Sony RX1R III Review: Is This Little Camera Worth $5,100?

The Sony RX1R III (aka the DSC-RX1RM3) is a compact, fixed-lens camera with a secret: a full-frame, 60.2 megapixel sensor. Usually big, high-res image sensors only come in big, interchangeable lens bodies. The RX1R III is closer in size to compact cameras like the Ricoh GR IV and Panasonic Z99, both of which have smaller image sensors and lower resolution. 

Using the RX1R III feels like using any other point-and-shoot camera. You can use it on full auto to get impressive results direct from the camera, or dial down into the settings to get the exact aesthetic you want. Picture quality is impressive, far beyond what’s possible with any phone and most other compact cameras.

The RX1R III’s biggest problem, if you can call it that, is the price. At $5,100 it’s much more expensive than more versatile mirrorless cameras and way more than smaller, more compact cameras. It’s a real oddball of a product but for a very specific person it might be perfect.  

The RX1R III is smaller yet heavier than you’d expect. Most pictures make it seem like it’s a small mirrorless camera, but this is definitely more point-and-shoot sized. Its metal body (magnesium) feels quite solid. All the various dials have a satisfying click to them. Even the lens cap feels weighty and substantial. This feels like a premium camera, which is good because it is. The size and weight don’t make for a particularly comfortable camera to hold, but I never felt like I was going to drop it.

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The lens barrel has three rings. The outermost is for manual focus, the middle enables a macro-focusing mode (as close as 0.2m/7.9in), and the innermost ring is for aperture. This is overridden in modes that automatically set it. On top of the body there are dials for mode and exposure, plus one of 3 user-programmable buttons. The “multi interface shoe” on top has a digital audio interface.

The touchscreen, unfortunately, doesn’t pivot or tilt out, a handy feature many cheaper cameras have. There is an OLED viewfinder that automatically activates when you bring the camera close to your face. It’s contrasty and detailed. In addition to the other programmable buttons, there’s a scroll wheel, which makes navigating the many menus quite easy. 

One notable feature that’s surprisingly missing is image stabilization. Many other cameras use optical or sensor stabilization to help reduce image blur when shooting hand-held with long shutter speeds. That it’s missing here, especially for the price, is odd. The fast lens and great image sensor perform quite well together, so I suppose Sony didn’t think it was necessary. Still, it’s a strange thing to lack in 2025 and beyond. 

Also a bit strange are the mediocre video capabilities. Sony clearly intends this camera for photos, not video. While 4K30 is “fine” in that it’s better than HD, there are many more affordable cameras that can do far more. Even your phone can likely do 4K60. With a significant “zoomed in” crop factor and only marginally-effective digital image stabilization (more than what photos get, to be fair) you probably wouldn’t want to shoot much video with it anyway.

Sony’s Creators’ App connected to my Pixel 9 Pro on the first try. This is one of the better camera apps I’ve used, letting you control the camera, rate and select images and videos to download or upload to the cloud, delete unwanted images in bulk, save settings to the phone or cloud. The remote camera control, with a live view, lets you adjust the camera’s various settings.  

Usability and photo quality

Despite the price and impressive specs, the RX1R III works just like any other compact fixed-lens camera. There’s an Auto mode that does a good job setting exposure and shutter speed to the scene. The autofocus works quickly and smartly. If you want to dial in any specific settings, there are multiple dials right near your fingers to do so. 

Having a 60.2-megapixel sensor is wild. My big Canon R6 makes do with “just” 20.1, and my Fujifilm X100VI has what I thought was an impressive 40.2. Resolution is just one aspect of image quality, and if you’re posting on social media, even 20.1 megapixels is plenty. However, the extra resolution isn’t just about added detail but how much you can crop an image. You essentially don’t need a telephoto lens when shooting with the RX1R III. You can crop so far into an image that it looks like you’ve got a massive zoom lens, even though it’s a fixed 35mm. 

The 35mm Zeiss lens is fantastic. At f2, it offers some impressive light-gathering performance and some lovely smooth bokeh. It’s also sharp and creates pleasing starbursts when stopped down and shooting into a bright light source like the sun. The close-focusing mode, plus the high resolution, lets you capture impressively close macro images. 

That resolution does come with a downside: huge file sizes. JPEGs are about 14 megabytes and their accompanying raw files are around 64MB. These files transfer fairly quickly to your phone but it’s worth keeping in mind if you shoot a lot. Large SD cards and an extra hard drive are a must, as is a decent computer to process them without bogging down. Then again, for the type of people I imagine are interested in the RX1R, they likely already have all of that.

My only real complaint is the ergonomics. This is a heavy camera for its size, and there’s no thumb rest and only the smallest of front grips for your fingers. It makes the RX1R a little awkward to hold, especially for any length of time. There are plenty of aftermarket accessories to address this issue, so this isn’t a problem per se, just something to keep in mind. And to be clear, this is a small camera that’s lighter than many of its high-end contemporaries. The Leica Q3, for example, which uses the same image sensor, is almost 50% heavier. 

Mostly, though, the RX1R is a flexible and forgiving camera. It feels very easy to take very high-quality, great-looking photos in a variety of lighting situations. The sensor’s high dynamic range lets you expose for highlights and get impressively low-noise shadows you can brighten in post. Colors are deep and lifelike. It’s all very confidence-inspiring that you’ll be able to get some great shots with minimal fuss. Or, if you want to fuss, get something special.

$84.72 per megapixel

The RX1R III is, as I’ve said already, wild. If you take price out of the equation, it’s a brilliant little camera: great lens, impressive sensor, small size and easy to use. This is the real world, however, so price has to be a part of the equation… I guess? I mean, does a Porsche driver care that their Boxster is more expensive than a Mazda MX-5 but equally fun? Are there people wanting to save up for months to get the RX1R III? I have to assume a big percentage of people looking to buy this camera already have other cameras, and $5,100 isn’t a big deal.

Does the RX1R III offer enough performance to justify its significant premium over other compact cameras? For most people, no. You could buy the smaller, easily-pocketable Ricoh GR IV and the quirky Fujifilm X100VI and still have enough money to fly to Japan and use them both for two weeks. There are small, full-frame mirrorless cameras that can do everything the RX1R III and more for a lot less money. That seems beyond the point of this camera, though. 

There are, however, people who want and/or need more than what the Ricoh and Fuji and their APS-C-sized sensors can provide. In my mind, the RX1R III might be perfect for a professional photographer, especially someone who shoots weddings and events, who wants something fast and easy that can match the quality of their big, main cameras. A point-and-shoot camera with a great lens and sensor that creates images you can’t tell were taken by a point-and-shoot camera. So for those people, or I guess anyone who doesn’t flinch at the idea of a $5,100 gadget, the RX1R III is impressive and fits into a tiny niche all its own.