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Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Launched April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
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
  • Launched May 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 II
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 IV
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Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Sony A9 versus Sony RX100 III, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. The resolution of the A9 (24MP) and the RX100 III (20MP) is very comparable but the A9 (Full frame) and RX100 III (1") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A9 was announced 2 years later than the RX100 III and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the A9 grades against the RX100 III in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony RX100 III

 A9 RX100 III 
LaunchedApril 2017May 2014More recent by 36 months
Display resolution1440k1229kClearer display (+211k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony A9

 RX100 III A9 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony RX100 III

 A9 RX100 III 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display sizing

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Sony A9 features outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") along with a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) while the Sony RX100 III has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check the Sony A9 versus Sony RX100 III in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the A9 and the RX100 III.

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A9 and RX100 III is 65 and 89 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the A9 and RX100 III.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A9 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A9 will show more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger A9 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A9
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
83
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
64
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A9
Street photography with Sony RX100 III
79
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
weather proof
good high ISO (51,200)
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competition in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 III Sports photography factors
86
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
high max fps (20.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with tracking focus
weather proof
good battery (650 shots)
comes with phase detect auto focus
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Travel photography camera
73
good battery (650 per charge)
weather proof
has bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
85
lighter than competition in class (290g)
decent MP (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography features
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography features
85
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
weather proof
good battery (650 per charge)
has dual storage slots
73
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A9
Vlogging with Sony RX100 III
36
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
80
reasonably wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (290 grams)
doesn't have mic port
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Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony RX100 III
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Category Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2017-04-19 2014-05-15
Body design 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 dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 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
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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 693 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,440 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dot 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash options Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 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 data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 673 gr (1.48 lb) 290 gr (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 92 67
DXO Color Depth score 24.9 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 12.3
DXO Low light score 3517 495
Other
Battery life 650 photos 320 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two 1
Cost at launch $4,498 $748