Finally! A point and shoot worth having - Sony RX100 III

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Point and shoot cameras haven't made sense to me for a while.  I have an iPhone always with me and if I do my job it makes pretty decent images.  There are all manner of apps and stick on, clamp-on, bolt-on accessories for it.  I've even made decent sized prints from an iPhone image after work in the digital darkroom.  So why do I love this Sony? When the first iteration came out, the RX100, I arranged an evaluation with Henry's in Newmarket Ontario.  Sony's distinctly not P&S sensor, coupled with a good UI, excellent RAW performance and a stunningly good Intelligent Auto mode made for great images, quickly and in a nice small package.  It was pricey for a point and shoot, but if one was hunting image quality, it was the one to beat.   If only it had a viewfinder...

Then came the RX100II.  Faster CPU.  Still no viewfinder.  But it had a hotshoe, and the ability to add on a stupidly expensive optional electronic finder.  Why anyone would want a hot shoe on a tiny pocket camera was beyond me, as a flash of decent power would be three times the size of the camera.  Still a great sensor, great intelligent auto and good layout.  And a price increase.   Still missing a viewfinder.

Who's going to pay $800 for a point and shoot anyway?  Not the casual snapshotter.  This is a limited vertical market, for serious photographers who need something with great glass, great image quality, small size and a darn VIEWFINDER!

Third time is the charm.  The RX100 III that ships in June or maybe July hits the key indicators for me.  Faster Bionz X CPU.  20.2MP BSI-CMOS sensor.  Built in pop up EVF with 1.44M dots.  High performance video with clean HDMI out.  And of course the new lens.

What?  Did Sony replace the 28-100 2.8-4.9 Zeiss lens?

Yes they did.  The new lens is still from Zeiss and is a 24-70 equivalent f/1.8-f/2.8 variable aperture zoom.  Sony has given up some telephoto for more width and at least one stop faster optical performance.  Let's face it, 24-70 is a seriously popular range, loved by street and general look image makers.  The additional lens speed is very helpful and the new lens only increases the depth of the camera by about 3mm.

I have not had hands-on yet but I hope to as soon as one is available.  Initial first looks around the web are very positive.

Pricing is presently listing at $899.99, we'll see what the retailers do when it comes out.  I expect the initial street price to be high and then to see it level out about 60 days post release.

Specifications (courtesy Sony Canada)

Product Specifications

  • Software

    • Operating System Compatibility : PlayMemories Home: Windows® XP SP3, Windows Vista® SP2, Windows®7 SP1, Windows®8 (PlayMemories Home is not Mac compatible); PlayMemories Online Uploader: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista®SP2, Windows®7 SP1, Windows®8, Mac OS X (v10.5- v10.8); Image Data Converter Version 4.2: Windows® XP SP3,Windows Vista® SP2,Windows®7 SP1,Windows®8, Mac OS X (v10.5- v10.8)
    • Supplied Software : Supplied Software: PlayMemories™ Home, Image Data Converter Version 4 (via software download from camera)

  • Advanced Features

    • Image Stabilization : [Still Image] Optical [Movie] Active Mode, Optical type with electronic compensation (Anti-rolling)
    • Auto High Dynamic Range : Yes, (Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1-6 EV at 1.0 EV step), off)
    • Sweep Panorama : Horizontal (Wide/Standard), Vertical (Wide/Standard)
    • Face Detection : On, Off, Face Registration, Face Selection; maximum eight faces detected
    • Priority Setting (for Face Detection) : Yes (eight faces max) New Registration / Order Exchanging / Delete / Delete All
    • Smile Shutter™ technology : Smile shutter (selectable from 3 steps)

  • Camera

    • Camera Type : Cyber-shot® Digital Still Camera
    • Lens Compatibility : Fixed lens

    • Colour : Black

  • Convenience Features

    • Media/Battery Indicator : Yes
    • View & Index : Single (with or without shooting information), RGB histogram and highlight/shadow warning, 4/9-frame index view, Enlarged display mode (L: 13.6x, M: 9.9x, S: 6.8x), Auto Review (10/5/2 sec, Off), Image orientation (On/Off), Slideshow, Panorama scrolling, Folder selection (still), Forward/Rewind (movie), Delete, Protect

  • Drive System

    • Continuous Shooting Speed : 10 fps at 20.2MP
    • Burst Buffer : JPEG Standard (12 shots) JPEG Fine (12 shots) RAW (13 shots) RAW+JPEG (10 shots)
    • Shutter Speeds : iAuto (4 - 1/2000) / Program Auto (1 - 1/2000) / Manual (Bulb, 30 - 1/2000) / Aperture Priority (8 - 1/2000) / Shutter Priority (30 - 1/2000)
    • Self-timer : 10 sec. / 2 sec. / Self-portrait One-person/ Self-portrait Two-person/ Self timer Continuous (3 or 5 shots)
    • Drive Mode : Single-shot, Continuous, Speed Priority Continuous, Self-timer (10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.), Self-portrait One-person, Self-portrait Two-person, (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures), Bracketing

  • Exposure System

    • D-Range Optimizer : Off, Dynamic Range Optimizer (Auto/Level 1-5), Auto High Dynamic Range: Off, Auto Exposure Difference, Exposure difference Level (1.0-6.0EV, 1.0EV step)
    • Auto Exposure Lock : Yes (AE Lock button). Can be disabled from menu
    • Exposure Compensation : +/- 3.0 EV, 1/3 EV step
    • Minimum Illumination : Movie: Auto:1.2lux(Shutter Speed 1/30")
    • Picture Effect(s) : [Still Image] Toy Camera, Pop Color, Posterization, Retro Photo, Soft High- key, Partial Color, High Contrast Monochrome, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolor, Illustration [Movie] Toy Camera, Pop Color, Posterization, Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Color, High Contrast Monochrome
    • Exposure Settings : [Still] Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, Program Auto (Program shift available), Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Scene Selection, Movie, Sweep Panorama [Movie] Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual
    • Scene Mode(s) : Anti Motion Blur, Fireworks, Gourmet, Handheld Twilight, High Sensitivity, Landscape, Macro, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Pet Mode, Portrait, Sports Action, Sunset
    • Metering Modes : Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
    • Metering Sensitivity : EV 0 to 20 (at ISO100 equivalent)
    • ISO : 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 (Extendableto ISO80/100),Multi-Frame NR:Auto(ISO125-12800), 200/400/800/1600/3200/6400/12800/25600
    • Creative Style : Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Clear, Deep, Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Autumn Leaves, Black & White, Sepia, Style Box
    • Color Temperature : 2500 – 9900K with 15-step each Magenta/Green compensation (G7 to M7), Amber/Blue (A7 to B7), Custom
    • ISO Sensitivity (Movie) : Auto:(ISO125Level-ISO12800Level, 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
    • White Balance Mode : Auto / Daylight / Shade / Cloudy / Incandescent / Fluor (Warm White) / Fluor (Cool White) / Fluor (Day White) / Fluor (Daylight) / Flash / C. Temp., Filter / Custom
    • Exposure Bracketing : 3 continuous or single shots in 1/3 or 2/3 EV steps
    • WB Shift : G7-M7,A7-B7

  • Flash

    • Flash Bracketing : ±2.0 EV
    • Flash Metering System : Pre-flash TTL
    • Flash Compensation : ±2.0 EV (switchable between 1/3 EV steps)
    • Recycling Time : Approx. 3.4 sec.
    • Flash Modes : Auto / Fill-flash / Slow Sync / Rear Sync / Off
    • Flash Coverage : ISO Auto: 1’ to 49’ 2” (0.30m to 15.0m) (W) / 1’ 9” – 18’ 8” (0.55m to 5.7m) (T) ISO 12800: Up to 98’ 5” (30.0m) (W) / 37’ (11.3m) (T)
    • Flash Type : Built-in, Pop-up Auto

  • Focus Control

    • Focus Features : Predictive control (AF-A, AF-C), Focus Lock
    • AF Illuminator : Built-in LED, Range: approx. 3' 4” - 9' 9” (0.3m-3.0m)
    • Focus Sensitivity : EV 0 to 20 EV (at ISO100 equivalent)
    • Focus Area : Multi point AF (25 points) / Continuous AF / Single Shot AF / Flexible spot (S/M/L) / Lock on AF (Wide/Center/Flexible Spot (S/M/L))
    • Focus Points : 25 points
    • AF Modes : Single-shot AF (AF-S) / Continuous AF (AF-C) / Direct Manual Focus (DMF) / Manual Focus
    • Focus System : Contrast-detect AF

  • Imaging Sensor

    • Pixel Gross : 20.9M pixels (approx.)
    • Focal Length Conversion Factor : 2.7x
    • Color Filter System : RGB primary color filters
    • Effective Picture Resolution : 20.1M pixels (approx.)
    • Imaging Sensor : Exmor® R 1.0” CMOS sensor (13.2 X 8.8mm) (3:2 aspect ratio)
    • Processor : BIONZ® X image processor

  • Interface

    • NFC : Yes (NFC Forum Type 3 Tag compatible, One-touch remote, One-touch sharing)
    • DC IN : Yes, via AC-UB10 AC charger and USB cable
    • Memory Card Slot : Dual compatibility slot: Memory Stick PRO Duo™/Pro-HG Duo™/PRO-HG HX Duo™ media - SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card
    • HD Output : HDMI® (Type D micro)
    • Wi-Fi : Yes
    • Accessory Shoe : Multi Interface Shoe
    • Tripod Mount : Yes (1/4" diameter, 20 threads per inch)
    • Remote Commander : Yes, via RM-VPR1
    • PhotoTV HD : Yes, with BRAVIA Sync enabled HDTV and HDMI® cable
    • USB Port(s) : USB 2.0 Hi-speed (mass-storage, MTP)
    • BRAVIA® Sync™ : Yes, via HDMI® with compatible BRAVIA HDTV (link menu)
    • Microphone Input : Via MI Shoe + Optional ECM-XYST1M

  • LCD Display

    • Peaking : Yes Level setting: High/Mid/Low/Off Color: White/Red/Yellow
    • Real-time image adjustment display : Yes (On/Off)
    • LCD Type : 3.0” (7.5cm) (4:3) / 1,229,000 dots / Xtra Fine / TFT LCD / Tiltable (Up by approx. 180degrees, down by approx. 45degrees.)
    • Coverage : 100% Field of View
    • Angle Adjustment : Tilt angle: Up by approx. 180degrees, down by approx. 45degrees
    • Histogram : Yes (On/off)
    • Live View : Continuous Live View
    • Brightness Control : Auto / Manual(5 steps) / Sunny Weather
    • Grid Display : Yes (Rule of Thirds, 4x6 Square, Diagonal & 4x6 Square Grids, Off)
    • Customization : Grid, Histogram display, Digital Level Gauge, Grid Line, Magnified display for playback

  • Optics/Lens

    • Optical Zoom : 2.9x (Optical Zoom during movie recording)
    • Minimum Focus Distance : iAuto: AF (W: Approx. 5cm (0.17 ft.) to Infinity, T: Approx. 30cm (0.99 ft.) to Infinity) / Program Auto: AF (W: Approx. 5cm (0.17 ft.) to Infinity, T: Approx.30cm (0.99 ft.) to Infinity)
    • Lens Type : Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T*
    • Aperture (Max.) : F1.8(W)-2.8(T)
    • Aperture : F1.8 - 11 (W), F2.8 - 11 (T)
    • Aspheric Elements : 9 aspheric elements including AA lens
    • Aperture Blade : Iris diaphragm (7 blades)
    • Digital Zoom : Still image: 20M Approx.11x / 10M 16x / 5M 23x / VGA 44x; Movie: Approx.11x
    • Lens Construction : 10 elements in 9 groups (9 aspheric elements including AA lens)
    • Steady Shot Mode:Active : [Still image] Optical [Movie] Active Mode, Optical type with electronic compensation (Anti-rolling)
    • ND Filter : Auto / On(3 steps) / Off
    • Clear Image Zoom : Still Image: 20M Approx. 5.8x / 10M 8.2x / 5M 11x / VGA Approx. 44x; Movie: Approx. 5.8x
    • Focal Length (35mm equivalent) : [Still Image 3:2] f=24-70mm [Still Image 16:9] f=26-76mm [Still Image 4:3] f=25-73mm [Still Image 1:1] f=30.5-89mm [Movie 16:9] f=25.5-74mm (SteadyShot Standard), f=30-86mm (SteadyShot® Active Mode), f=33.5-95mm(SteadyShot Intelligent Active) [Movie 4:3] f=31-90mm (SteadyShot® Standard), f=37-105mm (SteadyShot Active Mode), f=41-117mm (SteadyShot InteligentActive)

  • Power

    • Battery Type : InfoLITHIUM® NP-BX1 (3.6V)
    • Power Requirements : AC 100V to 240V, 50/60 Hz, 70mA
    • Power Consumption (in Operation) : Approx. 1.8W
    • Number of Still Images : Approx. 320 images with LCD monitor (CIPA standard)
    • Battery Capacity : 4.5Wh (1240mAh)

  • Recording

    • Panorama Still Image Size : Wide (12,416×1,856/5,536×2,160), Standard(8,192×1,856/3,872×2,160)
    • Audio Format : XAVC S: LPCM 2ch; AVCHD:Dolby Digital(AC-3) 2ch(Dolby Digital Stereo Creator); MP4:M PEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch
    • Video Format : XAVC S / AVCHD Ver. 2.0 / MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264))
    • Video Mode : XAVC S: 60p 50M(1,920x1,080/60p) / 30p 50M(1,920x1,080/30p) / 24p 50M(1,920x1,080/24p) / 120p 50M(1,280x720/120p) AVCHD: 28M PS(1,920x1,080/60p) / 24M FX(1,920x1,080/60i) / 17M FH(1,920x1,080/60i) / 24M FX(1,920x1,080/24p) / 17M FH(1,920x1,080/24p) MP4: 12M(1,440x1,080/30fps) / 3M VGA(640x480/30fps)
    • Color Space : sRGB standard (with sYCC gamut) and Adobe RGB standard compatible with TRILUMINOS™ Color
    • Still Image Size 16:9 : L:17M(5,472×3,080) / M: 7.5M(3,648×2,056) / S: 4.2M(2,720×1,528)
    • Still Image Size 3:2 : L: 20M(5,472×3,648) / M: 10M(3,888×2,592) / S: 5M(2,736×1,824)
    • Still Image Mode : JPEG (Standard, Fine), RAW, RAW+JPEG
    • Media Type : SD, SDHC and SDXC memory card; Memory Stick PRO Duo™/Pro-HG Duo™ media
    • Still Image Max Effective Resolution : 20.1 Megapixels
    • Still Image Size 4:3 : L: 18M(4,864×3,648) / M: 10M(3,648×2,736) / S: 5M(2,592×1,944)
    • Video Signal : NTSC color, EIA standards
    • Microphone/Speaker : Built-in Stereo Microphone / Mono Speaker
    • Still Image Size 1:1 : L: 13M(3,648×3,648) / M: 6.5M(2,544×2,544) / S: 3.7M(1,920×1,920)
    • Mic Level Control : 16 steps
    • Still Image File Format : JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver.2.3, MPF Baseline compliant), RAW (Sony ARW 2.3 format)
    • Wind Noise Reduction : Yes (On/Off)

  • Service and Warranty Information

    • Limited Warranty Term : 1 Year Parts & Labor

  • Viewfinder

    • Type : 0.39" SVGA electronic viewfinder(OLED), 1,440,000dots
    • Magnification : Approx. 0.59x with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m1(diopter) (35mm equiv.)
    • Diopter Adjustment : -4.0 to +3.0m-1

  • Weights and Measurements

    • Weight(Approx) (Main unit only) : 9.3 oz. (263 g)
    • Dimensions (Approx.) : 4 " × 2 3/8 " × 1 5/8 " (101.6x58.1x41.0 mm) excluding protrusions
    • Weight (Approx.) : With battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo Approx.10.2 oz. (290 g)