
The 24Mpx of the original RX1 is fine for my purposes, and the lack of IBIS reasonable in such a small camera.
It’s subjective, but I think they ruined the appearance by making the top controls and shoe flush. The copper-coloured band around the rear of the lens is also gone. We live in grey times.
On balance, I prefer my original RX1 and if I had to replace it would consider this new model, but not at that price with no weather sealing. (So far, I haven’t encountered the problems with dust or focussing mechanism people describe.)
In case anyone’s interested, I paid A$149 for the genuine Sony lens hood in 2014, bought directly from Sony. The accessories have always been outrageously expensive.
Re: Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced!
I’ve had the original RX1, the very first model, with the popup flash and antialiasing filter, since new, and used it a lot. Here’s my list of what needed improving in that original model, from most to least important:
• Battery life. Improved slightly, but the new camera is slightly wider and 20g heavier than my RX1. It has the same height and depth.
• Weather sealing. Not claimed at sony.com.au.
• Very noisy AF motor. Unknown yet, even Gordon Laing didn’t get to handle one at the briefing there.
• AF performance. Addressed.
• Brightness of the rear screen. Not listed in the specifications at sony.com.au.
• Sensor noise performance. Addressed.
• Filter thread is baulky. Relevant because I have an ND filter for it. Probably not fixed, as the lens appears to be the same.
• Lossy raw compression only. Presumably fixed.
I don’t want a viewfinder for this kind of camera, and never bought the accessory one. I also like the GN 6 pop-up flash on my RX1, which is where the viewfinder is on the later cameras—the leaf shutter syncs at 1/2000 wide open and 1/4000 from f/4 and the tiny flash is useful for fill. The ergonomics are fine for holding out in front of you. An articulated screen would be nice but might be fragile on such a small camera. In short, I think starting with the II Sony strayed from the original concept of this camera.
Compared to my RX1, this new camera adds 4K but deletes 24p, 50i and 50p. I live in a PAL region and don’t need the grief of 23.98p and 29.97p. Only 25p is really the frame rate from this camera that is usable on a PAL-native timeline. (Yes, I checked the video specs at sony.com.au.) Just as well I’d only use it for stills, but one expects better for the money being asked.
Another step backwards in my book is the removal of the antialiasing (low pass) filter.
The screw-in cable release on the original won’t take the cable release I’ve had forever and used on at least 3 different film systems. If I ever actually used it I’d want to see an electronic release or at least the screw-in one made standard. Of course it’s a marketing feature, there for looks and soft touch shutter release accessories.
The 24Mpx of the original RX1 is fine for my purposes, and the lack of IBIS reasonable in such a small camera.
It’s subjective, but I think they ruined the appearance by making the top controls and shoe flush. The copper-coloured band around the rear of the lens is also gone. We live in grey times.
On balance, I prefer my original RX1 and if I had to replace it would consider this new model, but not at that price with no weather sealing. (So far, I haven’t encountered the problems with dust or focussing mechanism people describe.)
In case anyone’s interested, I paid A$149 for the genuine Sony lens hood in 2014, bought directly from Sony. The accessories have always been outrageously expensive.
Jul 16, 2025 at 05:36 AM
Previous versions of melcat's message #16852440 « Official: Sony RX1R III Digital Camera announced! »
