Every year, die-hard fans of the RX1R II ask if Sony will answer their prayers and release the Mark III. Is it finally going to happen?
Released in November 2015, the RX1R II remains unlike anything else on the market. It has a 42-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor, a fixed 35mm f/2 lens, and a leaf shutter, and it fits inside a jacket pocket. Arguably, its closest rival is the Leica Q3, which should give you some idea of how niche a product this is, as does the $3,300 price tag.
Another factor that makes it vaguely Leica-esque is how well it has held its value on the secondhand market. It has carved out a reputation as something of a classic and regularly fetches upwards of $2,300. You'll be hard-pressed to find another 10-year-old camera that retains so much of its initial RRP.
After much hope, fans now wonder if the Mark III will come to market at all. Such a body has significant appeal to photography-focused photographers who want something clean and minimalist, and with fewer distracting video features getting in the way of a pure still-image-making experience. However, despite my recent article, these photographers seem to be few and far between. While Fujifilm has proven that it works for APS-C (albeit with some inspired marketing and aesthetic choices), Sony might not be confident that it’s worth plowing so much time and energy into a camera that doesn’t have broader appeal. When you also consider that an RX1R won’t help sell any of Sony’s lenses, it might not seem like a gamble worth taking.
Another consideration is that Sony has since created another full frame offering that is incredibly compact—the a7C range of cameras. (Notice how it’s the only Sony camera that gives buyers the option of a silver top plate.) Does Sony want to risk undermining its existing lineup?
Is Sony About to Take Us by Surprise?
Last month, Sony ambassador Mark Galer released a 45-minute review of the RX1R II, a strange move given that it's been almost a decade since the camera was announced. Galer is quick to assure viewers that he has no idea if a sequel is in the pipeline, but read into that what you will. He does, however, identify some of the hurdles that Sony will have to overcome if it’s to produce a camera that remains more compact than the a7C.
First, it would need a bigger battery, potentially undermining the RX1R’s slim profile. Then there’s IBIS—assuming that this is something customers want. (Personally, I don’t see the need.)
RX1R fans might not want to get too excited, however. Yes, compact cameras have had a resurgence of late, but if a casual photographer is going to drop upwards of four grand on a point-and-shoot, it’s probably going to be a Leica.
What Might We Expect?
If it appears, what specs would Sony deliver? You can guarantee better autofocus with a full complement of AI-powered subject recognition. The lens would have all of the latest coatings, and we can safely assume it won’t be made by Zeiss this time around. The sensor would be at least 42 megapixels, if not 60, to justify the price.
And speaking of price, trying to achieve all of this for less than $5,000 will be a tall order, again taking us back to why such a camera might not be viable in the current market. As for the rest, I’m not sure. It doesn’t need a fully articulating screen, but these aren’t much less compact than semi-articulating screens, and Sony has plenty of them lying around, so why not? Maybe it’s time for internal storage and an app where sharing images is—god forbid—a pleasant experience. Who knows?
Is an RX1R III on your wishlist for 2025? Let us know your thoughts and expectations in the comments below.
