Sony is still stubborn about the size of its cameras
The designers at Sony obviously went to great lengths to maintain similar dimensions to the last-gen RX1, and they did it while adding a lot: the high-resolution full-frame sensor from the A7R V, Sony's latest autofocus tracking system, a longer-lasting battery, and a proper electronic viewfinder (no more pop-up nonsense). They even went the extra mile of integrating the top dials and hot shoe into the body for a sleeker look. To do all this, the company made the camera 2.5mm taller and 15.5mm deeper — though that's mostly the Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens protruding a little further.
But if it made the body just a few millimeters thicker or wider to accommodate a flippy-tilty-screen I don't think anyone would have minded. The camera's small stature also seems to make it a non-starter for any lens or sensor-based image stabilization, which it also lacks. (Though, to be fair, the RX1 cameras never had it before either.)
Unrelenting dedication to smallness has been a long-standing issue of mine with Sony cameras. The Alpha line of mirrorless cameras have been technological marvels for years, and its innovations like eye-detect tracking autofocus helped lead the migration from DSLRs. At first, the move to mirrorless was all about smaller cameras, but Sony showed that better autofocus, electronic viewfinders, faster burst shooting, and higher video quality were all a bigger part of the equation. It's why I personally own and use Sony Alpha cameras, even for paid gigs. But if I was choosing based on handling and comfort (which are important, especially when you're sometimes shooting for 10-hour days), I would have stuck with Nikon or Canon.
I'll commend Sony for making some inroads in the ergonomics department with its A9 III and A1 II cameras. They have deeper grips that are definitely better, and it's partly why I upgraded my A9 II to a III. But even with that better grip, I can still get that dreaded 'Sony knuckle' pain in my finger after a long day's shoot.
I know part of the RX1's ethos is putting a lot of camera into a very small package, even smaller than the incredibly popular Fujifilm X100VI, but it's not like these are pocket-sized cameras. You still have to wear them over your shoulder on a strap or keep them in a bag. It's no different than how I handle my Leica Q2, which is noticeably bigger. The Q2 is also a more ergonomically friendly camera to use than the RX1 and RX1R II, which I tried years back during my days working at a camera store.
Sony is charging Leica-level prices for the RX1R III, but it's being stubborn about size to not accommodate a feature it already had. Meanwhile, Leica compromised slightly on its formerly-immaculate design when it fitted the Q3 with a bare-minimum tilt screen. Why? Because its users were clamoring for one.
I've wondered for a few years now if a potential RX1R III might sway me to sell my Q2 as my everyday camera and go all-in on Sony. The conveniences of Sony's autofocus system, even for grabbing casual snaps of my chaotic 1.5-year-old, often already has me toting around my Alpha cameras over my Leica anyway. I'm sure I could still be convinced to make that switch, but when I pictured that hypothetical I didn't expect to lose the conveniences of a tiltable screen like I'm accustomed to on my Alpha bodies.Sony cameras are known for offering kitchen sink-levels of features. With the RX1R III, I think it falls just short. And at a high cost.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arkham links $3.5bn Bitcoin theft to quiet exit of Chinese mining giant Lubian
A previously undisclosed theft of 127,000 Bitcoin, worth $3.5 billion at the time, has been traced back to the sudden 2020 disappearance of Chinese mining pool Lubian, according to new data from blockchain analytics firm Arkham. The hack, which Arkham says occurred on December 28, 2020, is now believed to be the largest crypto theft in history, far surpassing the $1.5 billion Bybit exploit that occurred in February. Despite draining nearly all of Lubian's holdings, the incident went entirely unreported for over four years, and neither the mining pool nor the hacker has ever acknowledged the breach. Lubian was a top-10 mining pool at its peak, responsible for nearly 6% of global Bitcoin hash rate in mid-2020. But the pool mysteriously stopped mining in early 2021. At the time, observers chalked it up to regulatory pressure in China and Iran, where Lubian's machines were reportedly located. Arkham now suggests the shutdown was the direct result of a catastrophic breach, likely enabled by weak private key generation vulnerable to brute-force attacks. As a last-ditch attempt, Lubian sent over 1,500 small Bitcoin transactions that included messages asking for the stolen funds to be returned. The pool also rotated what remained of its Bitcoin — roughly 11,880 coins — into recovery wallets. The hacker has yet to move the stolen coins beyond a 2024 consolidation. Record-breaking thefts The revelation comes amid a historic surge in crypto-related thefts. In the first half of 2025 alone, hackers stole more than $3.1 billion across web3 platforms, with $1.83 billion tied to so-called access control attacks, according to Hacken's H1 security report. These exploits often involve compromised infrastructure or admin credentials, and increasingly bypass traditional safeguards like multi-signature wallets. With the stolen Bitcoin now worth over $14.5 billion, the attacker ranks among the largest Bitcoin holders in the world, ahead of the Mt. Gox hacker and several nation-state treasuries. Kyle Baird is DL News' Weekend Editor. Got a tip? Email at kbaird@
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘It sounded just like my brother': How deepfake voices are fuelling money scams
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Imagine receiving a voice note on WhatsApp from someone who sounds exactly like your younger brother — his voice, tone, and even the way he says your name are all spot on. He says he's stuck at work, left his wallet behind, and needs RM1,500 urgently to sort something out before his boss finds out. There's even a familiar laugh at the end and you don't think twice because you really think it was him. But what if that voice was not real? CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) chief executive officer Datuk Amirudin Abdul Wahab has warned about a rise in scams involving AI-generated voice cloning, where scammers use artificial intelligence to impersonate family members, friends or colleagues. In many cases, the goal is to trick victims into sending money by creating a false sense of urgency and trust. 'Scammers use AI-generated voices to mimic friends, family members, or colleagues often via WhatsApp or phone calls to request urgent transfers or loans. 'Since early 2024, the police have investigated over 454 such cases, with losses totalling approximately RM2.72 million,' he said when contacted by Malay Mail. He then went on to say in the first three months of 2025, the country recorded 12,110 online fraud cases, involving scams such as fake e-commerce deals, bogus loans, and non-existent investment schemes, with total losses amounting to RM573.7 million. Citing Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), he said generative AI tools including deepfake videos, cloned voices, fake digital identities, and chatbots are increasingly being used to carry out these scams. 'There has also been a rise in scams involving AI-generated cloned voices. In one case, scammers mimicked the voice of a family member to simulate an emergency situation via WhatsApp voice notes, urging the recipient to urgently transfer funds,' he said. He noted that the voice was cloned from short public TikTok videos. Amirudin added that deepfake scams have also involved national icons like Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Lee Chong Wei, whose altered images and voices were used in fake advertisements promoting cryptocurrency and investment platforms. 'As of March 2025, CCID Bukit Aman confirmed the discovery of at least five deepfake videos impersonating both national and international personalities. Among the names falsely used were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Teresa Kok, and a senior Petronas executive. 'The manipulated clips were widely circulated online to promote fake investment platforms, many of which falsely promised returns of up to 100 times the original amount,' he added. He said the scams relied heavily on the authority and familiarity of well-known figures to convince unsuspecting viewers, especially on social media platforms where verification is often overlooked. Why it poses a serious threat, Amirudin explained that the rise of deepfake technology is alarming not just for its technical sophistication, but for the far-reaching impact it can have on society. At the individual level, he said deepfakes are being used to exploit public emotions, especially in scams that mimic the voices of family members, government officials, or well-known personalities. These tactics create a false sense of urgency, pushing victims into making quick decisions often involving money before they have a chance to think critically. 'Beyond personal safety, there is growing concern over the effect deepfakes have on public trust in the media. As manipulated content becomes increasingly indistinguishable from real footage or audio, it blurs the line between fact and fiction,' Amirudin said. He also said that this erosion of trust can sow confusion, making it easier for false narratives, misinformation, and disinformation to spread particularly on social media. At a broader level, he highlighted that national security is also at stake because the content that convincingly imitates political leaders or high-ranking officials could be weaponised to stir panic, manipulate public sentiment, or create political instability. How to verify and report suspicious AI-generated content With deepfakes becoming more difficult to detect, CSM is urging the public to stay vigilant and take advantage of available resources to verify suspicious content. He said the agency's Cyber999 Incident Response Centre supports both individuals and organisations in identifying cyber threats that involve technical components such as phishing, malware, or manipulated digital content. Members of the public can report suspicious activity through several channels: Online form and mobile application Email: cyber999[@] Hotline: 1-300-88-2999 (during office hours) or +60 19-266 5850 (24/7) 'Cyber999 also provides technical analysis of suspicious emails which users are encouraged to forward the full email header and content for expert review. 'In addition, the team shares regular security advisories and best practices, helping Malaysians keep up with the latest online threats and how to avoid them,' he said. He explained that Cyber999 handles technical cyber threats like phishing and malware, while deepfake cases without clear technical elements are usually referred to law enforcement or regulators. For small businesses, Amiruddin said CSM has developed the CyberSAFE SME Guidelines, which offer a simple checklist to help organisations detect, verify, and respond to suspicious online content. Wrapping up in our final part: It's not just tech — it's trust. We look at why media literacy is your best line of defence in the age of deepfakes, and how you can help protect not just yourself — but your family too. Recommended reading: Why seeing isn't believing anymore: What are deepfakes, and how to protect yourself from AI-generated scams AI scams are getting real: Here are the cases happening in Malaysia that you should know about
Engadget
4 hours ago
- Engadget
Leak claims the PS6 could have triple the performance as the PS5 for the same price
We're nearly five years out from the release of the original PlayStation 5 and rumors of Sony's next-gen console are starting to bubble up to the surface. In a YouTube video from Moore's Law is Dead, the leaker shares extensive information about the PlayStation 6's possible specs, starting price and release timing. It's always important to take these early leaks with a large grain of salt and Moore's Law is Dead even adds a disclaimer in the video that the info was sourced from a leaked AMD presentation to Sony back in 2023, adding that some of these specs may have changed by now. While Sony hasn't confirmed anything, the leaks show the company may be prioritizing lower power output and keeping costs in line with previous generations for the upcoming PS6. The video claims the next-gen console will have three times the rasterization, or 3D rendering, performance compared to the base PS5 and roughly two times what's offered by the PS5 Pro. The YouTuber explained that the PS6 is rumored to have PS4 and PS5 backwards compatibility, while potentially releasing with a price tag of $499. That price point could be an indication that Sony wants to tap into the same success the PS4 had, which was partly thanks to its lower price compared to the competition at the time. Along with the PS6, Sony is reportedly also working on a handheld that will complement the console. According to the leaked info, the PS6 handheld will get a microSD slot, an M.2 SSD slot, a touchscreen, haptic vibration and dual mics. The PS6 handheld rumors detail specs that should beat out the ROG Xbox Ally X and a USB-C port that could offer video out capabilities. According to the leak, the PS6 handheld could have a price range between $400 and $500. For the PS6 and the PS6 handheld, the leaker claims that Sony will start manufacturing both in mid-2027, with a potential release date window between fall 2027 and early 2028.
