Sony's RX1R III has sparked intense debate in the photography community, with its $5,100 price tag making even Leica Q cameras seem reasonable by comparison. You're looking at a camera that challenges every assumption about value, practicality, and what you actually need in a compact full frame body.
Coming to you from Benj Haisch, this revealing video breaks down whether the Sony RX1R III makes any sense in today's market. Haisch spent over a week with the camera, taking it to a wedding and using it for family photography, giving you the perspective of someone who actually works with these tools professionally. He's particularly struck by just how small this camera is, noting that if you could somehow cut the lens in half, you'd have something approaching early 1990s point-and-shoot dimensions. The size advantage is real, but Haisch doesn't shy away from the camera's significant compromises, including the lack of a flip screen that would have been invaluable when photographing children or during wedding cocktail hours.
The camera packs impressive specs into that tiny body, featuring the same 61-megapixel sensor found in the a7R V and what's likely in the Leica Q3. You get a 35mm f/2 lens with classic Zeiss Sonnar rendering that Haisch finds surprisingly appealing for a 2025 Sony camera. However, the trade-offs are substantial: no image stabilization, no weather-sealing, a tiny EVF that works but doesn't inspire confidence, and a single SD card slot that makes professional use risky. The camera uses a smaller NP-FW50 battery instead of the standard FZ100 found in other Sony bodies, breaking ecosystem compatibility that would otherwise be seamless.
Key Specs
- 61-megapixel full frame sensor
- Built-in 35mm f/2 lens
- 2.95" fixed touchscreen LCD (2,359,296 dots)
- Electronic OLED viewfinder (2,360,000 dots, 0.7x magnification)
- Single SD card slot
- NP-FW50 battery (approximately 270 shots)
- Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity
- USB-C port for charging and data transfer
- Weighs 1.1 lbs with battery and card
- No image stabilization or weather-sealing
Haisch makes a compelling case for why this camera could work alongside an a7R V rather than replacing an a7CR, despite the pricing making that a tough sell. The real insight comes from his practical experience using it at a wedding, where the smaller profile made candid photography less intimidating than approaching people with a larger camera body. He also reveals his biggest disappointment: the complete lack of weather-sealing, with the hot shoe being particularly vulnerable. Perhaps most tellingly, Haisch suggests that Sony missed a huge opportunity by not offering a lower-resolution version with the a7 IV's 33-megapixel sensor at around $4,000, which he believes would have sold significantly better and received far less criticism from the photography community. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Haisch.