Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony RX1R

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony RX1R

35mm 864.0mm²
22.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark III.
Compare Canon 5D Mark III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark III conclusion.

35mm 855.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
35.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX1R Review.
See real-world photos taken with the RX1R.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV

Succeeded by the Sony RX1R II
Compare RX1R vs RX1R II

Compare CANON 5D MARK IV vs SONY RX1R II

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Sony RX1R

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.7 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.27 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.0 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
63 vs 15 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.0 fps vs 5.2 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony RX1R advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
RX1R test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

2,537 vs 2,293 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
RX1R test data on DxO Mark 5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark

13.6 vs 11.7 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
482g vs 950g
Lighter weight
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read RX1R User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5D Mark III

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm f/4 lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

All 5D Mark III Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX1R

Sony RX1R

Review Excerpt

Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.
Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.
Read our Canon 5D Mark III Review

Significantly sharper, more detailed JPEG images than those from the RX1; JPEG processing appears to minimize moire and aliasing artifacts; Same price as the RX1; Full-frame, 24-megapixel compact camera with fast Carl Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2 T* lens; Blazing fast autofocus; Impressive image quality that rivals (and sometimes surpasses) full-frame DSLRs.
More prone to moire, aliasing and false color than the RX1; Only subtle improvement in sharpness in RAW files; Fixed-length lens limits shooting flexibility; Viewfinders (optical or electronic) only available as optional accessories; Extremely expensive for a compact camera.
Read our Sony RX1R Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2139
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Sony RX1R

Canon 6D

$2398
35mm

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony RX1R vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2139
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony RX1R

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2499
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony RX1R vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

$2139
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A850

Sony RX1R

Sony A850

$2398
35mm

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$2219
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony RX1R vs Sony A850

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800E

$2139
35mm

Bigger pixels
More cross-type AF points

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800E

Sony RX1R

Nikon D800E

$2398
35mm

Focus peaking
Bigger pixels

$2212
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
Fast startup

Compare Sony RX1R vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Sony A99

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A99

$2139
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A99

Sony RX1R

Sony A99

$2398
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Internal flash

$1998
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony RX1R vs Sony A99

Compare Other Cameras?