By admin 
After a ten-year wait, Sony has finally launched the third generation of its iconic full-frame compact camera series – the RX1R III – in July 2025. This release has captured widespread attention in the photography world by not only inheriting the series’ classic compact body design but achieving a generational leap in core performance.
01 The Image Quality Revolution: Sensor and Processor
The RX1R III’s most significant upgrade is its adoption of the same 61MP full-frame back-illuminated sensor found in the Sony A7R V. This represents a 44% increase in resolution over the RX1R II’s 42.4MP sensor.
This sensor omits an optical low-pass filter and features an anti-reflection (AR) coating, significantly enhancing detail capture and clarity. The camera’s dynamic range reaches 15 stops, providing greater flexibility in complex lighting conditions.
Paired with the new BIONZ XR image processor, it delivers high resolution, excellent high ISO performance, low noise, and wide dynamic range.
02 A New Life for a Classic Lens
The RX1R III continues to use the Zeiss Sonnar T35mm F2 fixed lens, an optical masterpiece that has been part of the RX1 series since its 2012 debut. However, Sony has recalibrated the lens* to fully resolve the 61MP sensor’s detail capability.
Practical tests show extremely high center resolution with sharp, clear lines even at wide-open f/2. While edge resolution slightly decreases compared to the center, it maintains high standards. Sony has also made subtle adjustments, reducing the minimum focusing distance to 14cm for “semi-macro” capability.
03 The Intelligent Evolution of Autofocus
The RX1R III’s autofocus system represents a substantial improvement. It features 693 phase-detection AF points covering approximately 78% of the frame, significantly more than the RX1R II’s 399-point system.
More importantly, the RX1R III incorporates an AI processing chip enabling real-time subject recognition and tracking for seven types of subjects (people, animals, birds, insects, cars/trains, and airplanes).
The human pose recognition can not only identify eyes but also accurately determine body and head position, maintaining tracking even when the subject’s face isn’t visible.
04 A Quantum Leap in Video Capability
Video has historically been a weakness for the RX1 series, but the RX1R III brings major upgrades. It supports 4K 60p 10-bit video recording with S-Cinetone color science, a massive improvement over the RX1R II’s 1080p capabilities.
This makes the RX1R III the first RX series camera capable of high-spec video recording, suitable for vlogging, short films, and documentary secondary footage. Note that the camera relies solely on digital stabilization, putting it at a disadvantage in low-light video scenarios.
05 Body Design and Handling Experience
The RX1R III continues the series’ classic design language with dimensions of 113.3×67.9×74.5mm and weight of approximately 498g (including battery and memory card), slightly lighter than the RX1R II’s 507g.
The camera uses a magnesium alloy body frame with a flattened top plate design. The grip area has been redesigned with new texture patterns for more secure and comfortable handling.
The RX1R III features an approximately 2.36-million dot 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD and an approximately 2.36-million dot XGA OLED electronic viewfinder (0.7x magnification).
| Feature | RX1R III (2025) | RX1R II (2015) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Resolution | 61MP | 42.4MP | 📈 Major Increase |
| Processor | BIONZ XR | BIONZ X | 📈 Generation Upgrade |
| AF Points | 693 points | 399 points | 📈 Significant Increase |
| Video Capability | 4K/60p/10-bit | 1080p | 📈 Revolutionary Improvement |
| Min. Focus Distance | 14cm | 20cm | 📈 Noticeable Improvement |
| Battery Type | NP-FZ100 | NP-BX1 | 📈 Capacity Upgrade |
| Battery Life (shots) | Approx. 320 | Approx. 220 | 📈 Significant Improvement |
| Weight (with battery) | 498g | 507g | 📉 Slight Reduction |
| Launch Price | ¥33,999 RMB | ¥22,999 RMB | 📈 Substantial Increase |
06 Battery Life and Connectivity
The RX1R III upgrades from the NP-BX1 to the NP-FZ100 battery, significantly improving endurance. According to CIPA standards, it achieves approximately 320 shots using the LCD screen and about 270 shots with the electronic viewfinder – far exceeding the RX1R II’s 220-shot capacity.
The camera also features a USB Type-C port with Power Delivery fast charging support and can be powered by external battery packs for extended shooting, addressing the previous generation’s power limitations.
07 Creative Looks and Straight-Out-of-Camera Results
The RX1R III includes 12 Creative Look presets, including newly added FL2 and FL3 film-style filters. Users can adjust parameters like hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, and sharpness according to personal preference.
The FL filter presents rich film texture with high saturation; FL2 offers relatively softer colors with reduced saturation and warm yellow tones for a retro, nostalgic feel; while FL3 follows a fresh, artistic direction with low saturation for more artistic and atmospheric images.
These filters’ advantage lies in their adjustable parameters – users can tweak effects in real-time based on scenes, preview color performance directly, and achieve expected results without post-processing.
08 Market Positioning and Target Audience
The RX1R III carries a suggested retail price of ¥33,999 RMB (approximately $4,700 USD), significantly higher than the RX1R II’s original ¥22,999 RMB price tag, and even ¥13,000 more than the interchangeable-lens A7CR (¥20,999 RMB).
This camera primarily targets two user groups: mid-to-high-end users seeking “portability + high image quality,” and loyal RX1R series fans. Notably, female professional photographers represent a potential growth market, with the compact body, stylish appearance, and professional performance appealing strongly to female creators.
Compared to competitors, the RX1R III offers unique value:
| Application Scenario | RX1R III Advantages | A7CR Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Street Photography | 498g lightweight body, high stealth, natural 35mm perspective | 515g body + lens exceeds 800g, more noticeable |
| Landscape Photography | 61MP high resolution supports cropping | Pixel Shift Multi Shooting, 5-axis 7-stop stabilization |
| Portrait Creation | 35mm f/2 lens with high resolution, natural background blur | Ability to change different portrait lenses |
| Video Recording | 4K/60p/10-bit, S-Cinetone color science | Fully articulating screen, Log recording |
| Travel Companion | Pocketable size, always accessible | Requires carrying additional lenses, more space needed |
The choice between the RX1R III and A7CR depends on personal priorities: choose the RX1R III for ultimate portability and integrated experience; opt for the A7CR for versatility and expandability.
Whichever you choose, Sony provides today’s best high-quality portable solutions, demonstrating that cutting-edge technology can indeed fit in your pocket.