Sony announces 61-megapixel RX1R III

After a nearly ten-year wait, Sony has announced the RX1R III, built around a 61-megapixel image sensor and a Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 lens.

Despite rising demand for premium compact cameras such as Fujifilm's X100VI and the Leica Q series, Sony has taken its time with the successor to the RX1R II.

That camera featured a 42.4-megapixel Exmor R CMOS image sensor and a 35mm f/2 lens, but a fairly primitive autofocus system, at least by recent standards.

At the time, it was also a fairly niche (and pricey) camera, potentially condemning it to history.

But, surprisingly perhaps, in the intervening years demand for compact cameras of its type have soared.

Now, almost a decade on from the release of its predecessor, the new RX1R III promises significant improvements compared to the RX1RII, including Sony’s newest Bionz XR image processing engine, a dedicated AI processing unit to drive improved autofocus, and the a7R V’s impressive autofocus performance.

That said, it's expected that it probably won't match that camera's AF performance due to the large size of the elements in the 35mm f/2 lens it has to move.

Along with the internals, the camera's body has also been redesigned, and now positions the viewfinder on the top shoulder of the camera, rather than the pop-up unit used by the previous version. Surprisingly, the rear screen is now fixed, rather than tilting.

The RX1R III features a higher-resolution sensor that omits an optical low-pass filter to prioritise image detail, and uses the same leaf shutter as previous RX1 modes.

In addition, it includes a 'Step Crop' Shooting function, allowing users to switch between 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm equivalent focal lengths using assigned buttons or dials.

When shooting in RAW, the full-frame image is preserved even when a crop is applied, providing flexibility during post-processing.

The built-in 35mm f/2 lens includes a macro ring that engages a close-focusing mode. In this setting, the lens can focus as close as 20 centimetres, and offers a maximum magnification of 0.26x.

Twelve Creative Look presets are available in-camera, each adjustable across settings such as hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, and sharpness. These profiles can also be used when recording video, which maxes out at 4K/30. 

“The RX1R III combines Sony’s design savvy with the latest innovations in imaging technology to produce a new flagship in our RX1R camera series that offers uncompromising full-frame quality in a premium compact camera body,” says Yang Cheng, Vice President of Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc.

“The RX1R series has resonated greatly among discerning photographers, and we’re proud to now deliver the next generation of this popular camera model.”

The RX1R III’s electronic viewfinder features a 2.36 million-dot XGA OLED (the same as its predecessor) that offers 0.70x magnification, a slight decrease on the 0.73x of the RX1R II. 

The Sony RX1R III will be available this month for approximately $5,099.99 ($7,800 AUD) in the United States, considerably more than the RX1R II retailed for in 2015. We'll update local pricing and availability when we have it.

Optional accessories include the TG-2 thumb grip, an LCS-RXL body case, and the LHP-1 lens hood. You can find out more about the new camera at Sony.

16/7 - Update: The RX1RIII will be out in August for approximately $7,999 AUD.