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Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
62
Imaging
75
Features
93
Overall
82
Sony Alpha A9 Mark II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Sony A9 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Increase to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 678g - 129 x 96 x 76mm
  • Revealed October 2019
  • Superseded the Sony A9
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced May 2014
  • Old Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Following is a thorough analysis of the Sony A9 II and Sony RX100 III, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A9 II (24MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is very similar but the A9 II (Full frame) and RX100 III (1") boast totally different sensor size.

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The A9 II was brought out 5 years after the RX100 III which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A9 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight to a thorough comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the A9 II grades vs the RX100 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A9 II over the Sony RX100 III

 A9 II RX100 III 
IntroducedOctober 2019May 2014More modern by 66 months
Display resolution1440k1229kClearer display (+211k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony A9 II

 RX100 III A9 II 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A9 II and Sony RX100 III

 A9 II RX100 III 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display size

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A9 II has external measurements of 129mm x 96mm x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs) while the Sony RX100 III has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Look at the Sony A9 II and Sony RX100 III in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the A9 II compared to the RX100 III.

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A9 II and RX100 III is 62 and 89 respectively.

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by going over a spec sheet. The picture underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the A9 II and RX100 III.

Clearly, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A9 II due to its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A9 II will offer you greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more recent A9 II is going to have an edge in sensor tech.

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 II Portrait photography information
Sony RX100 III Portrait photography information
85
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
64
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 II as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
78
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
environment sealing
above average high ISO (51,200)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (290 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 II Sports photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Sports photography highlights
87
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
high frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
great battery pack (690 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 II Travel photography info
Sony RX100 III Travel photography info
73
great battery pack (690 shots)
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
85
lighter than competition (290 grams)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 II Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography info
86
manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (51,200)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
great battery pack (690 CIPA)
two card slots
73
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 II Vlogging highlights
Sony RX100 III Vlogging highlights
36
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
80
pretty wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (290g)
no microphone support
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Sony A9 II vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 II and Sony RX100 III
 Sony Alpha A9 Mark IISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Mark II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Class Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2019-10-03 2014-05-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ X Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1"
Sensor measurements 35.6 x 23.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 51200 12800
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 693 25
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,440k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 20.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 678 gr (1.49 lbs) 290 gr (0.64 lbs)
Physical dimensions 129 x 96 x 76mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 3.0") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 67
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 495
Other
Battery life 690 images 320 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous, 3 or 5 frames) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual Single
Launch price $4,498 $748