Sony’s RX1R premium compact full-frame camera finally gets an update after nearly 10 years (Updated)
Better late than never?
Note: This article was first published on 16 July 2025 and was upated on 22 August 2025 with local pricing.
After nearly 10 years, Sony has finally updated its RX1R compact full-frame camera. The new camera is called the RX1R III, and it features a host of significant updates. More importantly, it marks Sony’s return to the compact premium camera segment, which has been one of the most popular thanks to cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI, Sigma BF, and Leica Q3.
To start, the sensor has been upgraded. It’s still full-frame, but now boasts a resolution of 61 megapixels. The built-in lens is unchanged, which means we still get the Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm f/2 lens.
The built-in 35mm f/2 lens is unchanged.
Because the sensor has so much resolution to spare, the RX1R III has a built-in crop function that simulates shooting at 50mm and 70mm equivalent focal lengths. A macro ring on the lens enables close-ups to be taken from as little as 20cm away.
Image processing and autofocusing get a boost thanks to the BIONZR image processing engine and a dedicated AI processor that aids in subject recognition. Sony’s autofocusing is generally regarded to be the best in the business.
Filters are all the rage these days, and the RX1R III comes with 12 built-in “Creative Looks” that subtly change parameters like colours, contrast, and saturation to give users a quick way to achieve their desired look and vibe.
Image processing gets a boost thanks to the new BIONZR image processor.
Battery life should also be improved since the RX1R III uses the larger NP-FW50 battery, which has a CIPA rating of 300 shots.
Happily, despite these updates, the RX1R III remains roughly the same size as its predecessor. This also means it’s even smaller than Fujifilm’s X100VI.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses, because the RX1R III still misses out on having in-body image stabilisation or optical image stabilisation. That’s a pity because having some sort of stabilisation will help tame movements when shooting with a high-resolution 61MP sensor.
The rear LCD touchscreen is 3 inches large and has a resolution of 2.36 million dots.
It’s also terribly pricey. At US$5,099 (~S$6,545), it’s a big jump from its predecessor’s launch price of US$3,300. A lot has changed in 10 years—inflation and tariffs be damned—but that’s still an increase of over 50%.
Still, it’s good to see Sony back in the premium compact camera game. And I’m sure there will be photographers who are enticed by the RX1R III’s diminutive size and Sony’s reputation for good image quality and fast autofocusing.
Availability and pricing (Updated on 22 August 2025)
The Sony RX1R III will be available in Singapore sometime in August. Pricing has yet to be determined, but given that the RX1R II had a launch price of S$4,999, it’s safe to expect the RX1R III to cost around S$7,000. We will update this section once we know more.
Sony has unveiled the price of the RX1R III and it’s S$6,199. It’s lower than expected, presumably because the US pricing has to account for Trump’s tariffs and we are spared. Even so, there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a lot for a compact fixed lens camera.