Sony continues to innovate on bringing performance inside your pocket. The Sony RX100 III makes the best even better with refined ergonomics, an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) and top picture and video production with that large 1″ sensor to leave the competition behind, raising eyebrows in even the DSLR / Mirrorless space.
The RX100 IV and V have since launched, yet it holds its own for the price that would satisfy enthusiasts and hobbyists wanting that extra punch and capability. It’s not perfect by all means, but the RX100 III is the nearest to it for premium compact cameras.
Sony RX100 III
- Megapixels: Up to 20.1 MP (4:3)
- Sensor: 1.0 inch Exmor R® CMOS
- Lens: ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70 mm
- Aperture: f/1.8 – 2.8
- Size: 4 x 2.29 x 1.61 in
- Battery: 320 shots / 160 minutes
- Optical Zoom: 2 x Still ; 2.9 x Video
- ISO Range: 125 – 25600
- Video: Up to 1920 x 1080; Full pixel readout
- Bitrate: 50mbps XAVC S codec video
- Continuous: 10 frames per second
- Weight: 290g with battery and media
- Screen: LCD TFT 2.95 in (4:3) 1.2M dots
- Autofocus: 25 point contrast-detection
More Refined, More Defined
The RX100 III is a little more refined, a little more defined. Not too much has fundamentally changed since the RX100 – it has the same smooth anodized aluminium body that oozes quality in the hand, which also means it is still as slippery in the hands. The included wrist strap is reassuring should it slips out of the hand otherwise.
The customisable ring around the lens – which I enjoyed in the predecessors – is back for nuance control of the aperture, shutter speed or ISO. It’s still as smooth as before and adds more flexibility in getting to grips with the compact form. The button placements also haven’t changed, which I found worked pretty well for quick-access settings or managing the back-end with relative ease.
The shooting mode and zooming dial still feel the same, solid and assuring with each turn and toggle. There are a few noticeable changes from the Mark II that feels a little more refined in the RX100 III however.
The RX100 III has been a very capable camera when opting for a smaller footprintThe new Bionz X processor results in better image performance with minimal artifacts, better noise management, detail reproduction and image tonal range in colours and contrast. The biggest upgrade is in the video department, thanks to the XAVC S codec. The RX100 III can capture video at 50mbps bitrate, capturing detail much better with minimal noise over the standard AVCHD format. This gives it added muscle to better handle fast-moving images as a result.
The hardware is also a little more defined too. While the display is the same 3″ Xtrafine non-touch LCD screen, the screen extends beyond the limited tilt and goes 180 degrees for selfie/ vlogging captures. It’s very useful in ensuring your shot or footage is in focus without the need to review, after the fact. It’s also a defacto requirement, with vlogs and self-portraits a common sight these days.
The newest and arguably best addition to the RX100 III is the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF). I’m a great believer in cameras having an EVF – they warrant their value when under the sunlight or for that greater precision in capturing vs the LCD display. Fitting an EVF in such a small body is difficult, but Sony managed to implement it well first time around. At 0.39″, it has the same size EVF as the much larger Sony A6000 series (even the 6500) so to see it in this slender frame is very impressive.
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I still believe an EVF is worth having. Though small it’s well executed herePlaced on the top to the left of the RX100 III, I found it usable enough for image peeping to take a shot. I use my left eye (even if I am predominantly a right side user) and found it to align well, plus in a comfortable position to capture too. Some may argue it’s too small to use but I’d rather have one than none at all. One thing that did bamboozle me was that closing the EVF also powered down the camera itself.
RX100 III further solidifies Sony as the advanced compact camera leader
I’m not quite sure who signed that off, but there are many times I would switch between the EVF and display when taking shots so to have it power down the whole camera is a frustrating ‘why?‘ but I’ve come to terms with it. Something worth noting however.
As a result, the pop-out flash is centered in the middle for better light balance when shooting directly at the object or bouncing off surfaces for diffused lighting, activated at the slide of a button.
If you’re new to the Sony ecosystem, the menus are familiar easy to grasp, though not the most intuitive. Having used the RX100 III as my compact camera companion (triple C win) and Sony for my mirrorless camera, I’ve gotten used to it and find it fairly usable.
Switching from brands may be somewhat difficult, but that applies to any ecosystem you switch to. What definitely helps is managing your ‘Fn’function mode and the custom ‘C’ button to access your most regularly used settings and modes. You can select up to 11 modes from 42 functions and found my workflow around the camera more efficient.
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RX100 III Image Gallery
Below are images taken with the RX100 III unedited and under different uses and conditions. Shots in the snow are challenging conditions due to the high contrast between the whites and blacks. The snow and blanketed sky are accurately reproduced, while the fine detail is retained relatively well.
On closer inspection, the brickwork detail is quite soft but just about visible, while the rooftop slates, window details and each spike at the top are well-retained. The tree branches can be seen within the shadows, though loses sharpness towards the edges. Overall, it managed quite well in this tough environment.
In this scene, the RX100 III manages well in this tough, dimly-lit shot of the building in Otaru, Hokkaido. The exposed sunlight and covered low-light made it a tricky one. The HDR mode retains the blue clear sky with a faint streak of cloud, while the sunlight is exposed well to bring the intricate details out on the brickwork. The details in the shadows are subtly brought out, keeping windows and decor sharp with minimal noise.
Another tough scene (I like to push the boundaries) with the bright sunlight in the background and the dark building posing a challenging high contrast situation. HDR mode balances the lighting a bit with the sky exposed better and some detail and lighting coming out on the building itself. Overall, it neutralises the overexposed shot and brings out a bit more detail in the building well, though more of a subtle impact in this shot.
And then we have the 180 articulating screen put to use for a typical selfie. Natural light was already fading and my dark jacket also posed a challenge in front of the bright background. Face detection kicks in and feels mostly sharp, but slightly off around my eyes.
Yeap, me in Otaru, Japan. I remember stepping into a frozen puddle that broke..Not concerned with bokeh here, the image is pretty good though, exposure could be better around the jacket and general brightness. Overall, it still manages well to detect and keep my face in focus. As a result, the RX100 III is a very capable compact camera that deals with even the toughest environments well.
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There are times I prefer a compact setup to my mirrorless, but don’t want to compromise significantly on image performance. The RX100 III fits nicely for that occasion and even as a primary shooter that fits in any of my pockets. They say the best camera is the one always with you.. and you can’t get any better than this one.
Whether you are a hobbyist, enthusiast or simply want a quality camera for years to come, you’ll enjoy the wide range of freedom here. Want to worry less about the settings? Intelligent Auto + (IA+) works reliably in optimising the camera settings for the conditions (landscape, macro, portrait). If you shoot in JPEG, you can take advantage of HDR mode which greatly improves the dynamic range, unearthing detail from the dark for a better balanced image.
And when you want to go full manual, switch the dial for complete freedom. Burst shooting is up to 10 fps which rivals even mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Where the camera feels slightly vulnerable is the small 25 contrast-detection autofocus system. In static, non-moving scenes the camera works great.
In scenes in dynamic depths and focal distances, the autofocus system can be seen hunting and finding it difficult where to focus. I find the portrait recording to be guilty of this, not focusing on my face, however portrait or face recognition focus minimises this. The focus ring works great for manual control, otherwise a bit more patience is needed for autofocus in challenging contrast situations.
Top Tier Compact Powerhouse
Sony continues to lead the way with the RX100 series. It packs plenty of quality, features and performance that makes this a seriously impressive advanced compact camera for those wanting that high quality in a slender frame.
Though the RX100 IV and RX100 V push the camera even further – 4K video, up to 1000 fps for insane slow-motion and blistering 0.05 second autofocus a few examples – they push upwards at $899 and $949 USD respectively. At $699, the RX100 III holds its own in terms of quality vs price. If you can overlook the lack of 4K, then the RX100 III is worth its weight as a premium advanced compact camera that is in a class of its own.
