Sony Adds New Pocket-Sized RX100 III Camera to Cyber-shot RX Line
Sony has announced the Cyber-shot DSC RX100 III, the most advanced model yet in its 1"-type sensor range of compacts. The RX100 III features the same 20.2MP BSI CMOS sensor as the II, but it is equipped with Sony's latest Bionz X processor -- around three times faster than the BIONZ processing engine in the RX100 -- a pop-up electronic viewfinder and a faster lens. The new OLED Tru-Finder electronic viewfinder has an 1.4 million dot resolution, it features an eyepiece lens with ZEISS T coating, reducing reflections that can interfere with clear viewing. It also includes an eye sensor that automatically switches between viewfinder and monitor display.
The RX100 III's zoom now extends across a 24-70mm equivalent range, with a maximum aperture of F1.8-2.8. In addition, the rear LCD now flips up by up to 180 degrees. The camera includes Wi-Fi and can run Playmemories Camera Apps. Video has also been upgraded - including full-sensor readout 1080p stored at up to 50Mbps in the XAVC S format.
Other video features include a 'clear' HDMI output for reviewing footage on an external monitor, 120 fps recording at 720p HD resolution and zebra pattering on the LCD and built-in EVF. The camera also has dual video recording capability (XAVC S / AVCHD files4 along with MP4 files), which allows users to shoot a high bit-rate video for storage or editing purposes while also recording a lower bit rate video that?s optimized for sharing via Wi-Fi.
The camera also has Intelligent Active Mode, which utilizes Sony?s frame analysis technology and 5-axis compensation to dramatically reduce the effects of camera shake while shooting movies.
The RX100 III will be available in June for about $800.
Sony also announced today that its Alpha A7s, which was revealed at NAB in Las Vegas last month, will be going on sale in July for a cool $2,500 (body-only). The camera packs a 35mm full-frame, 12.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor, 4K video shooting and has an ISO range of 50 to 409,600.
Model |
RX100 III (DSC-RX100M3) |
Image Sensor |
1.0-type (13.2 x 8.8mm) Exmor R CMOS sensor with back illumination technology, aspect ratio 3:2 (Effective resolution) Approx. 20.1 megapixels |
Image processor |
BIONZ X |
Lens |
ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* Lens, 10 elements in 9 groups (9 aspheric elements including AA lens) f=8.8-25.7mm / 35mm format equivalent (Still Image 3:2) f=24-70mm Maximum aperture F1.8(W)-2.8(T) |
Zoom range |
Optical (still image/movie): 2.9x; Clear Image Zoom approx. 5.8x |
Screen |
7.5cm (3.0-type) (4:3) / 1,228,800 dots / Xtra Fine TFT LCD; adjusts up 180° / down 45° (approx.) |
Viewfinder |
0.39-type electronic viewfinder (OLED), 1,440,000 dots; magnification approx. 0.59x with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1(diopter) (35mm equiv.), retractable type |
Image stabilisation |
(Still image) Optical SteadyShot (Movie) Optical SteadyShot Intelligent Active Mode, Optical type with electronic compensation, Anti Rolling type |
Focus modes |
Single-shot AF (AF-S) / Continuous AF (AF-C) / Direct Manual Focus (DMF) / Manual Focus |
Focus area |
Wide / Centre / Flexible spot S/M/L / Lock on AF (Wide/Center/Flexible Spot) |
Sensitivity (still image) |
Auto (ISO125-12800, selectable with upper / lower limit), 125/160/200/250/320/400 /500/640/800/1000 /1250/1600/2000/2500/3200/4000/ 5000/6400/8000/10000/ 12800 (Extendable to ISO80/100), Multi-Frame NR: Auto (ISO125-12800), 200/400/800/ 1600/3200/6400/ 12800/25600 |
Continuous shooting |
Speed Priority Continuous Shooting: approx. 10 fps Continuous Shooting: approx. 2.9 fps (AF-S) |
Shooting modes |
Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, Program Auto (Program shift available), Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Scene Selection, Movie, Sweep shooting |
Picture Effect modes |
Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Posterisation, Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Colour, High Contrast Monochrome, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolour, Illustration |
Other Shooting functions |
Eye AF, Face Detection, Face Registration, Smile Shutter, Quick Navi, Grid Line, Digital Level Gauge (pitch and roll), MR (memory recall), Exposure Bracketing, White Balance Bracketing, Peaking, MF Assist, Auto Object Framing, Photo Creativity, Shooting Tips; Peaking, Zebra, Self-portrait timer |
Built-in flash |
Manual, pop-up |
Still image record |
[3:2 mode] 20M (5,472x3,648) / 10M (3,888x2,592) / 5M (2,736?1,824) [4:3 mode] 18M (4,864x3,648) / 10M (3,648x2,736) / 5M (2,592x1,944) / VGA [16:9 mode] 17M (5,472x3,080) / 7.5M (3,648x2,056) / 4.2M (2,720x1,528), [1:1 mode] 13M (3,648x3,648) / 6.5M (2,544x2,544) / 3.7M (1,920x1,920) [Sweep Panorama] Wide (12,416x1,856 / 5,536x2,160), Standard (8,192x1,856 / 3,872x2,160) |
Movie record |
[AVCHD] 28M PS (1,920x1,080/50p) / 24M FX (1,920x1,080/50i) / 17M FH (1,920x1,080/50i) / 24M FX (1,920x1,080/25p) / 17M FH (1,920x1,080/25p) [XAVC S] 50p 50M (1,920x1,080/50p) / 25p 50M (1,920x1,080/25p) / 100p 50M (1,280x720/100p) [MP4]12M (1,440x1,080/25fps) / 3M VGA (640x480/25fps) |
Battery life |
(Still Image) Monitor: Approx. 320 / Approx. 160min., Viewfinder: Approx. 230 / Approx. 115min. (Movies) Monitor: Approx. 50min., Viewfinder: Approx. 50min. (In [MP4 12M] mode, max. continuous shooting time is approx. 15 min. and max. file size is 2GB) |
Dimensions (WxHxD) |
Approx. 101.6 x 58.1 x 41.0 mm (CIPA compliant) |
Weight |
Approx. 290g (Battery and Memory Stick Duo are included) Approx. 263g (Body Only) |
Supplied accessories |
Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-BX1, Micro USB cable, Wrist Strap, Shoulder Strap Adaptor, Instruction Manual |