Sony RX1R III Review: 10,000 Photos and the Truth About This $5,000 Compact Camera

After spending a week with the Sony RX1R III and capturing nearly 10,000 frames, I feel like I’ve truly gotten to know what this little full frame compact can do. From photographing my family to shooting three portrait sessions and a full documentary project, I pushed this camera in real-world scenarios. But the question remains: Is it really worth $5,000?

First Impressions and Everyday Carry Comparison

My everyday camera for the past couple of years has been the Sony a7CR, so naturally, that’s my point of reference when evaluating size, performance, and usability. And let me say — the Sony RX1R III is small even when compared to the compact powerhouse that is the Sony a7CR, but in all the best ways. Usually, a tiny body means awkward ergonomics, but Sony nailed the handling here. Thanks to the subtle rear thumb nub and textured finish, I could actually shoot one-handed comfortably — something I can’t say for competitors like the Leica Q3.

That said, when using back-button autofocus, my thumb needed to reach for the AF button, slightly compromising grip. Not a huge deal in most instances, and I could easily use AF tied to the shutter to minimize this in certain situations. I do wish Sony had allowed the “autofocus with shutter” setting to be assigned to one of the memory slots on the dial to make this process a bit more seamless. Instead, I had to assign this menu item to “My-Menu,” making it easier than diving fully into the menu, but not as easy as a simple turn of a dial.

Sony RX1R III Example Image

Autofocus and Lens Performance

In practice, the RX1R III’s autofocus wasn’t as sticky or consistent as the a7CR’s. It’s not that it’s slow, because it’s actually quick and tracks very well, but occasionally it feels a bit hesitant. A likely culprit for this is the use of an older lens design. Personally, I like that Sony retained the older lens because it gives images a bit of unique character rather than some of the more clinical renderings found in modern designs, but I do wish they had upgraded the focusing motor to something found in more current lens offerings. That said, for real-world shooting, the autofocus was plenty fast and accurate for portraits, family work, and street photography.

Sony RX1R III Example Image

The Size Advantage (and Missed Opportunities)

Sony can proudly claim the RX1R III as the smallest full frame camera ever made, and that’s impressive. But I would have gladly accepted a slight size increase for practical improvements. The biggest missed opportunity? Battery life. Sony stuck with a smaller battery that just doesn’t hold up for heavy, all-day use. I constantly had the camera plugged in while driving, eating, and sleeping just to keep it charged. Ironically, there’s enough physical space inside the body for a larger NP-FZ100 battery if Sony had relocated the memory card slot.

I also wish Sony had included internal memory (even 512 GB would have helped) and maybe a microSD backup slot. Both would have been worth a tiny increase in body size, and had they opted for only internal memory, they could have had some extra room for the larger battery — a win-win.

Sony RX1R III Example Image

The Tilt Screen That Should Have Been

One of my biggest frustrations with this camera is that there is no tilt screen. The previous RX1R II had one, so losing it here feels like a big step backward. A tilt screen would have been perfect for waist-level shooting — something the RX1R III’s small size makes incredibly intuitive.

In fact, I found myself holding the camera in a unique way because of its small size. The lens fits between my pointer and middle finger, while the body rests on my ring and pinky, leaving my thumb perfectly positioned on the shutter button. With a tilt screen, this technique would have been ideal for discreet waist-level street photography.

Portraits and the Leaf Shutter Advantage

The RX1R III’s leaf shutter is absolutely nice to have for any type of work that requires flash. It allows you to sync flash at any shutter speed (at least any mechanical shutter speed), letting you darken ambient light for dramatic effects. However, there’s a limitation — the 1/4000 s shutter speed is only available up to f/5.6. Once you open up to f/2, it maxes out at 1/2000 s, making it difficult to shoot wide open in bright daylight without overexposing.

Sony RX1R III Example Image. 1/2,000th flash sync

Another quirk is that when stopped down to something like f/8, the camera provides a live exposure preview. But as soon as you half-press to focus, the lens opens to f/2. Normally, this is not a huge deal aside from losing your depth of field preview. But in super bright conditions, with the lens opened to f/2, the camera doesn’t seem to have the ability to give an accurate exposure preview, so it reverts to what it can show if you were at f/2. This causes the image preview to go from bright-dark-bright-dark as you press and release focus (see video for an example of what this looks like). Not only is the flashing annoying, but there were times when I was trying to quickly adjust settings and I’d make a change based on the preview I saw while focusing rather than the accurate preview. There is a bit of a learning curve here. I’m also not sure why the camera can’t use the available higher electronic shutter speeds for these previews, which would remove this weird functionality altogether (hopefully we see this in a firmware update).

Sony RX1R III Example Image

Stabilization and Low-Light Handling

There’s no in-body stabilization (IBIS), but surprisingly, I didn’t miss it much. Thanks to the leaf shutter and small form factor, I could hand-hold images at 1/4 second without issue. While I know this was a big complaint from a lot of keyboard warriors when the camera was first announced, it wasn’t something I personally struggled to get used to. If Sony were to make trade-offs for future versions, I’d still prioritize a tilt screen or larger battery over IBIS any day of the week.

Sony RX1R III Example Image

Is It Worth $5,000?

For most people, probably not. If you look at the spec sheet and think “no way,” this camera simply isn’t for you, and that’s perfectly fine. The RX1R III isn’t designed for the masses. It’s for photographers who appreciate its unique balance of compactness, character, and full frame performance.

For me, I’m somewhere in the middle. I’ve been asking Sony for years to refresh the RX1R line, and they delivered almost exactly what I hoped for: a modern sensor and updated autofocus system. My biggest hesitation is the missing tilt screen. Without it, the price felt hard to justify — yet the experience of shooting with this camera was so enjoyable that, even after returning the loaner, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Update: I Bought It Anyway

After returning the loaner, I ended up purchasing the RX1R III for myself. Despite its flaws, this camera fits my shooting style perfectly. I’ve since added a few accessories to enhance the experience:

• IDS grip: solves my one-handed shooting comfort issue, especially when using back-button focus.

• OwlKrown adjustable flat rope strap: minimal and stylish, ideal for neck or shoulder carry.

• OwlKrown matte black shutter release: adds a tactile finishing touch.

OwlKrown Flat Rope Adjustable Strap

Even though I still wish it had internal memory, a tilt screen, and a bigger battery, I can confidently say this is my new everyday carry camera.

Final Thoughts

The Sony RX1R III is a rare blend of power, simplicity, and creative inspiration. It’s not perfect — far from it — but it’s the kind of camera that makes me want to go out and shoot.

Sony RX1R III Example Image

If you value compactness, full frame image quality, and that unmistakable shooting experience of a fixed lens camera, then this might be a camera worth looking into, especially if cost is not a major factor in your decision-making process. And for me, even after thousands of frames and a fair share of frustrations, I can say I prefer carrying this over the Sony a7CR and the Leica Q3 (see my Q3 review).