I have been playing with this camera for about 2 weeks now and would like do a short review of this camera. The RRP is $2299. Sounds expensive? Let's see what it has to offer.
The main selling point of this camera must definitely be the 600mm F4 lens. In fact, the 24-600mm F2.4 - F4 lens has such enormous focal length that it seems like really a one camera solution to everything. Coupled with a 1.0-type stacked CMOS sensor that many are familiar with, on paper, this camera have a lot to offer. 20Mpx resolution. Some of the features include 4K video, 14fps, silent shutter, Continuous Shooting with reduced blackout, horse shoe for external flash, 40X super slow motion, etc. The RX10 III lets you shoot a subject as close as a mere 3cm (wide end) or 72cm (telephoto end) away. The camera weighs similar to a dslr with kit lens but offers very good grip. There are 3 rings on the barrel of the lens. First one is the focus ring, then zoom ring and finally aperture ring. Unlike other super zooms, you can half press the shutter and zoom the lens at the same time. I have had some experience with other superzooms so I will be making some references here and there. Bear in mind that each of these superzooms have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Specs Summary
Resolution: 20.10 Megapixels
Sensor size: 1 inch (13.2mm x 8.8mm)
Lens: 25.00x zoom (24-600mm eq.)
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD
Native ISO: 100 - 12,800
Extended ISO: 64 - 25,600
Shutter: 1/32000 - 30 seconds
Max Aperture: 2.4
Dimensions: 5.2 x 3.7 x 5.0 in. (133 x 94 x 127 mm)
Weight: 38.6 oz (1,095 g) includes batteries
More info can be found here.
http://www.sony.com.sg/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx10m3?cid=[RX10M3]_SG_-_DSC_RX10M3:sem:goog:SG:txt_brand:sony_rx10m3&pkw=sony_rx10m3&gclid=CLufo8OA7s0CFQ-haAod8QAPpA
Now that I am done with the short introduction. Let's get down to the details. I will not be doing the standard ISO shots since it is available online. What I would like to show are the real world shots and also how well the camera works in the field. Do note the max aperture at each focal length.
24mm (F2.4), 27mm (F2.8), 35mm (f3.2), 56mm (F3.5), 100 - 600mm (F4)
I confirm that the contrast AF has some challenges when there is a lack of contrast, at 600mm, this might occur often as the object is very zoom in. To help with the af, make use of multi point instead of single point af. Switching to Large AF Point also helps. This will help find areas of contrast to lock the auto focus. While the AF is slower than the Lumix FZ1000 which has 400mm F4, we also need to be realistic, those who have used the FZ1000 would remember that its static AF is really fast. For slower or static objects, RX10 III will do just fine.
The images were sharp at 600mm F4. Hand holding is possible at 1/60sec. I tested 1/30sec and got a keeper rate of about 20%, still quite good considering that I was shooting at 600mm.
Without further delay, here are the first few shots.
The model here is very cooperative. Just in case it is difficult to focus, there is the DMF function, just move the focus ring a little and AF would lock.
DSC00550_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
DSC00561_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
Some landscape photos to share. When shooting with such superzooms, watch out for the lens flare when you shoot into the sun.
DSC00859_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
DSC00860 by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
My advice is not to get to worried about the flare, try to overcome it and work on your composition. Dynamic range of the image is reasonably good.
Here is one bracketed shot.
DSC00935-HDR-Edit_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
The main selling point of this camera must definitely be the 600mm F4 lens. In fact, the 24-600mm F2.4 - F4 lens has such enormous focal length that it seems like really a one camera solution to everything. Coupled with a 1.0-type stacked CMOS sensor that many are familiar with, on paper, this camera have a lot to offer. 20Mpx resolution. Some of the features include 4K video, 14fps, silent shutter, Continuous Shooting with reduced blackout, horse shoe for external flash, 40X super slow motion, etc. The RX10 III lets you shoot a subject as close as a mere 3cm (wide end) or 72cm (telephoto end) away. The camera weighs similar to a dslr with kit lens but offers very good grip. There are 3 rings on the barrel of the lens. First one is the focus ring, then zoom ring and finally aperture ring. Unlike other super zooms, you can half press the shutter and zoom the lens at the same time. I have had some experience with other superzooms so I will be making some references here and there. Bear in mind that each of these superzooms have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Specs Summary
Resolution: 20.10 Megapixels
Sensor size: 1 inch (13.2mm x 8.8mm)
Lens: 25.00x zoom (24-600mm eq.)
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD
Native ISO: 100 - 12,800
Extended ISO: 64 - 25,600
Shutter: 1/32000 - 30 seconds
Max Aperture: 2.4
Dimensions: 5.2 x 3.7 x 5.0 in. (133 x 94 x 127 mm)
Weight: 38.6 oz (1,095 g) includes batteries
More info can be found here.
http://www.sony.com.sg/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx10m3?cid=[RX10M3]_SG_-_DSC_RX10M3:sem:goog:SG:txt_brand:sony_rx10m3&pkw=sony_rx10m3&gclid=CLufo8OA7s0CFQ-haAod8QAPpA
Now that I am done with the short introduction. Let's get down to the details. I will not be doing the standard ISO shots since it is available online. What I would like to show are the real world shots and also how well the camera works in the field. Do note the max aperture at each focal length.
24mm (F2.4), 27mm (F2.8), 35mm (f3.2), 56mm (F3.5), 100 - 600mm (F4)
I confirm that the contrast AF has some challenges when there is a lack of contrast, at 600mm, this might occur often as the object is very zoom in. To help with the af, make use of multi point instead of single point af. Switching to Large AF Point also helps. This will help find areas of contrast to lock the auto focus. While the AF is slower than the Lumix FZ1000 which has 400mm F4, we also need to be realistic, those who have used the FZ1000 would remember that its static AF is really fast. For slower or static objects, RX10 III will do just fine.
The images were sharp at 600mm F4. Hand holding is possible at 1/60sec. I tested 1/30sec and got a keeper rate of about 20%, still quite good considering that I was shooting at 600mm.
Without further delay, here are the first few shots.
The model here is very cooperative. Just in case it is difficult to focus, there is the DMF function, just move the focus ring a little and AF would lock.
DSC00550_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
DSC00561_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
Some landscape photos to share. When shooting with such superzooms, watch out for the lens flare when you shoot into the sun.
DSC00859_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
DSC00860 by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
My advice is not to get to worried about the flare, try to overcome it and work on your composition. Dynamic range of the image is reasonably good.
Here is one bracketed shot.
DSC00935-HDR-Edit_LR by Wang Teck Heng, on Flickr
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