Sony has unveiled the Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III, surpassing the zoom range of its predecessor with a 24-600mm equiv. F2.4-4 lens. The camera uses the same 1"-type stacked CMOS sensor which produces 20MP stills as well as 4K/UHD video, and does not replace the RX10 II, which continues in Sony's lineup.
The RX10 III's sizable lens makes room for aperture, focus and zoom rings, as well as a focus hold button. The camera offers an XGA OLED EVF with 2.36 million dots, as well as a tilting LCD. The body is dust and moisture resistant. Sony claims that its SteadyShot stabilization system offers up to 4.5 stops of benefit.
An updated shutter provides a fast read-out 'anti-distortion' electronic shutter up to 1/32,000sec as well as a silent shooting mode. Wi-Fi and NFC have also come along for the ride.
Movie capabilities
Like the RX10 II, the RX10 III features a solid video specification; offering 4K video from 1.7X oversampled, full pixel readout (without binning). The camera also offers seven of the video-centric Picture Profile modes that give fine-grained control over the camera's tonal and color responses. These include the very flat S-Log2 gamma curve for capturing wide dynamic range footage if you're planning to color grade during the post-processing phase. The RX10 III gains 'Gamma Display Assist' which gives a corrected preview when shooting with S-Log2.
Like the RX10 II, the III includes both a mic input socket for using an external mic and a headphone jack for monitoring that recorded audio. It also offers the high frame rate 'HFR' videos modes that capture footage at up to 960 fps (albeit at reduced resolutions) and then play it back as 1080p/24.
Reach and speed
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The RX10 III's lens offers both speed and reach. At the wide end of its zoom, it's around 0.4EV brighter than its 1"-type sensor rivals. At 600mm equivalent it's still able to open as wide as F4, making it a stop faster than the Canon PowerShot G3X while also being significantly longer than the FZ1000, whose zoom only reaches out to 400mm equivalent.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III will sell for around $1500, a $200 premium over the existing RX10 II.
Press Release:
Sony's New Cyber-shot RX10 III Camera Brings Extended Zoom Capability to Acclaimed RX Line
New RX10 III Model Boasts Versatile 24-600mm1 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar F2.4-F4 Lens, 20.1 MP2 1.0-type Stacked CMOS sensor, Internal 4K Video Recording, Super Slow Motion Capabilities and more
SAN FRANCISCO, Mar. 29, 2016 – Sony – a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world's largest image sensor manufacturer – has today announced an exciting new addition to its acclaimed Cyber-shot RX lineup, the high-zoom RX10 III camera.
Featuring a newly-developed 25x super-telephoto zoom lens with an extensive focal range of 24-600mm1, the new RX10 III camera is able to produce high-quality content at a variety of focal lengths and camera settings that would require three or more large, heavy and expensive lenses for an interchangeable lens camera user. It's an outstanding choice for a shooting anything from landscapes to distant wildlife and everything in between.
The RX10 III high zoom camera is equipped with a 1.0 type stacked 20.1 MP Exmor RS™ CMOS sensor with DRAM chip and advanced signal processing, along with a powerful BIONZ X™ image processor. These components work together to ensure the highest possible image quality throughout the entire zoom range of the 24-600mm lens. Additionally, they are responsible for a variety of standout professional-caliber features including 40x super slow motion video capture at up to 960 fps, an ultra-fast Anti-Distortion Shutter with a maximum speed of 1/32000 second, high resolution 4K movie shooting and more.
"By pairing the convenience of an ultra-telephoto lens with our innovative stacked CMOS image sensor design, we've created a whole new image experience unlike anything else in market today," said Neal Manowitz, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Electronics. "The new RX10 III offers a true 'all in one' package that will appeal to a wide range of amateur, hobbyist and professional photographers and videographers."
New ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 24-600mm F2.4 – F4 Lens
The impressive 24-600mm ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* lens on the Cyber-shot RX10 III camera features a large maximum aperture of F2.4 – F4.0, helping it achieve outstanding image quality throughout the entire zoom range, all the way up to ultra-telephoto. This differentiates it from many other high-zoom lenses that often struggle with light-gathering at longer focal lengths. The aperture unit itself has nine blades that are designed to create a near perfect circle in the F2.4 – F11 range, enabling shooters to create content with beautiful bokeh, where the subject stands out against a softly defocused background.
In total, the extended zoom lens features eight ED glass elements including one super ED glass element, five ED glass elements and two ED aspherical lenses, which all work together to minimize chromatic aberration and deliver high-contrast, ultra-sharp image quality. It also has ZEISS® T* Coating for minimizing flare and ghosting and delivering accurate, faithful color reproduction.
The new lens has built-in Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization that helps to reduce camera shake and image blur, in particular when shooting at longer focal lengths. When active, the OSS is equivalent to shooting at a shutter speed approximately 4.5 stops3 faster than the current setting of the camera.
Additionally, with a minimum focusing distance of 72 cm (2.36 ft) and 0.49x maximum magnification at a fully extended 600mm, the new lens is capable of producing amazingly detailed tele-macro images.
High Quality Image Detail
The RX10 III features a back-illuminated 20.1 MP 1.0-type stacked CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processing engine that allow the camera to achieves a wide sensitivity range of ISO 644 - ISO 12800 and produce images with exceptionally low noise, even at higher sensitivity settings.
Additionally, the rear of the sensor has a DRAM chip that allows it to read and process large volumes of data exceptionally fast, enabling the camera to shoot super slow motion video at up to 960 fps. The powerful DRAM chip also allows the RX10 III to shoot continuously at up to 14fps with minimal blackout.
With shutter speeds as fast as 1/32000 second, the electronic shutter on the RX10 III minimizes image distortion at faster shutter speeds. It also offers silent shooting at all settings and speeds, ensuring all content can be captured quietly without disrupting the subject, a powerful feature when combined with the wide-ranging zoom lens.
High Quality 4K Movie Recording
The new RX10III model becomes the latest and most versatile Cyber-shot RX camera to offer the advantages of 4K (QFHD 3840x2160) movie recording thanks to its far-reaching 24-600mm lens, which gives videographers the luxury of shooting high quality 4K video from extreme distances.
In 4K video mode, the RX10 III camera utilizes full pixel readout without pixel binning, capturing approximately 1.7x more information than is required for 4K movie output to enhance image detail and minimize moiré and jaggies. It achieves these high-quality results through use of the XAVC S codec, which records video at a high data rate of up to 100 Mbps during 4K recording and up to 50 Mbps during full HD recording5.
The new camera also has a variety of other professional caliber video features including Picture Profile, S-Log2/S-Gamut, Gamma Display Assist, Time Code and more, as well as input for external microphone and output for headphone monitoring.
Super Slow Motion Video Recording
The new RX10 III also possesses the ability to record super slow-motion video at up to 40x slower than the standard rate, allowing users to capture and replay fleeting moments of action with incredible detail, resolution and clarity.
In "HFR" (high frame rate) setting, it offers the option to choose among 960fps, 480fps and 240 fps frame rates and among 60p, 30p and 24p playback formats6,7 with the option to use the movie record button as a 'start trigger' to begin recording once button is pressed or 'end trigger' to record footage up until the button is pressed.
High Speed Autofocus
The new RX10III camera is equipped with an impressive autofocus system with spatial object detection, allowing the camera to detect and predict motion of a subject before the shutter button is pressed, This helps the camera achieve an incredibly fast and efficient AF response when the shutter is halfway pressed, enabling it to lock on to a subject in as little as 0.09 seconds8. This is a yet another compelling technology, especially when paired with a versatile, highly capable 25x zoom lens with a range up to 600mm.
Ergonomics and Design
Aesthetically, the new RX10 III features a number of upgrades compared to existing RX10 models including triple lens rings for focus, zoom and aperture for direct, precise control. The hand grip shape has also been optimized for the new high-magnification, large-aperture lens to enhance stability when holding the camera at eye level. There is a new focus hold button on the lens barrel as well, allowing the focus to be easily locked on a subject while the shooter reframes the image.
The new model features a high-contrast XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ with approximately 2.35 million dots of resolution, ensuring true-to-life image preview and playback functionality. The camera is also dust and moisture resistant and both Wi-Fi® and NFC™ compatible, with the ability and can access Sony's growing range of PlayMemories Camera Applications. Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca. A dedicated LCJ-RXJ soft carrying case will also be available for the new camera.
Pricing and Availability
The new Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III extended zoom camera will be available this May for about $1,500 US and $2,000 CA, respectively. The new cameras and all compatible accessories will be sold at a variety of Sony authorized dealers throughout North America.
Notes to Editors:
1. 35mm equivalent focal length
2. Approx. effective megapixels
3. CIPA standard, pitch/yaw directions, at 600mm (35mm equivalent,Telephoto)
4. Both ISO 64 and ISO 80 are expandable ISO range
5. A class 10 or higher SDXC/SDHC memory card is required for movie recording in XAVC S format. UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC card is required for 100Mbps recording
6. Sound cannot be recorded when shooting slow motion. An SDXC memory card of Class 10 or higher is required.
7. In NTSC
8. CIPA standard, internal measurement, at 24mm (35mm equivalent, Wide), EV8.2, Program Auto, AF area: Centre, with NTSC mode
Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III specifications
Price MSRP $1499 Body type Body type SLR-like (bridge) Body material Magnesium alloy, composite Sensor Max resolution 5472 x 3648 Other resolutions 4864 x 3648, 5472 x 3080, 3648 x 3648, 3648 x 2736, 3648 x 2592, 3648 x 2056, 2544 x 2544, 2736 x 1824, 2592 x 1944, 2720 x 1528, 1920 x 1920, 640 x 480 Image ratio w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 Effective pixels 20 megapixels Sensor photo detectors 21 megapixels Sensor size 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) Sensor type Stacked CMOS Processor Bionz X Color space sRGB, AdobeRGB Color filter array Primary color filter Image ISO Auto, 100 - 12800 (expands to 64-25600) Boosted ISO (minimum) 64 Boosted ISO (maximum) 25600 White balance presets 9 Custom white balance Yes Image stabilization Optical Uncompressed format RAW JPEG quality levels Extra fine, standard, fine File format
Optics & Focus Focal length (equiv.) 24–600 mm Optical zoom 25× Maximum aperture F2.4–4 Autofocus
Autofocus assist lamp Yes Digital zoom Yes (4X) Manual focus Yes Normal focus range 3 cm (1.18″) Macro focus range 3 cm (1.18″) Number of focus points 25 Screen / viewfinder Articulated LCD Tilting Screen size 3″ Screen dots 1,228,800 Touch screen No Screen type TFT LCD Live view Yes Viewfinder type Electronic Viewfinder coverage 100% Viewfinder magnification 0.7× Viewfinder resolution 2,359,296 Photography features Minimum shutter speed 30 sec Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 sec Maximum shutter speed (electronic) 1/32000 sec Exposure modes
Scene modes
Built-in flash Yes Flash range 10.80 m (at Auto ISO) External flash Yes (Multi-interface shoe) Flash modes Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off Drive modes
Continuous drive 14.0 fps Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous) Metering modes
Exposure compensation ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) WB Bracketing Yes Videography features Resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) Format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Videography notes High speed modes at 240, 480, 960 fps Microphone Stereo Speaker Mono Storage Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Connectivity USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) HDMI Yes (micro-HDMI with 4K still and uncompressed HDMI output) Microphone port Yes Headphone port Yes Wireless Built-In Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n with NFC Remote control Yes (via smartphone) Physical Environmentally sealed Yes Battery Battery Pack Battery description NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery and charger Battery Life (CIPA) 420 Weight (inc. batteries) 1051 g (2.32 lb / 37.07 oz) Dimensions 133 x 94 x 127 mm (5.24 x 3.7 x 5″) Other features Orientation sensor Yes Timelapse recording No GPS None
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