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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 III front
Portability
63
Imaging
74
Features
92
Overall
81

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
Sony A7 III
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Expand to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 650g - 127 x 96 x 74mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Earlier Model is Sony A7 II
  • Replacement is Sony A7 IV
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A7 III, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the RZ18 (16MP) and A7 III (24MP) and the RZ18 (1/2.3") and A7 III (Full frame) posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The RZ18 was announced 7 years prior to the A7 III and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera and the Sony A7 III being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the RZ18 scores versus the A7 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony A7 III

 RZ18 A7 III 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 III over the Pentax RZ18

 A7 III RZ18 
LaunchedFebruary 2018September 2011More recent by 78 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k460kCrisper display (+462k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A7 III

 RZ18 A7 III 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Pentax RZ18 offers exterior dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Sony A7 III has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Pentax RZ18 and Sony A7 III in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached during that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the RZ18 against the A7 III.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RZ18 and A7 III is 92 and 63 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III top view buttons comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by reviewing specs. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RZ18 and A7 III.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The RZ18 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A7 III will offer you greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The older RZ18 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography factors
Sony A7 III Portrait photography factors
36
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
84
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography features
Sony A7 III Street photography features
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competitors (178g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
78
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
offers touch focus
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
Sports photography with Sony A7 III
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
87
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
good battery (610 CIPA)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Travel photography info
Sony A7 III Travel photography info
71
lighter than competitors (178 grams)
weather sealing
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (450mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
73
good battery (610 CIPA)
weather proof
has bluetooth
offers touch focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax RZ18
Landscape photography with Sony A7 III
49
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
85
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
good battery (610 shots)
has dual storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax RZ18
Vlogging with Sony A7 III
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (178g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
36
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony A7 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony A7 III
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony Alpha A7 III
General Information
Make Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio RZ18 Sony Alpha A7 III
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-09-12 2018-02-27
Body design Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max boosted ISO - 204800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 693
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 -
Macro focus range 4cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 2.80 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178g (0.39 pounds) 650g (1.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") 127 x 96 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 96
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.7
DXO Low light score not tested 3730
Other
Battery life - 610 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI92 NP-FZ100
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 Two
Price at launch $210 $1,998