• 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Comparison Review

It says a lot that Sony felt confident enough to keep an nearly 3 year old camera around in its lineup, but the RX100 really is that good. It won our award for the best compact camera of 2012 and it's still probably the best compact camera available for $500. If you're looking at the Sony RX100 for $500 (or less!) and fretting that you can't afford the latest and greatest, fear not. Sony outdid themselves with the RX100 and it's a no-brainer if you've only got $500.

Size matters

Skipping two generations like this means we're comparing two pretty different cameras. The size and weight of each generation inched up a bit, and while the difference was negligible between each generation, it's more pronounced when comparing the Mark III with its grandfather. The original RX100 is a noticeably more compact camera than the Mark III: 17% lighter and 12% thinner.

Much to love in the Mark III, for enthusiasts and casual shooters

Since the RX100 III returns to the original formula in dropping the hot-shoe found on the Mark II, that drawback relative to the Mark II is moot. Enthusiast photographers will sorely miss the superb electronic viewfinder on the Mark III and will be disappointed to lose the built-in 3-stop neutral density filter, among other features. Casual shooters will miss the 180 degree tiltable screen and Wi-Fi (lackluster though it may be).

Low-light performance is a night-and-day difference

The big difference between these cameras is in low-light situations. While the original RX100 is no slouch in this department, the RX100 III is the clear champion. There are two big advances that enable the Mark III to shine here. The first is the backside-illuminated sensor Sony introduced in the RX100 II and retained on the RX100 III. This is good for a 1-stop improvement when comparing JPEGS from the RX100 to the RX100 II: ISO 1600 on the Mark II looks as good as ISO 800 on the Mark I. The second factor is the faster lens at 70mm on the Mark III, which means you can shoot at ISO 800 and f/2.8 on the Mark III when you'd need to jump to ISO 1600 and f/4.0 on the Mark I. Put together, the RX100 III is 2 whole stops faster than the RX100 at 70mm.

Not a fair fight, but an interesting one

It's easy to give the nod to the RX100 III. Its only actual downside in terms of features is the loss of 30mm of zoom, which is compensated somewhat by a 4mm wider wide angle. But that leaves out the RX100 III's $300 premium, meaning this isn't really a fair fight. If anything, it's interesting to see what 3 years of development have yielded. Perhaps more interesting is the fact that a 3-year-old camera still arguably holds the title of best compact camera under $500. That in itself says a lot about the maturity of the digital camera market and Sony's ascendancy.

--

Buy From

Differences

Sony RX100 advantages over Sony RX100 III

  • More telephoto lens reach
    100 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Faster RAW shooting
    10.0 fps vs 6.7 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Sony RX100 III advantages over Sony RX100

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Fast startup
    ~2.00 vs 2.8 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    495 vs 390 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Wider angle lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    48 vs 13 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    26 vs 13 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • 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
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • 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
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100
Sony RX100 II
  • $448
  • 1 inch
  • Faster RAW shooting
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 II
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Fast startup
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Canon G7X

Sony RX100
Canon G7X
  • $448
  • 1 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $699
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
Sony RX100 III
Canon G7X
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $699
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Sony RX100
Panasonic LX100
  • $448
  • 1 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Internal flash
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Sony RX100 III
Panasonic LX100
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Nikon P330

Sony RX100
Nikon P330
  • $448
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $380
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
Sony RX100 III
Nikon P330
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $380
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Built-in GPS

Compared to Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100
Sony RX100 IV
  • $448
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoot 4K video
Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 IV
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Shoot 4K video

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent high-ISO performance for such a compact model; Smart controls; Small body; Bright lens; 10fps full-res burst mode; Very fast shutter response; Excellent LCD.

  • Lens flare at night; Poor rendering of yellows; Slow flash recycling; Soft corners wide open; Continuous AF mode slow to lock.

  • Pocket-friendly design; Popup electronic viewfinder; Bright lens across the zoom range; Great performance with very fast autofocus; Very high resolution gives lots of detail in good light; High ISO noise levels much better than most pocket camera rivals; Wi-Fi wireless networking

  • Feels a little unbalanced without an accessory grip; Not as much telephoto reach as its siblings; Noise processing is heavier-handed than in earlier models; Quite pricey for a fixed-lens camera

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 III Discussion

Compare Other Cameras?