Sony RX10 III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Cameras
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Sony RX10 III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX10 III Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX10 III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX10 III.
Compare Sony RX10 III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX10 III conclusion.

35mm 864.0mm²
30.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

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

Succeeded by the Sony RX10 IV
Compare RX10 III vs RX10 IV
Compare Sony RX10 IV vs Canon 5D Mark IV

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Differences

Sony RX10 III advantages over Canon 5D Mark IV

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$1398* vs $3249
Save money for lenses or accessories
Slower slow-motion
1000 fps vs 120 fps
Supports slower slow-mo
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Faster JPEG shooting
14.2 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 7.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
29 vs 19 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon 5D Mark IV advantages over Sony RX10 III

Larger sensor
35mm vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 5.36 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 2.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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.
5D Mark IV test data on DxO Mark RX10 III test data on DxO Mark

2,995 vs 472 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

900 vs 420 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
75 mm vs 127 mm
Thinner
Higher-res screen
540k vs 307k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More pixels
30.4 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 44 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter

User reviews

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Buy the Sony RX10 III

Sony RX10 III

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Buy the Canon 5D Mark IV

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm Lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

All 5D Mark IV Deals

Review Excerpt

Versatile all-in-one replacement for a DSLR or mirrorless camera; Great handling and build; Excellent image quality; Spectacular zoom reach; Swift performance with generous buffer depths; Extremely capable video capture; Comprehensive remote control; Quick-and-easy image sharing
Extremely expensive for a fixed-lens camera; Fairly heavy for fixed-lens camera; Somewhat soft in the corners at wide-angle or tele; Noise reduction intrudes at higher sensitivities; No built-in ND filter; Not as fast when shooting raws; Slow buffer clearing
Read our Sony RX10 III Review

Superb image quality from RAW files; Improved dynamic range; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast 7fps burst rate with unlimited JPEG buffer; High-quality cinema 4K video; Built-in Wi-Fi; Dual Pixel CMOS AF is very good.
JPEG files look soft at default settings; 1/200s flash sync; 4K video codec is cumbersome; 29:59 continuous video recording limit.
Read our Canon 5D Mark IV Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 5D Mark III

Sony RX10 III

Canon 5D Mark III

$1398
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2139
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2139
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

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

Compared to Nikon D810

Sony RX10 III

Nikon D810

$1398
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2363
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Nikon D810

Canon 5D Mark IV

Nikon D810

$2499
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$2363
35mm

Longer stills battery life
Internal flash

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Nikon D810

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Sony RX10 III

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$1398
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Larger lens aperture

$899
1 inch

Less expensive
Lighter weight

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Canon 5D Mark IV

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$899
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Compared to Panasonic FZ2500

Sony RX10 III

Panasonic FZ2500

$1398
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Larger lens aperture

$965
1 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Panasonic FZ2500

Canon 5D Mark IV

Panasonic FZ2500

$2499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$965
1 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Panasonic FZ2500

Compared to Sony A99 II

Sony RX10 III

Sony A99 II

$1398
1 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

$3198
35mm

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Sony A99 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony A99 II

$2499
35mm

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$3198
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A99 II

Compare Other Cameras?