Sony's 61MP RX1R III fixed-lens compact digicam is lastly right here after a ten-year wait
Sony simply stunned the pictures world by unveiling the RX1R III, a fixed-lens 35mm full-frame compact digicam. Coming almost ten years after the RX1R II, it has a 61MP Exmor R sensor together with Sony’s newest picture processing expertise that guarantees low noise and excessive dynamic vary.
Other than all the brand new tech, the RX1R III is smaller and extra streamlined than earlier than and significantly lighter at 17 ounces than its predominant competitors, Leica’s Q3 and the Fujifilm GFX100RF. With that, it is designed to be a “carrying round” digicam for avenue photographers, critical amateurs and others.
That small measurement is due partly to the Zeiss Sonnar T 35mm f2 lens that sits partly contained in the physique. Whereas extra compact than earlier than, it has the identical optics because the final mannequin and affords excessive ranges of sharpness and colour rendering, based on Sony. It comes with a macro ring that allows customers to get as shut as 20cm to topics and have’s Sony’s new “Step Crop Taking pictures” perform that permits 35mm, 50mm and 70mm focal lengths by cropping into the sensor, identical to the GFX100RF can do with an analogous button.
The RX1R II has as much as 15 stops of dynamic vary because of the high-res sensor and picture processing engine. It additionally options an anti-reflection coating and no optical low-pass filter to spice up picture high quality, although that may trigger some moire and different artifacts. Taking pictures speeds aren’t fast at simply 5 fps, although it is clearly not designed for sports activities.
The digital viewfinder is middling with 2.36 million dots and 0.7x magnification, although the rear show affords an honest 2.4 million dots of decision. Nevertheless, in contrast to the one on the earlier mannequin that tilted out and up, it is fastened so as to save weight and measurement. It additionally lacks any in-body or optical stabilization, relying solely on digital shake discount.
With Sony’s newest Bionz XR and AI processors, it guarantees correct monitoring of “topics, human our bodies, heads and the place of eyes,” Sony mentioned, even when their faces aren’t seen. It makes use of 693 phase-detection AF factors overlaying round 78 p.c of the picture, identical to Sony’s A7R V.
It isn’t almost as highly effective because the A7R V for video, however can nonetheless deal with 4K 30 fps video with 10-bit 4:2:2 colour sampling, together with 1080p video at as much as 120 fps. No log mode is out there, however you do get the log-like S-Cinetone that enhances dynamic vary a bit. Different options embody a single SDXC UHS II slot, a mic enter (however not headphone jack), a microHDMI port and a USB-C enter.
The R1XR III is far more costly than the RX1R II was at launch. It’s going to go on pre-order quickly for $5,100, with delivery set to start out on July thirty first. Sony can also be providing a handful of equipment (additionally costly), together with a $300 (!) thumb grip, $250 physique case and $200 lens hood (!!).