Dpreview (Click here) posted the full RX100M3 review and says it’s the ” most capable compact camera we’ve ever seen”. The only drawback is the not so satisfying shooting experience:
The RX100 series has always been technically impressive, but the addition of the brighter lens, viewfinder and ND filter extend its utility to a huge degree. Owners of its predecessors should seriously consider upgrading unless they need more zoom reach.
Our concerns about the handling leave us concluding that, if it had a credible rival, there’s every chance the RX100 M3 wouldn’t get a Gold award – we’d like a more enjoyable shooting experience from an $800 camera. Ultimately, though, the additions to what were already the strongest cameras in their class leave the RX100 III literally peerless. At which point it has to go one better than its predecessors, and receive our highest award.
It is not a perfect camera but the RX100M3 is the next yet unmatched Sony RX jewel!
Store links:
RX100M3 preorders in USA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony USA and FocusCamera.
RX100M3 preorders in Eu at Sony DE, UK, ES, FR, IT, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, NO, FI, PT. And Wex UK,
RX100M3 in Asia at Amazon Japan and Sony Australia.
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Let´s see if DPR has the same opinion one month from now….(depending on what will happen with the rumored LX8)
You expect them to revoke the gold award when something newer is released?
You never know.
“Our concerns about the handling leave us concluding that, if it had a credible rival, there’s every chance the RX100 M3 wouldn’t get a Gold award – we’d like a more enjoyable shooting experience from an $800 camera.”
They’ve turned into Panasonic and Fuji shills in order to maintain street cred. Fuji’s seriously broken GUI was why I returned my X100s and they haven’t improved it one iota. The Sony cameras’ ability to be customized to the hilt give the user the ability to create a great deal of their own user experience. I take dpreview and their Amazon retail bias nit with a single grain of salt but with an entire salt mine these days.
The LX8 may take that honor temporarily, then two months later another camera will be released that will best the LX8. Technology never stands still, and this is why your comment/observation is invalid. Thats unless you’re just a fanboy here to troll, which is likely the case.
I’m really looking forward for the LX8, X30 and probably an Olympus with 1″ sensor as well. There will have to be a head-to-head between these cameras My only question about the LX8 is the EVF, but aside from that, I trust Panasonic’s video and it also has a 3-stop ND, the plus is the longer 90mm reach – which was my only comment when the RX100MKIII was launched, that it could give up a bit of size in order to get a portrait 85~90mm reach and now Panasonic is pulling that out. Fuji won’t have a great video but it should be bigger with more controls for those that wouldn’t mind not having good video. Premium compact are very promising right now, very exciting.
Considering the fact that neither lens is really 70 or 90mm, the difference in bokeh between the two equivalents is really going to be nil.
Trying to imply that the almost 25% difference between the 70mm equivalent and the 90mm is non-existent sounds like a disdain. Even if the difference is between 1″ type sensor, that’s not nil – even for DOF measures. And regardless, that’s not the point, you don’t want that extra reach just for that purpose, having a 90mm will always be more useful than just 70mm, no matter how you break it down and again, that’s not neglectable.
I’m implying that the bokeh characteristics for a 26mm and a 33mm (the actual focal length when not using the equivalence multiplier) will be very similar and that neither will present themselves as amazing portrait focal lengths. It’s pretty easy to say that when I have an RX10 and can demonstrate both at f/2.8. If we wanted to debate 70 to 105, I’d be with you but on this sensor size the difference between that 26 and the 33 in bokeh and in depth of field properties at f/2.8… no, it’s really not worth the wait, if that is the sole reason for waiting.
“Regardless, that’s not the point, you don’t want that extra reach just
for that purpose, having a 90mm will always be more useful than just
70mm, no matter how you break it down and again, that’s not neglectable.”
25% of what exactly?
Of giraffes and cactus.
So overpriced but so awesome. I went to go look at an A7 and ended up shooting with this a bit. Yeah, it’s got that desirability factor and the IQ- dang. Makes you a believer in what a small camera can do in the right situations. Nice job Sony.
Oberprized compared to what? Your wallet?
It’s overpriced….PERIOD. 800 bucks is no lauphing matter…there be some awesome cameras out there for that kind of coin.
The RX100M3 and the A6000 happen to be two of them.
You sound like a pirate.
Shut up !! , Troll
what ever you describe and classify in a sort of taxonomy, is only a result of comparing it to something else. Every field of opposition is becoming that way, warm and cold, rich and poor, up and down, darkness and light. Each of us compares a value to what he thinks it is worth. A Picasso paint is 10$ of canvas and 25$ of paint, that’s it, but why would anyone pay millions for that, is it his stupidity, or is it his wallet that makes this possible? All in life is yes or no only, comedy or tragedy. My wallet is rather on the tragedy side, but despite that, I still am able to evaluate something in a common sense. So, start by comparing what else you can buy with 800 bucks and then you just make up your mind.
Huh? What exactly are you saying man? Lot of pompous drivel and no definitive viewpoint, exactly like the picasso’s you seem to either referring to or admiring.
He’s saying it’s expensive for some and not so much for others.
That’s like saying nothing. And being so wordy for saying nothing.
To the many things you can get for the same amount of money. Implying that because it is a unique product we should accept any price is preposterous.
Definitely cheaper than an Olympus omd and a Leica 15mm
How does “enjoyable” become a point in a supposedly objective review?
Whatever Amzon can sell is “enjoyable”- the bottomline.
Very cleverly they leave some room to praise (= make the sales pitch) for the upcoming Panasonic. Creative writing at its best.
Clickless, slightly laggy control dial can make shooting experience feel disconnected … thats the point and indeed in my view disappointing…otherwise …the best compact camera in it’s class
That’s why you keep the front dial manual focus/aperture/iso, and don’t spin it 50 miles an hour. Use the back dial for exposure comp, it’s much faster and makes more sense. Dpreview needed to find something to b!tch about so they did. And then in the next page lauded Sony for customization, meaning they didn’t like the dial for +/- but didn’t use the feature provided to put that capacity elsewhere. That’s incompetence, not journalism.
And complaining about clickless… dpr I’d better see that whine and points removed on every Canon S series, Panasonic F series and upper Nikon P series ever or you’re just being punks.
reviews can be objective?
Nope. They can only be more (or less) objective relative to each other.
Rhetorical question?
Actual. Enjoyment is not something that DPReview uses all the time. So, if they don’t use it all the time, how is that a point to make? I really want to know the level of enjoyment of all the cameras they review from now on.
Haha!
A well all round camera made by sony. This new sony RX model could possibly be a very fast selling(record breaking) consumer camera if it was a $100-$150 cheaper.
350$ cheaper, you where going to write, isn’t it?
Well I’m not surprised for people to comment about not so satisfying shooting experience as it seems Sony need to focus on usability as well. They make technically splendid cameras but when in actual use, there are some hiccups where you feel could have been designed to perform more effortless.
I love the direction Sony is going, but they need someone from the UI and UX department to give critical and honest input as well.
Come on Sony! You can do it!
It’s one of my bugbears with Sony – the a77ii really highlights how unresponsive the a77i still is (despite the firmware updates and the body handling so well otherwise). Likewise the Nex 3 makes me wonder if it was ever tested as anything other than a p&s…
with a pancake lens like 20/2.8 it could make a fine P&S, but even then, it is around 500$, less then RX100-3 and makes definitely better shots.
No hiccups with my Sony. People want a tiny package plenty of modern technology and convenience, then they complain about handling. With today’s cameras, I’d say it comes down entirely to the photographer’s abilities.
Gone is the please wait indicator in the m3? I can’t stand having it show up in my m1 after a video or a series of raw shots.
We’re not talking about photographer abilities, we’re talking about the refining the camera to make it better.
Especially in the UI and UX experience where Sony (besides the Playstation) have problem with. Look at their QX series, splendid idea and concept but crippled with poor software support.
Fair enough and true. But if we look at a7/r/s instead of QX, I’d say they are doing better than the average. I think there is a need for a total redefinition of the interface design, but that would be a bit of a difficult transition for many.
“Sadly, though, our biggest bugbear about the RX100s – the inconsistently-responsive, clickless front dial for controling primary exposure settings – remains. We know it works well for video shooting, and that many users are able to work around, or simply not notice the problem. However, having spent time using all its major competitors, we maintain it’s the biggest single factor in making the RX100s the least satisfying to use cameras in their class.”
What nonsense to make this a major point to gripe about. I did not even know the function existed and has managed to shoot with my RX100 without any problems. It is as if DPReview cannot get out of their inbuilt anti Sony attitude despite Sony’s advances. Having tried the front dial now I don’t see a problem.
Thing is that Sony expands in the way that’s hard to understand for photographers as they neglect most of the key aspects of camera ergonomics and system ergonomics. They will always push awesome specs of their products yet not support them after they launch, they’d rather add features than fix those who are clearly problematic. It’s easy to read and judge but those who use and get frustrated know what I’m talking about.
Hi!
Please add preorders in CIS countries: RU, BY, KZ
https://store.sony.ru/photo_video/compact/R-series/index.php?prodid=308827&acc_from_page=
For only a month… Lx8 beat this in all aspects especially in video with a very pro features and 4k
I hope so, I also pray for a lower price.
new cameras are comming on the market all the time – if they are better they might get better reviews… good for us to have more options.
they should put a new one on the market every week, so we could buy them at dumping prices 3 weeks later.
How can a camera that isn’t available, nor specs confirmed, beat a “camera” that is here? Last rumor suggests the sensor may not be 1″. Let’s at least wait for Panasonic to announce the LX8 before we crown it king.
Another infomercial for a consumer luxury toy that 99% of the world’s population could never dream of affording, nor one they would ever see a need for.
If this were a true review- especially one for commercial photographers- it would not ignore one of the biggest metrics: The price / performance ratio.
I have no doubt this is a nice product. For $800 it better be. For $800 it better out produce any other camera out there available at a comparable price point, new or used.
It can’t, of course. So at the end of the day, the main selling factor, in fact, the chief raison d’etre for this mass produced consumer product, is that it is rather small.
Are people willing to pay a huge price premium for yet another point and shoot? Albeit a very nice one?
2 or 3 years ago the NEX-7 came out, and was virtually unavailable for 6 months, so great was the demand. Yet this new Sony not only fulfilled all pre-orders on day one, it also is sitting in stock at retailers, not exactly sold out.
All the interweb infomercial blog “review” sites that make money on click-through sales aren’t changing that.
This is a very nice camera, but Mr. Market seems to be saying it is not $800 nice.
Agree, it should have been 499$, as the Panasonic LX8 will be.
‘If this were a true review- especially one for commercial photographers’
for what type of commercial photography are you using these kind of cameras?
Actually the rumours suggest the LX8 will be at least as expensive as the RX100M3 at $800-900.
Actually NO, the rumors are it will be in 500$ territory. The newly announced Panasonic FZ1000 has a 899$ price tag, and it has a huge f/2,8-4 lens.
Given the new FZ1000 launch price of $500 less than Sony RX10, I would not be surprised if the LX8 would be like $500-$600 at launch. Otherwise I can’t see them selling one, because it will be a larger camera.
The main selling point is that it is small, and light, for its performance level (measured by mostly IQ).
I would consider this camera for hiking/camping/canoeing. I know it’s not weatherproof, but I would be willing to sacrifice that for performance capability, especially in macro (I have no idea how good this cam is at macro).
The small size (it would be even better if it weighed nothing) is a real plus when one is schlepping lots of gear in the wilderness.
Isn’t the size enough of a reason? I’d say it is. And you are assuming that everyone is buying each iteration of the camera.
The rx camera with 1″ sensor would be very usefull in a wildlife/sports version
The lens could have an actual focal length of 100-400mm and be optimized f ok r the smaller sensor.
That would githe an equivelent 250-1000mm focal length ..aproximately.
Also this lens should also close focus at all focal lengths.
So the first rx-100 m1 goes now ro 249,90.- and this is ist.
more money you do not get..
right price tag would be:
rx-100 m3 399,-
so… see wahts happen–but not with my money
In defence. The rx100 m1 outshoots 1.6x crop sensors thx to the crazy good lens. The m3 could be there to finish the job
Well, I think it will make the same effect and good shots when some day it falls down to 350$. Maybe I will buy one by then, but it could be that in the mean time some batter little toys have made their history at correct or better prices.
This. That’s how I use my RX100 classic. Front dial for ISO, rear dial for aperture and shutter speed. Fast operation. Easy to use and it makes for a very effective shooting technique.
DxO is now saying they will release the correction modules for both the RX100iii and the A77ii in July. Yaa!
My new A77ii arrived with a spot of dust on the sensor. I did not notice it until I took some photos at f/11.
Vibrating the sensor did not dislodge the dust. I had to flip up the mirror and give it blasts of air from my rocket air blower. It’s okay now.