Sony announced the 3rd generation of its RX1R compact camera a couple of weeks ago. However, pre-orders for the RX1R III have been high, with demand in Japan already exceeding Sony’s stock for supply.
RX1R III
The Sony RX1R III is a compact camera with a 61-megapixel sensor. It also has an integrated Zeiss Sonnar T* 35 mm lens with a wide maximum aperture of F2. However, it’s a fixed lens, so you can’t swap it out to change focal lengths. You can also shoot 4K video up to 30 fps and HD video up to 120 fps with the Sony RX1R III.
In addition, you can record in Sony’s S-Cinetone color profile and import your own LUTs for great-looking footage.
Demand
The Sony RX1R III has a retail price of $5,099. This means it is more expensive than many of Sony’s mirrorless cameras, which support interchangeable lenses. You could even pick up a Cinema Line FX3 and a lens for the same price.
However, despite the relatively high price, Sony has reported that pre-sales have been strong. In Japan, the company has also had to advise customers that it may take a while to fulfill their orders.
What has Sony said?
At the end of last week, Sony posted a “Notice Regarding the Supply of the RX1R III” on its Japanese website (the text has been auto-translated). The notice stated, “Thank you very much for your continued support of Sony products.
The RX1R III (DSC-RX1RM3) and related accessories have been ordered significantly exceeding our expectations, and it may take some time to deliver the product. We are currently working hard to meet the needs of our customers as much as possible, so please wait for a while.”
What we think
Historically, Sony has allocated lower amounts of stock to Japan, compared to the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, it’s more likely that supply delays can arise in that region. However, Sony has reported good levels of pre-orders around the world, so the RX1R III is proving to be a popular camera. This is despite the camera’s high price compared to other Sony cameras with arguably higher functionality. It’s reassuring to see that there is still demand for a simpler camera that delivers high-quality images and video. Perhaps consumers are embracing the limitations of a single fixed focal length as part of a broader pursuit of slow living. Whatever the reason, Sony has another hit on its hands with the RX1R III.
