Sony RX1R III Review: Stunning photos, but Pack Spare Batteries

The Sony RX1R III is a wonderful, compact sized camera with amazing professional level image quality. Packing a 61-megapixel full-frame sensor and a beautiful fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar lens into a body that fits into a coat pocket, it offers unmatched portability and power. However, my five days shooting on the streets of Zurich revealed some real-world compromises that make its premium price tag ($5,899–$7,999 AUD) sometimes tough to swallow depending on your priorities as a photographer. 

First, the highlights: the sheer portability is incredible. Measuring under 500g and barely bigger than a pack of playing cards (excluding the lens protrusion), it really is an unbelievably small unit. It slips easily into a jacket pocket for discreet street shooting, while the fixed 35mm lens creates stunning bokeh and the intuitive menus make operation simple and straightforward. Secondly, the image quality from the Sony sensor is top-notch. In my opinion, only Fujifilm can match this level of beautiful tone, color, and contrast in such a compact unit. The autofocus was snappy and accurate. One afternoon I found myself shooting a bunch of youngsters launching themselves off a bridge into the Limmat river. The camera picked up and tracked focus very easily as they flew through the air and into the water below. 

Upon inspection of the full frame files when back at home, they didn’t disappoint. Images were sharp across the whole frame and contrast and tone was exceptional. The f/2 lens was pin sharp and I found myself using it wide open, often. For street photography the camera was discreet enough to almost hide in the palm of one’s hand and with something this small and unassuming you don’t scream “pro photographer” to passers by. Additionally, I utilised the Sony companion app to shoot remotely via my smartphone on several occasions. This app was snappy and extremely easy to use to both control the camera remotely and also transfer images to my smartphone. 

I frequently found myself utilizing the in-camera Step Crop feature, which offers 50mm and 70mm focal lengths. While it mimics the experience of using a physical zoom, it simply crops the image in-camera rather than requiring you to do it later in post-production.The files are so large that there is plenty of room to do so and although you lose some information, those cropped files still display plenty of quality. 

Using this camera on my first day walking the streets of Zurich was a delight—for around 90 minutes, until the battery was completely drained and I was forced (yes, forced) to stop at a nearby bar and let the camera charge off my portable power bank while I recharged with a Swiss lager. Sony uses the older NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery from the original Alpha a7 of 2013. It is a shame they used such an outdated battery in an expensive new camera. While battery technology has come a long way, and you would expect better longevity at this price point, Sony clearly prioritised keeping the camera as tiny as possible. Ultimately, poor battery life is the steep trade-off for ultimate portability. To stretch battery life on my second day, I turned off all LCD functions and didn’t keep the camera powered on constantly, which helped—but I still ran out of power by lunch and found myself back at the same bar in front of another Swiss lager whilst we both recharged. 

I loved the f/2 lens so much that I found myself shooting wide open constantly. However, doing so in bright sunlight can be problematic. Because the mechanical leaf shutter is limited to 1/2000s at f/2, you are forced to rely on the electronic shutter, which introduces noticeable rolling shutter distortion if the subject is moving or you are panning. While it is a minor gripe, the distortion is prominent enough that you will want to avoid it with fast-moving subjects. 

The mechanical leaf shutter is incredibly quiet and I found handheld images stayed sharp at shutter speeds as low as 1/15s if I braced myself or leaned against something solid. I even managed to capture fast-moving trams using 1-second exposures by resting the camera on a wall, yielding surprisingly good results. While the lack of In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) is missed, it isn’t a complete deal-breaker considering the compact overall size of the camera. However, when shooting from awkward positions, the lack of a tilting LCD screen is a shame. I genuinely missed this feature and would love to see it incorporated in a future model. 

All in all, I had a great time wandering the streets of Zurich with this camera on my wrist, over my shoulder, or tucked in my pocket for the week. It creates stunning, high-resolution files that won’t disappoint. It is not without its flaws but I’m yet to find a camera that is entirely perfect. Battery life will have you recharging regularly, so you’ll want to map out a few good bars serving that Swiss lager to stop at along the way – or just keep a spare battery (or two) in your pocket. 

The Pros: Pocket-Sized Power & Flawless Focus

• Stunning Image Quality: The pairing of the 61MP sensor and the Zeiss f/2 lens delivers breathtaking detail, rich colors and superb subject isolation. Straight-out-of-camera JPEGs are stunning and with several film simulations, users will be blown away by the image quality.
• Effortless Autofocus: Whether watching people jump from pedestrian bridges into the Limmat river or tracking people walking on the street, the modern AI tracking locked onto subjects instantly and flawlessly, making high-speed tracking effortless.
• Travel Flexibility: The remarkably small form factor is perfect for discreet street shooting and the in-camera 50mm and 70mm step crop modes effectively mimic a multi-lens setup. Although this is essentially just an in-camera image crop, it is fun to use and with 61MP to play with, there is plenty of information to crop into.

The Cons: Frustrating Field Limitations

• Concerning Battery Life: On my very first outing, the battery died after just 90 minutes. Carrying multiple spares is mandatory, unless you plan to charge it regularly via USB-C and a portable power bank.
• Severe Rolling Shutter: Attempting to shoot fast action or pan quickly using the electronic shutter caused significant geometric distortion, forcing me back to the mechanical shutter. Shooting wide open at f/2 can then be tricky, as the mechanical shutter tops out at 1/2000s, compared to the electronic shutter’s 1/8000s.
• Fixed LCD Screen & Lack of IBIS: The fixed rear LCD makes the camera away from your eye awkward and the complete lack of In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) makes the sensitive 61MP sensor prone to handshake when shooting at slower shutter speeds (even with the smooth mechanical leaf shutter). Video is also an afterthought, capped at 4K/30p, though I didn’t shoot any video on my trip.

The Verdict on the Sony RX1R III

The Sony RX1R III is a luxury specialist tool that delivers medium-format-level quality in a pocket-sized body. It is easy to use and easy to love but it also left me with a few serious questions. Worse-than-average battery life, a fixed rear LCD screen and no IBIS had me questioning how much I could sacrifice when paying such a premium. Unless you absolutely require pocketable 61MP files, a stabilized, interchangeable-lens camera like the Sony a7CR (if you want to stick with the Sony family) offers better value for your dollar. 

Web: Sony