Sony looks to up its game again
Sony found itself with something of a hit on its hands with the original
RX100. Launched back in 2012 it brought never before seen levels of
detail to the truly compact camera sector. Last year saw its first
revision, in the shape of the RX100 II, and now it’s time again for Sony
to tweak the formula with the RX100 III.
Watch the Sony RX100 III hands-on video:
Sony RX100 III: Features
What
set the original RX100 apart from the masses was its use of a large 1.0
inch sensor, which was some four times larger than conventional
1/2.3-type sensors found in traditional point-and-shoot compacts.
Combined with a high-quality, fast lens and impressively small body it
really did set a new benchmark.
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With the RX100 II Sony added a
tiltable 3-inch WhiteMagic LCD screen that improved on the fixed variety
found on its predecessor. It also saw the addition of a multi interface
shoe, which opened up the opportunity to attach an external flash,
electronic viewfinder or stereo microphone. Plus Wi-fi/NFC connectivity
and the option to shoot HD video at 24p for cinematically styled movies
were added. All this and the sensor was now a back-illuminated Exmor R
CMOS that Sony claimed was 40% more sensitive to light than its
predecessor.
At the time it was hard to see what else Sony could
add to improve this camera but, low and behold, the company has done
just that. In fact, there are some fairly radical changes under the hood
of the Rx100 III.
The most obvious of these
is the new popup viewfinder. On the RX100 II the only option for a
viewfinder was via the very expensive (£309), EV1MK electronic
viewfinder that was designed to clip onto the camera via its hotshoe and
connect via the accessory port. The accessory port and hotshoe have
both been removed from the RX100 III and in their place is a pop-up
flash thatâs raised using a small switch above the screen.
As
for the viewfinder Sony has replaced this with the first ever pop-up EVF
on a premium compact. This rises ingeniously from the corner of the
body and helps to keep the body as streamlined as possible. It features a
1,440k-dot resolution and uses a Zeiss T coating to help reduce
reflections and deliver excellent edge-to-edge clarity. Whatâs also
impressive is the way Sonyâs engineers have designed it so that it can
be used to power up the camera as an alternative to using the On/Off
button.
The second key change is to the lens. It now has a range
equivalent to 24-70mm, and has an aperture of f/2.8 across the
whole lot. Focusing distance has also improved with it now
able to focus within 30cm of a subject at the long end of the zoom. The
lensâs improved light-gathering capabilities also allows faster shutter
speeds to be used to freeze fast-moving subjects, while the addition of a
built-in ND filter gives users the option to use slower shutter speeds
in bright lighting conditions â a feature also recently introduced into
one of its key rivals â the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II.
On the
inside, there are changes too. While the 1.0inch 20.1MP Exmor sensor
is essentially the same as found in the Cyber-Shot RX100 II, itâs now
partnered with Sonyâs latest and most powerful Bionz X image processor
thatâs already in use within other recent cameras such as the Sony A77
Mark II. Claimed to operate three times faster than the previous Bionz
engine, the RX100 III maintains a maximum ISO sensitivity of ISO 25,600
and is capable of shooting at up to 10fps in its Speed Priority
Continuous Shooting mode.
The RX100 III’s other improvements of
note include the option to record Full HD video footage at up to 50Mbps,
or up to 100fps in the XAVC S format. Dual video recording will also be
appreciated by those whoâd like to record high quality AVCHD/XAVC S
footage alongside a smaller MP4 format file thatâs easier to share.
Another
first for the RX100 series is a 5-axis stabilisation system, which
should help to ensure steadier movies are created. Even with this new
camera weighing just 9 grams more than the RX100 II, the RX100 III also
features a 3inch Xtra Fine LCD that flips by 180 degrees and down by 45
degrees. This manoeuvrability is an improvement on the RX100 II that
could only be tilted up by 84 degrees. Finally, there’s support for
Sonyâs Play Memories app, which provides the option to enhance the cameras
functionality by using a selection of free or paid-for creative effects
and filters.
The overall look and feel of the Sony RX100 III is very similar to its predecessors with the removal of the hotshoe of the RX100 II making this model feel a little more like the original. Certainly for those that weren’t tempted to upgrade to the RX100 II, the RX100 III will offer complete familiarity yet really ramps up the specification.
As for the viewfinder, the way Sony has engineered the 1,440k-dot OLED contraption into the body is a great technological achievement, considering how small the camera is. The overall feel is much akin to a popup flash though here the EVF requires you pull the EVF towards you slightly before it can be used. We didnât find this to be a problem, though, and the eye sensor performed responsively â just as weâve come to expect from Sonyâs electronic viewfinders.
It offers a clear, bright view with good clarity, despite the resolution not matching that of the clip-on viewfinder offered for the RX100 II. Fundamentally, itâll be more than good enough for most users.
One area where we didn’t immediately notice much difference was in overall performance. That new BIONZ X processor didn’t obviously improve the speed of operation during the time we used the RX100 III, though those extra dual-video modes will certainly be one area where that extra power is needed.
Auto-focus performance was as good as we’d expect with the RX100 II locking onto subjects with minimal fuss, even in relatively low-light conditions.
First Impressions
Overall, our first impressions of the Sony RX100 III are that Sony has once again upped the anti, creating the standout premium compact camera. The new inbuilt EVF is excellent and a very useful addition, while the revised lens range should make this model even more versatile than its predecessors. The powerful stabilisation and new video modes also make this a serious videographers tool too.
The only question weâd like to know the answer to is how much consumers will have to pay to get their hands on this latest model. Pricing and information was unavailable at the time of writing, but based on the launch price of the RX100 II and the benefit of having a new electronic viewfinder built in on the latest model, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a price approaching four-figures. The good news for anyone that hasn’t yet taken the plunge on the RX100 or RX100 II is that the price of both can be expected to fall in the coming months.
Sony RX100 III: First Impressions
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