PetaPixel review of the Sony RX1rIII: Was This Worth Waiting for Nearly 10 Years?

Sony RX1rIII preorders at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK.

PetaPixel reviewed the new Sony camera and concludes:

In 2025, it feels like a nostalgic blast from the past with some nice but minor quality-of-life improvements. That said, for almost as many nice things that we gained, we lost others.

There is no denying that it is a fun and handy camera to carry around, with the power to take some great images. This camera doesn’t fall far from the 2016 camera bag, and whether you will justify the $5,100 cost depends on how much you really pined for that RX1R II experience back in the day and how much more resolution really means to you.

Sony Dominates China’s Camera Sales!

JD.com released info about the current Chinese Camera market (Year 2025). It reveals just how dominant Sony has become in the interchangeable-lens camera segment.

In 2025 China’s online digital camera market grew steadily. JD.com shared the following ranking:

  • Sony ranked #1 in brand sales across both the interchangeable-lens camera and lens categories.
  • The Sony Alpha 7C II topped the interchangeable-lens camera sales chart, with the Alpha 7 IV in second place.
  • In the lens category, the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II claimed the top spot, with multiple Sony lenses entering the top five.

Here are the five most sold cameras in China:

  1. Sony Alpha 7C II ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  2. Sony Alpha 7 IV ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  3. Canon EOS R6 Mark II ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  4. Sony ZV-E10 ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  5. Fujifilm X-T5 ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )

Here are the five most sold lenses in China:

  1. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II (SEL2470GM2) ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  2. Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G (SEL2070G) ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  3. Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II (SEL70200GM2) ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  4. Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II (SEL70200G2) ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )
  5. Sony FE 50mm F1.4 GM (SEL50F14GM) ( B&H Photo, Amazon, Adorama )

Here are the five most popular camera brands in China:

  1. Sony
  2. Canon
  3. Fujifilm
  4. Nikon
  5. Panasonic

Here are the five most popular lens brands in China:

  1. Sony
  2. Canon
  3. SIGMA
  4. Nikon
  5. Tamron

This week only: Up to 10% off on Sony cameras and lenses at WexUK

For one week only you save big on Sony gear at WexUK (click here).

  • Voucher code “SONYLENS10” for 10% saving off ALL Sony lenses with the exception of 400mm GM and 600mm GM
  • Voucher code “SONYCAMERA5” for 5% saving off ALL Sony cameras (FF, APS-C, FX series, compacts etc.) with the exception of A1II, FX2, A7 III (all variants), A6400AKB, RX1R III.

Also check out the Sony, Sigma,Tamron Cashback and actions at Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, Calumet, WexUK, Clifton.

Real life comparison between the Sony RX1rIII and the 10 year old RX1rII

It took Sony 10 years to deliver a successor to the RX1R II. The changes may seem minor—but they matter. The clever (and maybe gimmicky?) pop-up EVF is gone. So is the tilting LCD, sadly.Sony kept the same lens and still didn’t add IBIS.
What we got instead is the upgraded and in y opinion still class leading 61MP sensor and the superb AI autofocus system.

Should they have done more? For $5100 probably yes. But then again… there’s still no other full-frame fixed-lens camera this compact and lightweight and also cheaper than this. That alone keeps the RX1R III in a class of its own.

 

Sony RX1rIII preorders at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK.

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Images via Mapcamera