a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

After my week using the Sony a7R2 with Sony SAL70400 and Tamron 150-600 G2, I decided to rent a Sony RX10 III. Thanks to Carolina Wings and many others for such useful feedback on it.

I have used it about 4 days and it'™s so good I bought one which will arrive the day I have to send the rental back.

Is it as sharp as the Sony lens? No, of course not. But all such products are a compromise with design choices baked in. This one works for me. Factors I considered include size, weight, handling, speed in real life use, image quality and some features.

Features include being able to quickly start taking 4K video while keeping shutter priority active and then being able to capture a frame as an approx. 8mb png either in-camera or with VLC on the computer. For birding, that's a winner. The autofocus is not only very fast, it'™s very accurate.

I really wanted the A7R2 and a really sharp super zoom. The RX10 3 has a zoom that gives a field of view almost as long as the Tamron (specs can be very approximate). For video, the 2x additional zoom that Sony provides works very well but for stills, the clear view zoom is not quite as good as just cropping the un-boosted picture.

I am getting many more excellent shots with this bridge camera than I was getting with the full frame rig. I'™m getting shots I would not have gotten with the more expensive, bigger, heavier rig and they are darn good IMHO.

I'™ve included one still and one frame capture to illustrate my point.

As always, this is just my view and my requirements. I offer it only as data for those who may want it. If anyone has questions (as opposed to simply contrary opinions, arguments, etc.) I will be happy to try to answer them.

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Bill_de Loc: US

It is quite a nice package. I was debating between this and the Nikon DL 24-500 and decided on the Nikon. Today B&H told be it is discontinued. Based on what I've read and what you are showing us, it looks like it's back on the list.

Thanks.

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James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Nice to know...my RX10M3 just arrived tonight and I am overwhelmed for now till I learn it's controls and features. Thanks for your review, I now feel better about my purchase. One thing thou...is there any way to turn off the LCD monitor. I only want to use the viewfinder.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I leave mine on but as dim as possible but I think I saw what you want in the menus. Sony menus are universally said to be awful and I can't really say otherwise. The good news is that once you have it set up it is easy to use. If you don't find it, write again and I'll look, too.

Bill_de Loc: US

Custom settings

FINDER/MONITOR
Sets the method for switching between the viewfinder and monitor.


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Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

That first shot is sharp! I am impressed with the lens on that camera. Keep us posted on how it does for you as you use it more and get used to it.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

Although I have more expensive gear, my travel camera is almost always my Sony RX10ii. It is just so convenient to use.

Although probably not relevant, at what length does the RX10iii shift from 2.8 to 4.0? Just curious.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

The change is gradual but it goes to f4.0 at about 100 mm equivalent (out of alleged 600).

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Found it as described above. Copied your idea and turned off the big screen. I hope that will save battery. I found 1 min. timeout too quick, set it for 5 min. but that eats battery. The right answer is to carry one or more spares, I think. I never use the big screen outdoors or for shooting but it is handy for reviewing and changing settings.

Ricker Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah

Is the color REALLY as good or better than, say, an image taken with a Nikon full frame camera with a good lens?

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

BIF's

I find that an autofocus camera has a drawback for BIF's. I usually keep my focus point tiny and make sure the bird's eye is sharp. But when the bird is in the sky, unless the camera is pointed right at it the autofocus gets lost in the sky. Conversely, if I use wide area focus, regardless of camera, I don't have a quick way to ensure sharp results. The RX10 is no better or worse on this than was the a7R2 even though the a7R2 is arguably better with phase detection plus contrast whereas the RX10 has only contrast detection.

I'm just not fast enough to both zoom and manually focus while the bird is on the wing. A DSLR with real, mechanical lens rings would probably help a bit as compared to the mushy feel of the RX10 which is electronically linked, not mechanically.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

I have no way to compare. I also have no complaint with the colors. I am not a super accurate observer of color. My wife is one of those people who has the color perception equivalent of perfect pitch in music. She is not complaining, usually. Both Sony cameras and, I think, many others have user settings for how the picture looks.

The best answer would be to shoot in "standard" or "neutral" mode and use a Raw program that ignores the as-taken settings. I have not done that.

Sorry for a long answer with no useful information.

Try looking on Imaging Resource, though. You can download their pics full size and view them side by side with your favorite viewer.

Ricker Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah

Thanks for the reply. Actually I believe that the images taken with cameras with Zeiss lenses will ALWAYS be better than images taken with full frame DSLRs if the images are taken with identical exposures. Zeiss makes the world's best telescopes, microscopes, binoculars and lenses for many applications because Zeiss uses glass that is so optically free of aberration and occlusions and ground so carefully that only other German companies come close to the glass quality of Zeiss. Zeiss must also know a lot more about coatings for the various lenses than their competitors do because there are hardly zero problems with flare. I have to admire the Zeiss folks, starting with Carl Zeiss who revolutionized optics so many years ago.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

What's your evaluation on the color? A little exaggerated? See any false hues? This is a jpg with no editing. It was taken using "landscape" setting with some stronger contrast and sharpness, if I recall. I use that setting to make peaking work better but on this camera that may be overkill.

I like the picture, but I'm not an objective observer!

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James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Can you be more specific. Step by step procedure to turn off LCD. This thing is eating batteries at an alarming rate.