Sony Rx10 M3
Michael
The Sony DSC-RX10 III is an enthusiast-oriented bridge camera with a 24-600mm equivalent F2.4-4 lens and 20MP 1"-type stacked CMOS sensor. That sensor and the BIONZ X image processor are shared with the RX10 II and Sony RX100 IV, and offer great dynamic range and high ISO performance as well as 4K video and a range of high-speed video capture modes.
The RX-series has always been designed as much for video shooting as well as stills shooting in mind, and the RX10 III doesn't change that. The real story of the RX10 III lies within its massive zoom lens. The RX10 III may look similar to the RX10 II when you look at them individually, but once you see them together, it's immediately apparent just how much Sony tweaked the design of the III to accommodate the threefold increase in zoom power. The body and grip are 'chunkier,' and the weight has increased as well. Overall, the two are more siblings than twins.
There will be those people that buy the RX10 III straight away, simply because it zooms more than x camera. But it's worth asking yourself if you really need 600mm of reach - because if you aren't really sure you do, then you probably don't. But as you'll see later on, the RX10 III's lens is so good that it might be worth it to you even if you only use the extreme reach occasionally.
Let's also put that 'extreme reach' into some perspective here. The RX10 III's 600mm zoom might seem to pale in comparison to a Nikon Coolpix P900, which packs a 24-2000mm zoom - but puts it in front of a much smaller sensor. The Sony and the Canon PowerShot G3 X attempt to strike a balance between image quality and size with their 1"-type sensors, and the image quality compared to smaller sensor solutions speaks for itself. Larger sensor = more light = better quality.
Now, whether or not you want to use all this reach will vary greatly depending on the types of photography you enjoy. But it's worth noting that long telephoto focal lengths, just like very short (wide angle) focal lengths, can take some practice to get good photographs with. Just because you can zoom closer in to an object doesn't necessarily coincide with an increase in the quality of your photos or the video clips you capture.
The RX10 III's lens zooms in so far it's almost amusing. It takes between three and four seconds for the lens to rack through the full zoom range. It also takes noticeably longer for all that glass to extend for power up than either the Panasonic FZ1000, which has less reach, and Canon G3 X, which has a much more compact lens at the expense of a slower maximum aperture.
So while the lens makes the camera a little slow to start up and adds some bulk, in use it is very sharp throughout the zoom range, irrespective of distance to your subject (atmospheric conditions notwithstanding). Before using the RX10 III, I simply wouldn't have thought images from a 1"-sensor superzoom camera could look this detailed. This model commands a $300 MSRP premium over the RX10 II, but in this case, it seems you get what you pay for.
The 72cm focus distance at maximum zoom won't get you true super macro photos, but you'll probably find that it focuses close enough. The lens also renders bokeh very nicely. Processed to taste from Raw. 600mm equivalent F4 1/1000 sec ISO 320. Photo by Carey Rose
As you can see, besides the lens and a modest increase in both size and battery life, the RX10 III is all but identical on the inside to the RX10 II. The older, less expensive Panasonic FZ1000 loses out in a few areas like battery life and weather sealing, but it is still a competitive machine in many ways (so long as you don't need 600mm, that is).
While Sony touts the RX10 III's lens as having a 9-bladed aperture for better out-of-focus renderings (compared to 7 blades on the Mark II), it lacks the built-in ND filter that was present on the previous model. This was especially helpful for shooting video under bright daylight. Of course, since the front of the lens is threaded, you can always add your own ND, but having the option at the press of a button would be a lot more convenient.
Beyond that omission, the RX10 III offers all that made the RX10 II such a compelling camera. The sensor offers great performance, the 4K and high frame rate video is detailed and of good quality, and the body is weather-sealed. But unfortunately, the fact that the RX10 III shares so much with its predecessor also means that you get the standard Sony UI woes as well as a contrast detection-only autofocus system that works fine for static subjects, but struggles with low contrast subjects and at telephoto distances, where phase-detection would help the camera minimize hunting.
If you're not shooting fast action all the time, the RX10 III has a lot of potential as a family vacation camera, an all-in-one photo and video solution for a journalist in a tightly staffed newsroom, or documentary photography where you can't necessarily get close to your subject.
Took my DSC-RX10M3 to DisneyWorld for its first outing and video filmed the Tree-of-Life at Pandora during the evening. WOW, Zoom in to see Bambi Zoom out to catch the butterflies convergence into Simba catch the crowd's exclamations. This is a video to be remembered on first attempt. So many features on this camera for the pro or the virgin, it adapts to all. I noticed too much skyline ruins auto focus but this is nothing new to experienced photographers. It is a bit heavy but to a guy who carried a Nikon F2A around with a box of Nikkor lenses, it isn't. It is well balanced.
I've just received my rx10 mk3 ..( didn't want the mk4.. don't like touch screens and don't need the phase focusing)..
The menu and set up are very similar to my a7r2..so straight on to shooting.. my first impression after a few test shots.. is WOW.. I'm really impressed... bridge cameras have certainly moved on since hs10 and xs-1..
I've just taken a shot of a bluetit and I'll upload that next to a similar one taken with my A7R2... www.flickr.com/photos/antoinettoni/37139593563 you be the judge.....
This is great I feel I'm back in charge... Yay.... .. anyone want to buy a a7r2 with lenses?..
In April 2017 we bought the Sony RX10III camera. On the inner surface of the front lens of the lens there is a croquet of about 1 cm in length. We gave the camera to an authorized Sony service in Warsaw. Under the warranty, the entire lens is replaced by a new one. After receiving the camera from the repair, it turned out that the new lens also has defects. Visible after flashlight with sedimentation (post-production) on the inside, the front lens of the lens.
Sony's representation in Poland has ultimately refused to address the claim.
I think that this way of treating a customer by Sony is a scandal. It is unacceptable for a Sony branded product with a Zeiss branded lens to be in such a deplorable state of being released from the factory. In practice, with such impurities, which, because of the internal location I can not remove myself, disqualify the device to use.
I just bought this camera and my main use will be for travel, bird and wildlife shots. I have found that when I shoot through my window and zoom in on an individual flower or the bird feeder in my yard, the autofocus is soft. When I step just outside at essentially the same place, the focus is excellent. What is going on? Any suggestions? Going to Borneo in July for birds and orangutans, so need to figure this out.
I have the Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot camera and when evaluating it I can detect serious problems when focusing on objects at a distance using the zoom in different ranges, between 300 and 600 mm, but may even occur with less zoom. I worry that it is an optical problem (it is a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens) which would mean serious camera dysfunction, considering its high cost. I would like to know if anyone has had a similar experience and what can I do about it.
It is a Sony lens with a Zeiss label, just like the Panasonic lenses with Leica labels. It is the old "perception is reality" marketing technique. Even worse are the Panasonic cameras with a Leica label on the outside at close to twice the price. P. T. Barnum said that .... was born every minute. Nevertheless, it looks like the best option for this type of camera so I'm buying one next week to replace my Fuji X-S1.
I hope there will not be others but why were the lens layout ergonomics so poorly designed?
Great lens and really looking forward to shooting but going through the paces reveals some basic design flaws that should not be present in a package with this much potential.
First: The zoom and aperture rings are too close together (or focus and aperture ring depending on your configuration).
When you try to use the aperture ring, with or without clicks, you can't help but touch the zoom ring and are constantly trying to counter with the upper zoom control. Can you shut off the zoom ring? I haven't found the "off", just the speed or step settings.
The problem with the aperture ring is that the knurled portions are in the wrong spot. Try using just the left side and your hand slips across the "click" button or slides onto the zoom/focus ring.
If there is a way to assign the aperture control to the top thumbwheel (not the pad wheel) I haven't found it.
Could anyone please tell me where else I can pickup a current camera with a 1" or larger sensor and a lens with an effective focal length of 24-600 and with an aperture of f4 or better for this price? Oh, it would have to be smaller than a steamer trunk.
Anyone?
This is replacing my a6000 and la-ea2 combo. So, when on trips, I can cover 24-600 with one camera, rather than one body, adapter, 18-250 lens, 175-500 lens and still have an effective f stop greater than 4.5-6.3 at the widest point. My A77ii will fill any gaps along with my Tok 11-16.
Oh, and the lens is much sharper as well.
But geez... if I show up at functions without my dslr and 10 pounds of glass, my uncle Billy will think me an amateur.
Compare ability not configuration and the Rx10iii is very hard to beat at any price.
P.S. My A6000 (GREAT CAMERA) WITH KIT AND LA-EA2 plus all boxes IS UP FOR $950 CDN (ABOUT $700 u.s.)... just sayin...