Sony’s New RX1R III Compact Camera

credits: Sony

Sony has officially brought its cult classic compact full-frame series back to life with the RX1R III, the long-awaited successor to the RX1R II from nearly a decade ago. At the heart of the new RX1R III is the 61-megapixel full-frame sensor, the same high-resolution chip found in Sony’s a7R V. It’s paired with the latest BIONZ XR processor and a dedicated AI processing unit, which together promise massive improvements in autofocus speed, tracking, and subject recognition. The 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar T lens remains fixed, but now comes with a macro ring that allows you to shoot as close as 20cm from your subject, achieving a 0.26x magnification.

Sony’s special move inside the camera is the new Step Crop Shooting feature, which lets you switch between 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm framing at the press of a button. While these are just crops of the full sensor, they offer flexible composition options, and crucially, the full RAW file is still retained, giving you full control in post if you decide to revert. The camera’s build is still based on magnesium alloy, with improved ergonomics including a refined grip and flat top-plate. Sony has also added 12 customisable Creative Looks, which let you apply and tweak in-camera colour styles. Video wise, the RX1R III isn’t a cinema powerhouse, it offers solid video features with some Creative Looks carrying over into movie mode.

You still get a built-in 2.36M-dot XGA OLED viewfinder, a 0.70x magnification, and the familiar NP-FW50 battery, good for about 300 shots per charge. Charging via USB-C brings the camera up to modern expectations, even if the battery itself is a bit dated. The only catch? The RX1R III is very much a premium camera, and its price reflects that. It launches this month at $5,099.99 USD.

You can see Sony’s introduction video on YouTube here