Upgrade Guide
Sony A7S III→Sony Sony RX1R III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7S III. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Sony RX1R III
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Resolution61MP vs 12MP (+49MP)
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Generation5 years newer (2025 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7S III | Sony RX1R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.6 | ||
| Street | +1.4 | ||
| Travel | -0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.8 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | -2.9 | ||
| Documentary | -2.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | +0.2 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | -0.3 | ||
| Food | -0.5 | ||
| Macro | -1.0 | ||
| Architecture | +0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7S III | Sony RX1R III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,999 | £3,899 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) | 61MP full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 61MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p, 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition | Hybrid phase-detect AF (693 points) with eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5.5-stop IBIS | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical | 5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording | 300 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 699g (with battery and card) | 496g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made | EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss Sonnar lens | |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) | Single SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7S III and Sony RX1R III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Sony RX1R III against your specific genres — not just specs.
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