Sony RX1R III

Sony's full-frame compact offers fantastic image quality in a tiny body, but it has its drawbacks too

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Sony took everyone by surprise back in July, when it announced a new full-frame fixed-lens compact camera, in the shape of the RX1R III.

Appearing a mere decade after its predecessor, it employs a similar fixed Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2 lens, but now with a 60MP sensor. This means it promises stunning image quality to match any full-frame camera in a body that, if not exactly pocketable, will certainly fit into a small bag. It's not hard to see where the attraction lies.

Naturally, you get some significant technology updates, as we'd expect to see after such a long gap between models. Most obviously, Sony's AI co-processor brings subject recognition for autofocus. The body design has been refreshed too, with changes including a neater flat top-plate design and a fixed, rather than popup, viewfinder.

It's probably no surprise to learn that getting this technology and image quality in such a small package doesn't come cheap, with the RX1R III costing a pretty eye-watering £4,199 at launch. That's an awful lot more than the camera with which it will inevitably be most closely compared: the hugely popular Fujifilm X100VI, with its 40MP APS-C sensor and 35mm equivalent f/2 lens.

As we'll see, the RX1R III comes with its fair share of compromises and idiosyncrasies, many of which can be directly attributed to its small body size. So the question is whether its unquestionable attractions offset the irritations and quirks that Sony has put in our way.

Let's take a closer look.

Features

In many respects, the RX1R III counts as a marriage of very familiar components. Its 60MP sensor is presumably the same as that used by several other Sony cameras already, including the A7R IV, A7R V, and A7CR. It delivers a standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-32,000, with extended settings covering ISO 50-102,400.