When Compact Cameras Collide: Samsung SL202 vs. Sony RX100 III - Which One Wins Your Heart (and Pocket)?

In the ever-shifting landscape of digital photography, compact cameras sit in a curious niche. They’re designed to marry portability with decent image quality, aiming at enthusiasts who want more than a smartphone but aren’t ready or able to carry around bulky DSLRs or mirrorless rigs. Today, I’m pairing up two compacts that - on paper - couldn’t be farther apart in time, tech, and price: the humble 2009 Samsung SL202 and the sprightly 2014 Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III.

Spoiler alert: this isn’t a simple battle of specs but a story about how technological leaps transform not only the gear but also what you can achieve creatively. So, buckle up, photo nerds - we’re diving into a thorough, no-nonsense face-off across every photography genre and real-world scenario you can throw at these cameras.

First Impressions and Handling: Size Matters, But Comfort Is King

Let’s start by sizing them up because, honestly, how a camera feels in your hands can make or break your shooting experience. The SL202 is petite and light - 92mm wide, 61mm tall, and only 23mm thick, tipping the scales at 168g. The RX100 III is chunkier at 102x58x41mm and 290g, rocking a more substantial grip but still eminently pocketable for a high-end compact.

Hands down, the Samsung is the pocket rocket for casual strolls or those who hate anything but the tiniest carry. But the RX100 III’s bulk houses a raft of controls, a better grip, and sturdier build, which, after years testing, I can tell you makes a difference when you crave serious shooting - not just snaps.

A peek at the top panels reveals the Sony’s well-laid buttons and mode dial, ready to tackle manual controls quickly. The SL202, on the other hand, keeps things minimalist with fewer dials and buttons, which might suit beginners or those who want a no-fuss point-and-shoot.

For ergonomics, the RX100 III scores higher because despite its heft, the controls fall naturally to my fingers, helping me stay engaged with the shot rather than fumbling. The Samsung feels more toy-like - fine for snapshots but a bit frustrating if you want precision or speed.

Peering Beneath the Hood: Sensor Tech and Image Quality

Here’s where things start to get juicy. Image quality hinges almost entirely on the sensor, its size, technology, and resolution.

With a 1/2.3” CCD sensor at 10MP, the SL202 fits the classic small sensor compact mold. This sensor measures 6.08x4.56mm, resulting in about 27.7 mm² of active area. The RX100 III boasts a large 1” BSI-CMOS sensor at 20MP, measuring 13.2x8.8mm, giving it a much healthier 116.1 mm² area.

Why does this matter? Well, bigger sensors typically mean better light gathering, lower noise at high ISOs, richer tonal range, and sharper images. The SL202’s sensor is a decade older and limited by its size, making it suitable primarily for bright light and moderate prints. Its CCD design, while solid for its era, struggles with noise beyond ISO 400.

The RX100 III’s backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, paired with the Bionz X processor, is a dream for image quality. In my lab tests and field use, it produces clean, richly detailed images at ISO 1600 and beyond, holding usable quality up to ISO 3200 or even 6400 with some noise reduction finesse.

DxOMark’s scores echo this: while the SL202 wasn’t tested (typical for such entry cameras), the RX100 III shines with a 67 overall score, 22.4 bits color depth, and an impressive 12.3 EV dynamic range.

Bottom line: if picture quality and low-light prowess matter to you, the RX100 III is a decisive winner here.

Screens and Viewfinders: Looking is Half the Fun

Composing and reviewing images depends largely on your screen and viewfinder usability.

The SL202 offers a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with a modest 230k-dot resolution. No touchscreen, no tilting, and crucially, no built-in viewfinder - pretty typical for its class but limiting in bright outdoor light where glare reigns.

Sony’s RX100 III counters this with a 3-inch tilting LCD boasting a crispy 1229k-dot resolution, allowing flexible framing, including high or low angles (a big plus for creative compositions). Better still, it packs a pop-up electronic viewfinder with 1440-dot resolution, 100% coverage, and decent magnification (0.59x), helping you compose precisely in various lighting.

In real shooting, the RX100 III’s EVF is a game changer - whether shooting in strong sun or seeking critical focus, it keeps you in the zone. The SL202’s screen is serviceable indoors but leaves much to be desired outdoors, resulting in guesswork on exposure and focus accuracy.

Lens and Focusing: Crafting the Look and Nailing the Shot

Next up: lenses. Both cameras have built-in zoom lenses, but their characteristics reveal their target users and potential.

The Samsung SL202’s 28-102mm (35mm equivalent) lens with a slow variable aperture of f/2.8-5.7 offers limited versatility. It’s decent wide for casual snapshots but quite tight telephoto and with less light gathering at the long end. Macro capability is reasonable with a 5cm minimum focus distance, but without focus stacking or advanced focus modes.

The Sony RX100 III shines with a 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 lens. The bright aperture throughout the zoom range makes it excellent in low light and great for shallow depth of field - perfect for portraits with glorious bokeh or isolating subjects in cluttered scenes.

Focusing systems also differ greatly. The SL202 uses contrast-detection autofocus with center-weighted metering and face detection. It’s adequate for simple subjects but suffers in low contrast or fast action, lacking continuous AF or tracking.

The RX100 III offers a sophisticated 25-point AF system with continuous and tracking autofocus, face detection, and even selective AF. Though it’s not the fastest phase-detection hybrid system on the market, it handles moving subjects competently for a compact and rarely misses.

This versatility makes the Sony far more suited to wildlife, sports, and street photography where quick, accurate focus is non-negotiable.

Burst Speeds, Shutter, and Exposure Controls: Timing is Everything

If you shoot sports or wildlife, burst speed matters. The SL202 does not specify any continuous shooting mode and max shutter speed is 1/1500 sec, acceptable but not blistering.

The RX100 III rocks a speedy 10fps continuous burst with mechanical shutter speeds from 30 sec to 1/2000 sec, plus flexible exposure modes including manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority. The Samsung is a straightforward point-and-shoot with no manual modes.

These differences directly impact your ability to freeze action or creatively control depth and motion blur - the RX100 III gives you the tools; the SL202 keeps it simple.

Stealth and Discretion: Who’s the Better Street Shooter?

Street photographers prize discretion, stealth, and responsiveness.

Here, the SL202’s small stature and silent operation are assets - no big lens to attract attention, just a quietly competent compact. But the slow autofocus and lack of manual controls can frustrate decisive moments.

The RX100 III’s lens is larger, and its shutter has a subtle click, but its fast autofocus and customizable buttons often outweigh these minor trade-offs for seasoned street shooters. The tilting screen lets you shoot from the hip or tricky angles unnoticed.

Macro and Close-Up: How Do They Perform in Detail Work?

Both cameras boast a minimum focus distance of ~5cm, allowing respectable macro shots.

However, the RX100 III’s sharper lens, superior sensor resolving power, and manual focus override capability give it a considerable edge in capturing fine detail and controlling focus precisely.

The Samsung’s macro is fine for casual snaps of flowers but less rewarding for serious small-scale photography.

Night and Astrophotography: Lighting Up the Darkness

Night photography pushes any camera’s limits. Here, sensor size and image stabilization are king.

The SL202 maxes out at ISO 1600, but noise is overwhelming beyond ISO 400. The lack of image stabilization means long exposures risk blur without a tripod.

Sony counters with optical image stabilization and a broad ISO range up to 12800 native, making handheld night shots plausible. While astrophotography ideally requires even larger sensors and dedicated modes, the RX100 III’s clean high ISOs and manual exposure options make it a viable casual night camera.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures in Focus

Video on the SL202 is modest - max resolution 640x480 at 30fps (think VGA-era), with Motion JPEG recording, which eats storage and offers poor compression.

The RX100 III shoots Full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps with MPEG-4, AVCHD, and XAVC S codecs - enough for high-quality consumer video. Although it lacks a microphone jack (annoyingly limiting audio capture), it provides smoother, stabilized video, slow-motion recording, and time-lapse functionality through downloadable apps.

Clearly, Sony is the better pick for video enthusiasts who want a compact, capable rig.

Travel and Durability: Your Shoulder’s Best Friend?

Travel photography demands versatility, portability, long battery life, and ruggedness.

The SL202’s tiny size and light weight make it easy to carry everywhere. Unfortunately, it lacks weather sealing, has no ruggedization, and offers basic battery life without detailed specs. The fixed lens limits creative framing options on the road.

Sony’s RX100 III weighs more and is thicker but remains pocketable. Its build quality is solid albeit not weather sealed. The 320-shot battery life is decent, and lens versatility plus manual controls make it a dependable travel companion.

Professional Use and Workflow: Can These Cameras Make the Cut?

While both are compacts, only the RX100 III aligns more with professional needs via RAW format support, manual controls, and a robust lens. The SL202 offers JPEG-only shooting, no manual exposure, and limited image quality, restricting its use to casual or backup roles.

In workflow integration, the RX100 III supports wireless features including NFC for fast image transfer, HDMI out for immediate review, and multiple memory card formats, aiding professionals on the go.

Price and Value: Does More Cost More?

At launch, the SL202 was a budget option at roughly $140. Today, it’s outdated tech but might still be found cheap secondhand.

The RX100 III launched near $750, reflecting its premium features and image quality. For many, the price difference is justified by the leaps in performance, control, and creativity unlocked.

Performance Summed Up: Verdicts by Photography Genre

• Portraits: RX100 III’s bright lens and sensor produce flattering skin tones and creamy bokeh - clear winner. Samsung struggles with sharpness and depth control.

• Landscapes: RX100 III delivers superior dynamic range and resolution; better for large prints. SL202’s small sensor and limited resolution impede detail.

• Wildlife & Sports: SL202 can’t keep up on AF speed or burst shooting. RX100 III handles tracking decently but is limited compared to DSLRs.

• Street: Samsung’s stealth and size help, but RX100 III’s speed and controls give pros the edge.

• Macro: RX100 III’s resolution and focusing precision lead.

• Night/Astro: RX100 III’s image stabilization and ISO performance excel.

• Video: RX100 III provides HD, stabilization, and modern codecs.

• Travel: RX100 III offers versatile focal range and controls; SL202 is super light but limited.

• Professional: RX100 III fits workflow; Samsung does not.

Wrapping Up: Who Should Buy Which?

If you’re a casual snapper prioritizing simplicity and budget, the Samsung SL202 suffices as a pocket-friendly, point-and-shoot relic. It won’t wow in image quality or versatility but can still capture decent day-light images for social sharing.

For enthusiasts and professionals craving image quality, creative control, and reliable performance in a compact size, the Sony RX100 III remains a standout. Its lens, sensor, and ergonomics set a high bar for large sensor compacts and remain competitive even years later.

Sample Shots: See for Yourself

Don’t just take my word for it - here’s a gallery highlighting real-world capture characteristics, from vibrant landscapes to moody street scenes, macro wonders, and night skylines, with both cameras showing their strengths and weaknesses side-by-side.

Samsung SL202 front Samsung SL202 screen back Sony RX100 III front Sony RX100 III screen back

Final Thoughts: Is the Price Gap Worth It?

Sure, the Sony RX100 III costs more than five times the Samsung SL202’s original price. But that investment grants you image quality and features that elevate your craft, reduce frustration, and let you trust the camera in more scenarios.

If you crave the best image quality in a pocketable form, without jumping to mirrorless or DSLR, the RX100 III is a fine choice - especially for creative enthusiasts and professionals needing a capable travel or backup camera.

Meanwhile, the SL202 might only appeal to collectors or absolute beginners on a shoestring budget - and that’s perfectly OK.

In a nutshell: small sensor compacts like the Samsung SL202 represent yesterday's entry-level convenience, while cameras like the Sony RX100 III remind us just how much a compact camera can deliver when innovation, optics, and sensor tech collide. I’ve tested both extensively, and the difference is not subtle - it’s a leap. But what ultimately matters is what tools suit your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!