I’ve wondered for a few years now if a potential RX1R III might sway me to sell my Q2 as my everyday camera and go all-in on Sony. The conveniences of Sony’s autofocus system, even for grabbing casual snaps of my chaotic 1.5-year-old, often already has me toting around my Alpha cameras over my Leica anyway. I’m sure I could still be convinced to make that switch, but when I pictured that hypothetical I didn’t expect to lose the conveniences of a tiltable screen like I’m accustomed to on my Alpha bodies.
Sony cameras are known for offering kitchen sink-levels of features. With the RX1R III, I think it falls just short. And at a high cost.
New Sony RX1rIII (p)reviews by Terry Warfield, Tony Northrup, TheVerge
Sony RX1rIII preorders at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
In general reviewers have mixed feelings about the Sony RX1r III. I think the camera will prove ot be more popular than they might think. But let’s digg into the reactions of some testers:
Antonio Benedetto from TheVerge writes:
Here are Tony Northrup and Terry Warfield sharign their thoughts:
Some more discussions:
Sony’s new $5,000+ compact camera (Engadget).
Let’s Talk About the Sony RX1R III (DPReview Discussions)
Sony RX1rIII thoughts by CineD on Youtube (from minute 17)
Sony RX1rIII preorders at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
Wild rumors roundup: A7sIV and FX8
About those rumors: I have no idea who sent them and 90% of the times they turn out to be wrong. But, it happened in the past that a couple of those were right. So I will post them today, and we all together can eventually keep track of this. If one of the sources turns out to be right than we will know we can trust it a bit more!
Source 1:
A7Siv and FX3ii (fx4) do not use a global shutter or partial stacked sensor.
They use a fully stacked sensor that also has 2-Layer Transistor Pixel technology that dramatically improve both dynamic range and low light performance.
This information and rumor is public for a long time now.
The 2-Layer Transistor Pixel sensor is a stacked CMOS image sensor.
Not sure it is exactly 24 MP it could be just 21 MP for 6k60p oversampled and 4k120p.
Source 2:
Sony has notified our company that they want to release the successor to the FX9 this year, but surprisingly, the product is named FX8 instead of FX9II because it using a removable external audio recording module to reduce the size.
The FX8 features a more powerful cooling system, 8.5/7.0-step c/p IBIS and variable eND, which makes the body longer. But unfortunately, FX8 doesn’t support X-OCN recording.
The highlight of the FX8 is its newly developed 16 stop latitude full-frame 12K sensor (approx. 81M effective pixels, effective area 35.8mm x 20.1mm) designed for video, with an optical LPF.
When shooting in 16:9, FX8 no longer needs to crop 6% of the width horizontally in full frame.
Something noteworthy is that the FX8 features Dual Base ISO 500/2000 and an Enhanced ISO 8000. As for why ISO 8000 isn’t designated as Base ISO, the reason may be that during 8K recording, the latitude distribution of Enhanced ISO 8000 can’t be same as Base ISO 500/2000.Like the BURANO and FX9, the FX8 offers multiple scan modes: FF 12K at up to 30fps, FF 6K (binning) at up to 60fps, FFc 3.8K (binning, 1.04x cropped) at up to 120fps, and S35 8K at up to 60fps.
The maximum frame rate & resolution: 8K 17:9 / 16:9 30p in FF 12K / S35 8K scan, 4K 17:9 / 16:9 60p in FF 6K / S35 8K scan, and 4K 16:9 120p in FFc 3.8K scan. All scan modes can be oversampled to lower resolution XAVC.
Although the FX8 supports anamorphic de-squeezing, it doesn’t have S35 4:3. Okay, nothing beats BURANO’s record format.
But FX8 simulated PTZ camera function is very interesting.
FX8 can simultaneously record uncropped images and two AI-tracked cropped images, and supports manual adjustment and program settings. Three steaming angles, making single-camera interviews less boring.
Source 3:
I saw someone holding a new Sony E-mount camera with a sticker on it in Wuxi, a city in Jiangsu Province, China. He was not an employee of the Sony factory in Wuxi, but an ordinary social media influencer not for digital product.
The appearance of this new camera is quite interesting. It has almost the same design as the A1 II, with a large and deep handle. Its EVF looks a little smaller than that of the A1 II, and it lacks the dial on the left side. From what I saw of the screen, this camera displays 33M. The menu options have changed, but the image flashed by so quickly that I couldn’t see it clearly.
Looking back, it might be a bit disappointing. This unreleased new model is clearly not part of the A7R/A7S series, as its EVF has been reduced in size. Considering the recently released A1 II and FX2, I can’t help but wonder if this is an A1 II-style update for the A7 series?
Source 4:
Sony rep was telling them that a new camera was coming soon. They could not remember the exact name, but they said it was another Italian name like Venice or Burano. They said that they believe that the Sony rep said it was going to be full frame 6K, to compete with Canon C400. That is all they remember. This person is not a “gear head” like me, but they wanted to share this info. No more specs. A full frame 6K camera would make sense now that the FX9 is discontinued, and not to compete with 8K Burano.
Sony RX1rIII review by Cam Mackey: Lacks of emotion!
Sony RX1rIII preorders at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK.
Cam Mackey had the chance to play with the Sony RX1r III and I tend ot agree with his critics and conclusion. So let’s sum it up:
Strengths of Sony RX1R III:
• Smallest full-frame camera, unique in its niche.
• Excellent 61MP sensor and sharp Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens with character.
• Autofocus is industry-leading, especially for tracking and subject detection (better than Leica and Nikon).
• Some charm in its older Zeiss lens and improved JPEG film-look presets.
• Unique option for Sony shooters who want a compact, high-quality camera.
Weaknesses & Critiques:
• Feels overpriced ($5,100), better suited at ~$3,500.
• Build quality and feel not premium enough for its price — feels plasticky and uninspiring compared to Leica.
• Viewfinder and LCD are small, dated, and less satisfying than competitors.
• Fixed screen, no IBIS, and ergonomics make it less pleasant to use for long sessions.
• Accessories (grip, hood) are pricey, mimicking Leica’s niche but without Leica’s craftsmanship or ecosystem.
• JPEG film looks are improved but still feel sterile compared to Fujifilm.
Compared with the Leica Q3 the Leica feels:
• premium, inspiring, and beautifully crafted.
• Incredible lens character with sharpness and bokeh that still feels natural.
• Viewfinder and controls feel luxurious, and the shooting experience is unmatched.
• Justifies its even higher price (~$7–8K) by delivering emotional connection and artistry.
Overall Verdict:
• RX1R III is technically impressive but lacks emotional appeal, premium feel, and inspiration for the price.
• Best suited for Sony loyalists or those wanting a compact, high-res, AF powerhouse — but most would find better value and experience in a used Leica Q3 or cheaper alternatives.
• The reviewer emphasizes that cameras at this level are luxuries meant to inspire and create joy, not just deliver specs.
Closing Thought:
Future camera buyers will prioritize inspiration, feel, and unique rendering over clinical perfection. Cameras should motivate and feel authentic — a quality the Leica delivers far better than Sony in this segment.
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I fully agree that people now want cameras that are not only technically capable but also give you the feeling you own something special. I think the RX1rIII is technically a marvel but Sony needs ot understand we need more than this. We need a beautiful design, easy usability and proper Kodak film simulations built into our Sony cameras.
PetaPixel reviews the new Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 FE lens
Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 FE at BHphoto, Adorama, Fotokoch, WexUK. Introduction on Explora.
Chris Nichols reviews the new Tamron 16–30mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, the successor to the 17–28mm f/2.8, completing Tamron’s lightweight f/2.8 zoom “trinity” (16–30, 28–75, 70–180). Despite the confusing name (no prior 16–30 mirrorless version existed), it’s positioned as a more versatile replacement for the older 17–28mm. The lens is compact, lightweight, weather-sealed, with a 67mm filter thread matching the other Tamron zooms.
Build quality: plastic hood, smooth zoom and focus rings, customizable button, and USB-C port for firmware and app customization.
Optics: sharp at 16mm wide open, good corners, but at 30mm wide open suffers some softness and glow; improves stopped down. Bokeh is decent but not exceptional — some harshness and cat’s eye shapes at f/2.8, but backgrounds remain soft for an ultra-wide.
Autofocus is much improved with a linear motor, making it fast and quiet for stills and video.
Video performance: excellent for gimbal work, minimal focus breathing, fast AF tracking, though no optical stabilization (relies on IBIS).
Compared to rivals: sharper and more modern than the old 17–28mm, more affordable and compact than OEM options, but with competition from Sony 16–25mm and Sigma 16–28mm.
Conclusion: a solid choice if you want an affordable, reliable, and compact ultra-wide f/2.8 zoom, especially if you already own Tamron’s 28–75 and 70–180 G2 lenses.
June Besteller ranking from Kitamura: Sony A7cII and Tamron 28-75mm on top
Kitamura shared the list of best selling gear in June.
Best selling cameras:
- Sony α7C II
- Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 II Power Zoom Lens Kit
- Sony α7 IV
- Sony VLOGCAM ZV-E10 Double Zoom Lens Kit
- Fujifilm X-M5
- Nikon Z50II Double Zoom Kit
- Sony α7R V
- Sony α6700 high-magnification zoom lens kit
- Nikon Z5II
- Canon EOS R50 V RF-S14-30 IS STM PZ Lens Kit
Best selling lenses:
- Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Sony E-mount
- Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary Sony E-mount
- Fujifilm XF16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR II
- Canon EF50mm F1.8 STM
- Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary Sony E-mount
- Tamron 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Sony E-mount
- Canon RF75-300mm F4-5.6
- Sony E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
- Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
- Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Sony E-mount
Finally the very first Youtube review of the new Sony RX1R III
Finally we have the very first review of the new Sony RX1r III. Let’s see if this can convince some of the skeptics out there that this is quite a stunning (althaugh expensive) camera!
Sony RX1rIII preorders at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, Fotoerhardt, Calumet, WexUK.