Cameras

After almost 10 years, Sony finally releases the RX1R III

Sony’s compact full-frame 35mm camera just got even better!

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

In a world where mirrorless offerings with interchangeable lenses continue to reign, there are users who simply can’t let go of point-and-shoot cameras alongside their one and (l)on(e)ly integrated lens.

Well, after almost 10 years, Sony finally releases the RX1R III — the successor to 2015’s RX1R II.

Compact yet packed

Instead of the very versatile 24-200mm power lens that the Sony RX100 VII boasts, the RX1R III retains its built-in 35mm f/2.0 ZEISS T* Sonar lens.

That fixed lens also features an AR (Anti-Reflection) coating without an optical low-pass filter for that outstanding image quality.

Beneath it is a 61MP full-frame CMOS Exmor R image sensor. That’s an improvement over the 42.4MP of its predecessor — and three times more compared to its 20MP RX counterpart.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

And thanks to that larger sensor, taking 50mm (29MP) and 75mm (15MP) photos is still possible through Sony’s “Step Crop Shooting.”

Though this is only limited to photos — but achievable whether shooting compress, uncompressed, or even lossless RAW formats.

Additionally, shooting in RAW format gives users the benefit to reselect the focal length during post-production.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The lens also has a dedicated macro ring with a minimum focus distance of 20cm / 0.66 ft. and max magnification of 0.26x.

That marvelous lens and sensor are backed by Sony’s BIONZ XR image processing engine which promises wider dynamic range, better ISO sensitivity, and lower image noise.

For better shooting, the RX1R III features an XGA OLED EVF (Electronic View Finder) with approx. 2.36 million-dots.

All of these are housed within RX1R III’s magnesium alloy chassis that’s proven to be lightweight yet sturdy.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

If you’re wondering about dimensions, the RX1R III over II is a bit taller (67.9mm vs 65.4mm) and thicker (87.5mm vs 72.0mm) while still maintaining that 113.3mm overall length.

A decade’s worth of improvements

While the Sony RX1R II is still a capable camera, it obviously lags behind in certain features.

First and foremost, its PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) capabilities.

The number of AF points has more than doubled from 299 to a whopping 693 — that covers approximately 78% of the capture area when shooting images.

And with today’s AI revolution, Sony has stepped up RX1R III’s subject recognition with a built-in AI Processing Unit.

This enables real-time tracking not limited to humans, but also including animals, birds and insects in motion. Moving cars, trains, and planes even.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

There are also twelve (12) “Creative Look” modes — or Sony’s answer to Fujifilm’s Simulation Modes:

  • Standard
  • Portrait
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Vivid 2
  • Film
  • Film 2
  • Film 3
  • Instant
  • Soft Highkey
  • Black & White
  • Sepia

These can be applied both in stills and clips.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Speaking of, Sony also addresses the very limiting 1080p video resolution of the RX1R II and bumped it up to 4K/30fps with 10-bit (4:2:2) support. 120fps recording is also possible but limited to 1080p resolution and 8-bit codec.

Low-light shooting has also been improved with ISO sensitivity of up to 32,000 (both stills and clips) and expandable all the way to ISO 102,400 (stills only). AF will still work even under the EV (Exposure Value) of -0.4.

Its 3-inch tiltable TFT display still remains but with clearer resolution and now with touch screen functionality, just like modern Sony cameras nowadays.

This new camera can also automatically adapt to horizontal and vertical camera orientations.

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The camera unit is powered by Sony’s NP-FW50 that allows it to shoot up to 300 photos. If you’re in a pinch, it can be charged via USB-C with Power Delivery support — as opposed to the old micro USB standard of its aging brother.

Lastly, the Sony RX1R III has the ability to upload images directly to Sony’s Creators’ Cloud without the need of a smartphone. Forwarding to other cloud services such as Google Drive or even to Adobe Lightroom are also possible.

Pricing and Availability

The Sony RX1R III will be available first in the United States and Canada starting this July 2025 with a price of US$ 5099.99 and CA$ 6299.99 respectively.

It will also include several accessories that will be available later in August:

  • Dedicated thumb grip (TG-2) = US$ 299.99 / CA$ 349.99
  • Compact body case (LCS-RXL) = US$ 249.99 / CA$ 224.99
  • Lens hood (LHP-1) = US$ 199.99 / CA$ 249.99

The RX1R III will be available in Singapore from August 2025.

Pricing and availability in other regions have yet to follow.

Cameras

Sony announces new FX5 full-frame camera

Newly-developed sensor, Open Gate recording, more enhanced capabilities

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Sony has launched the new FX5 full-frame camera in its Cinema Line series with enhanced capabilities.

The camera is equipped with a newly-developed fully stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor and the latest high-speed BIONZ XR2 image processing engine, which includes a dedicated AI processing unit.

When shooting in S-Log3, the camera achieves 15+ stops of dynamic range. The broad latitude and low-noise performance enable seamless roll-off from highlights to shadows and natural texture reproduction, even in high-contrast scenes.

Three Base ISOs of ISO 800, ISO 4000, and ISO 12800 enable low-noise image expression under a wide range of conditions.

Moreover, Dual Gain Shooting function, supported for the first time in the FX series, maximizes the performance of the image sensor to enable smooth gradation reproduction with even wider latitude, while effectively reducing noise without compromising shadow detail.

For the first time in the Cinema Line FX series, the FX5 supports Open Gate shooting, as well as in-camera recording in X-OCN, Sony’s proprietary RAW format.

This includes a variety of scan modes like 17:9, 16:9, and super 35mm. This allows for flexible angle-of-view selection for the user’s creative intent.

The camera is capable of shooting in 5K at up to 60 frames per second, in 4K up to 120 frames per second and in FHD up to 240 frames per second.

These features bring together the Cinema Line look and operability designed to meet the needs of production environments in a compact, highly portable body.

The Sony FX5 will also include two new optional accessories: a detachable OLED viewfinder and an XLR Handle that enables recording in-camera at up to 96 kHz, 32-bit float.

The camera system incorporates expertise that Sony has cultivated through the development of Cinema Line cameras, which have earned high praise from cinematographers and video creators around the world.

Price, availability

The ILME-FX5 with XLR Handle Unit (SG$ 7,199) and ILME-FX5B Body Only (SG$ 6,399) will be available for pre-order until August 9.

The DVF-EL1 OLED Detachable Viewfinder (SG$ 899) and VMC-BNCU1 Timecode Adapter Cable (SG$ 129) will be available after Mid-August.

Meanwhile, the XLR-H2 XLR Handle (SG$ 1,099) will be available by special order.

On July 28, the FX5 will also be on display atThe Arts House At The Old Parliament from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., giving creators the chance to experience it for the first time.

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Cameras

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P launches with dual lenses and a 1-inch sensor

The biggest upgrade yet to DJI’s compact gimbal camera

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The original Osmo Pocket launched in 2018 as a pocket-sized gimbal camera for people who wanted smooth footage without carrying a full rig. DJI has been building on that idea ever since, and today, with the Osmo Pocket 4P, they made the biggest jump yet.

A significant change

The most significant change in the Osmo Pocket 4P is the introduction of a dual-lens system. While previous Osmo Pocket models limited creators to a single, fixed field of view, the 4P provides two distinct options.

The camera features a wide-angle lens backed by a new 1-inch CMOS sensor alongside a 60mm medium-telephoto portrait lens boasting an f/1.8 aperture and 3x optical zoom. This second lens fundamentally changes how creators shoot on the ground.

At the 60mm focal length, backgrounds compress naturally to separate the subject from the environment without relying on artificial software rendering, offering an invaluable tool for capturing people at events, during travel, or throughout daily life.

The wide lens captures 17 stops of dynamic range through what DJI calls LOFIC technology, which handles high-contrast scenes like backlit windows or golden hour without blowing out the sky or burying the shadows.

Advanced sensor tech, color latitude

For high-contrast environments, the wide-angle lens captures an impressive 17 stops of dynamic range utilizing DJI’s new LOFIC technology.

This hardware addition allows the camera to effortlessly manage difficult lighting scenarios, like backlit windows or golden hour horizons, keeping the sky intact while preventing shadows from turning muddy.

On the color processing side, DJI has introduced a 10-bit D-Log 2 profile capable of recording over a billion colors. This shift provides editors with significantly more latitude to grade footage in post-production, avoiding the limitations of a baked-in, in-camera look.

High-speed motion, smart framing

In terms of capturing motion, the 4P supports 4K slow motion at 240fps, making it ideal for fast-moving subjects that benefit from a stylized, slowed-down perspective.

A slow shutter video mode is also included, allowing users to organically capture light trails in low-light environments. Physical stabilization continues to rely on a mechanical 3-axis gimbal, drawing directly from the heritage of DJI’s professional Ronin systems.

Weighing just 230 grams, the compact unit incorporates ActiveTrack 8.0 to handle automated subject tracking, maintaining precise focus through the entire 12x digital zoom range — a feature that proves essential for solo creators who need the hardware to handle framing duties.

Practical updates for daily use

DJI has also focused heavily on the realities of on-the-go shooting. The 4P introduces gesture controls, letting users trigger subject tracking or start recording without physically touching the device.

A new 4K Live Photo mode automatically captures a 1.5-second clip alongside every still image, while the main sensor allows for high-resolution 37-megapixel photos that offer plenty of room for cropping in post-production.

The battery charges from zero to 80 percent in just 18 minutes and delivers up to 210 minutes of runtime on a full charge.

Furthermore, files transfer via USB 3.1 at speeds up to 800 MB/s, ensuring that offloading a full day of content is a near-instant process.

Price, availability

The camera launches in both classic black and pearl white, accompanied by a modular accessory ecosystem and DJI Care Refresh protection plans.

It retails for PhP 37,790 for the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Standard. Meanwhile, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Vlog Combo retails for PhP 42,290.

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Cameras

Inside an OCR training day with Bring Your Game

Captured on the Canon EOS R6 Mark III

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The first leg of Spartan Race’s Philippine National Series doesn’t wait for anyone.

We joined an OCR team, BGY BYG aka Bring Your Game, at Bridgetowne Obstacle Park as they put themselves through an obstacle course race simulation. I brought the Canon EOS R6 Mark III to document every athlete giving their best.

Shooting under direct midday sun is its own challenge. The 32.5MP sensor handled the harshness of open daylight without blowing out detail. The 40fps electronic shutter and Pre-continuous shooting meant we were already in the frame before the moment fully happened.

Athletes were moving fast and in every direction, but the 8.5-stop IBIS kept every shot steady as we moved alongside them.

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II stayed locked mid-sprint, mid-climb, and everywhere in between.

This is what race prep looks like up close.

Abegail Manzano, UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year in women’s athletics at UP Diliman, leading the warm-up session.

Jeri Vega Oro from All-female Pop-Rock Band, ROUGE.

In photo: Georgii Brisuela

In photo: JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2

BGY BYG/Bring Your Game’s Team Captain, Aldrin Collantes

SEE ALSO: What HYROX Hong Kong looks like up close


Words and photos by MJ Jucutan.

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