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With the RX100 III, Sony takes an already stellar compact camera series and makes it even better.

Last year, Sony’s RX100 changed the way many of us think about point-and-shoots. The camera’s one-inch sensor enabled brilliant image quality and stellar low-light performance, netting DSLR-like results in a device you can slip in your pocket. It really did change the game when it comes to everyday photography, and I instantly fell in love. What remained to be seen, however, was how Sony would build on the RX100’s success by releasing an even more capable model this year. In an unexpected move, the company opted not to retire 2012’s blockbuster, and kept pricing exactly where it’s always been, at $650. The RX100 Mark II, meanwhile, was marketed as a modest step up — an even more well-rounded package, for 100 bucks more.

When my Mark II sample arrived, I did what any jaded New Yorker would after a half-dozen years of shooting sample photos in Manhattan: I booked a flight to somewhere else. United’s last-minute weekend specials made Chicago the best bet, and off I went for a weekend of perfect weather, approachable restaurants and sidewalks that weren’t so crowded that I had to walk in the street. It’s like New York — if you take away a million tourists and pepper in smiling Midwesterners and affordable adult beverages.

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Today Sony announced two new additions to its fixed-lens Cyber-shot RX series. The RX100 II and RX1R

Sony’s brilliant RX100 and RX1 advanced point-and-shoots will live to see another day. Instead of replacing these two well-received pocket cams, the company has opted to expand the upper end of its Cyber-shot lineup, adding two very compelling new models. First up is the RX1R, a full-frame compact that’ll retail for $2,799, the same price last year’s model still commands today. In fact, it’s nearly identical to 2012’s flavor, with the exception of a redesigned sensor, which drops the optical low-pass filter in the interest of sharper captures. Of course, without that component, the camera is susceptible to moire and false color issues, so the RX1R is a better fit for landscape photographers than portrait shooters or photojournalists. It also sports Triluminous Color output through the HDMI port, for enhanced visuals on select HDTVs.

The vast majority of shooters are going to be much more excited about the Cyber-shot RX100M2, though. This “Mark II” variant of the RX100 borrows a few features from Sony’s NEX line, which is never a bad thing. Looking at the camera, you’ll first notice the 3-inch 1.3M-dot tiltable LCD, which can flip 84 degrees upward and 45 degrees downward. There’s also a Multi Interface Shoe for adding on accessories like a microphone, OLED EVF or external flash. Additionally, the USB port is now a Multi Interface Terminal, so it’ll work with the RM-VPR1 remote, and Sony added WiFi, NFC, and Triluminous Color output through the HDMI connector. On the imaging front, there’s a brand new 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor, boosting sensitivity to the tune of one full stop (we’re told ISO 3200 shots are comparable to ISO 1600 on the RX100). The top sensitivity also jumps from ISO 6400 to 12,800, which is pretty fantastic for a point-and-shoot.

As with the RX1, you’ll still be able to snag the RX100 for some time to come. And for many photographers, last year’s model may be the best pick — the RX100M2, while a bit more feature-packed, retails for a $100 more than its predecessor, with a $750 MSRP. The RX1R, however, maintains the same pricing as the RX1, at $2,799. Both cameras, which you can check out now in the hands-on gallery below, are expected in stores by the middle of July.

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We were more than a little smitten with Sony’s original RX100, a high-end Cybershot point-and-shoot housing a notable 1-inch 20.2-megapxiel CMOS sensor alongside a f/1.8 Carl Zeiss lens. It looks like there were enough customers that thought the same, because SonyAlphaRumors has gleaned several images from the manual for a sequel device. The site has more to share, but it’s checking its translations first. In the meantime, these initial images already point to some notable hardware additions. Alongside a screen that can tilt up and down (plus a light sensor to adjust brightness automatically), the mark two RX100 will apparently catch up with Sony’s NEX series, adding built-in WiFi too. There’s also the addition of a hot shoe for mics and other peripherals, but fear not: there’s still the built-in flash to the left of it. Naming, pricing and availability are still unknowns, but according to the site’s mole, the camera will get formally announced later this month on June 27.

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Source: Sony Alpha Rumors