Sony announced today their RX100 III Video Creator kit with a retail price of $799.99, roughly $50 more than the price of the RX100 III alone. In addition to the highly rated RX100, the kit includes the following:
- VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip
- 64GB SD Memory Card
- One extra NP-BX1 battery
Also, in support of the release, Sony is releasing written and video content on a rolling basis to help shooters get better images.
RX100 III
There is a lot to love about this tiny camera. While it is not the most current iteration of the RX 100 Series, it is still a competitive budget camera in specs and performance. The camera is targeted at vloggers and budget run-and-gunners. It shoots HD footage and allows simultaneous recording to AVCHD or XAVC S and web-friendly MP4 formats.
The main drawback to the camera is that it can record audio through its in-camera microphone only. If you need high bit rate, quality audio, you're going to use an external recording device and sync with the scratch track the camera records. That said, the audio is pretty good for an internal mic and because there is a huge community of RX100 users out there, there are plenty of tutorials on how to maximize the camera's hardware.
We have seen documentaries successfully shot on cameras with much worse specs in the past, so if you need to be very discrete or if the only way you can afford to shoot your film is with a budget camera, consider it. Sony has a great product page for the camera that should answer all of your questions about it. This is one very small camera that has a lot of features for its size.
Key Specs: RX100 III
- 20.1MP 1" Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
- BIONZ X Image Processor
- Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/1.8-2.8 Lens
- 24-70mm (35mm Equivalent)
The ability to open the aperture up to f/1.8 allows for quality footage in low light environments (with less noise) and nice subject isolation/bokeh.
VCT-SGR1 Shooting Grip
The Shooting Grip is intended to provide a more ergonomic, stable way to hold the camera and is designed for both left and right-handed use. It also provides control of the capture and zoom functions. The legs also pop-out to convert it to a mini-tripod. This isn't going to replace a stabilizer or a real tripod, but if you really need to shoot quickly, it'll be helpful.
Currently, there is no ship date, but it is available for pre-order now for $798. Let us know whether you have any video experience with the RX100 III to share in the comments below.
