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Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
68
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Succeeded the Sony A350
  • New Model is Sony A390
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Replaced the Sony RX100 II
  • Successor is Sony RX100 IV
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Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Following is a extensive review of the Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the A380 (14MP) and RX100 III (20MP) and the A380 (APS-C) and RX100 III (1") have different sensor sizes.

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The A380 was launched 5 years prior to the RX100 III which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the A380 matches up versus the RX100 III when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony RX100 III

 A380 RX100 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony A380

 RX100 III A380 
RevealedMay 2014August 2009More modern by 57 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kSharper screen (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony RX100 III

 A380 RX100 III 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A380 has got external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) and the Sony RX100 III has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Check out the Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the A380 compared to the RX100 III.

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A380 and RX100 III is 68 and 89 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The pic here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A380 and RX100 III.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A380 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 III will provide more detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A380 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A380
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW files
64
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony A380 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
76
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (290 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A380
Sports photography with Sony RX100 III
59
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames/s)
low battery life (500 per charge)
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 III Travel photography factors
53
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low battery life (500 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
85
lighter than competition (290 grams)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 III Landscape photography highlights
61
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
low battery life (500 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
rather wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 III as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
80
rather wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (290g)
lack of mic port
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Sony A380 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony RX100 III
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Category Entry-Level DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-24 2014-05-15
Body design Compact SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 372.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (at ISO 100) -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 519g (1.14 lb) 290g (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 67
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 12.3
DXO Low light score 614 495
Other
Battery life 500 shots 320 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $899 $748