Sony G3 vs. Sony RX100 VII: A Decade of Compact Camera Evolution in Sharp Focus

As an experienced photographer and gear reviewer, I’ve tested hundreds of compact cameras - from budget pocket shooters to flagship models pushing sensor and lens technology to the extremes. Comparing the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 - a 2009 vintage small sensor compact - against the 2019 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII, which remains a top-tier large sensor compact camera today, offers a fascinating glimpse at how camera technology and user expectations have evolved over ten years.

In this personal account and technical analysis, I’ll walk you through each camera’s strengths and limitations, breaking down their design, image quality, autofocus performance, video capabilities, and genre-specific prowess. Whether you’re a casual snapshooter, an enthusiast, or a pro looking for a powerful travel companion, this comparison will help you understand which camera better fits your creative needs and budget.

A Tale of Two Compact Cameras: Design, Size, and Ergonomics

At first glance, these cameras embody different eras and philosophies. The Sony G3, representative of many early digital compacts, is a small, lightweight point-and-shoot with a fixed 35-140mm equivalent zoom lens and a modest set of features. On the other hand, the RX100 VII is a powerhouse large-sensor compact optimized for versatility and performance with its 24-200mm equivalent, fast aperture lens.

Handling and Controls

The G3’s diminutive size - just 97mm wide by 59mm tall and 22mm thick, weighing a featherlight 185 grams - makes it incredibly pocket-friendly. However, at such a compact scale, physical controls are minimal, and it offers no viewfinder, relying solely on its bright 3.5-inch touchscreen for framing, which was ahead of its time for 2009.

In contrast, the RX100 VII is larger (102x58x43 mm) and heavier at 302 grams; still compact by professional standards but more substantial in hand. It benefits from a tilting 3.0-inch touchscreen and, significantly, a built-in high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2360k dots and 100% coverage, vital for precise composition in bright daylight or fast action.

Over 10 years, Sony has refined the ergonomics to allow tactile dials and customizable buttons - a boon for enthusiasts and professionals who crave quick access to manual controls like aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. The G3 offers no manual modes and rudimentary controls, suitable only for point-and-shoot simplicity.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera sports environmental sealing, dustproofing, or weatherproofing features, which is typical for compact cameras, especially in the G3’s generation. Build quality on the RX100 VII is noticeably more robust with a premium metal body, while the G3’s plastic shell feels fragile by comparison.

Sensor Technology and Imaging Performance: A Quantum Leap

One of the starkest differences lies in their image sensors. The Sony G3 houses a 1/2.3-inch 10MP CCD sensor, common for compact cameras in 2009, whereas the RX100 VII packs a much larger 1-inch, 20MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor - roughly four times the surface area!

Resolution and Detail

The G3’s 10MP resolution (3648x2736 pixels) limits its output size and cropping flexibility, and its smaller sensor struggles to resolve fine detail compared to larger sensors. In practice, I found images acceptable for web use and casual prints but lacking in sharpness and dynamic range, especially in challenging lighting.

The RX100 VII’s 20MP sensor (5472x3648 pixels) allows for impressively detailed images with excellent fine detail, especially when paired with its fast, sharp Zeiss lens. The larger pixel size on the 1-inch sensor dramatically enhances light sensitivity, producing cleaner images at higher ISOs.

ISO Performance and Dynamic Range

In controlled tests, the G3's maximum ISO 3200 often produced noisy, rather muddy images, limiting usability to well-lit scenes or flash photography. The RX100 VII, on the other hand, maintains image quality up to ISO 3200 and beyond, offering usable files even at ISO 6400 thanks to its advanced sensor and noise reduction algorithms.

Dynamic range illustrates even greater disparity. The G3's CCD sensor provides limited latitude, with shadows crushing easily and highlight retention compromised. The RX100 VII excels here with 12.4 EV in DXOMark testing, delivering balanced exposures and nuanced highlight/shadow detail that makes it a solid choice for landscape and travel photography.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Sharpened Over Time

Autofocus (AF) capabilities have evolved dramatically, especially in the compact segment. The G3 relied solely on contrast detection AF with nine focus points and no face or eye detection capabilities. It offered manual focus, but no continuous AF or tracking.

I tested the G3’s AF in daylight - it locks moderately fast on static subjects but often hunts indoors or in lower light. Tracking moving subjects is almost impossible; you'll be best suited snapping still scenes.

The RX100 VII features a hybrid AF system with 357 phase-detect points and 425 contrast-detect points, combining speed and accuracy. It supports face and real-time eye AF, including animal eye autofocus - unprecedented for compacts when it launched. Continuous AF and AF tracking at up to 20 fps burst shooting ensure sharp captures in fast-paced scenarios like street photography or wildlife.

Flash and Low Light Performance

Both cameras have built-in flashes; the G3’s flash range is 4.3 meters, while the RX100 VII extends to about 5.9 meters with auto ISO boost. The RX100 VII’s flash integrates better with its advanced metering system to reduce harsh shadows and maintain natural skin tones.

In low light, the G3’s small sensor and limited ISO range make it difficult to avoid motion blur or noise without flash. Image stabilization helps but cannot fully compensate.

The RX100 VII’s optical image stabilization and superior sensor, along with higher native ISO ceiling, allow handheld shooting in dim environments, including indoor events and nighttime scenes, with better clarity and detail retention.

Screen and Viewfinder: Composition and Focusing Made Easy

While the G3 has a relatively large 3.5-inch fixed touchscreen with 921k dots - impressive for its time - it lacks an EVF, making precise framing challenging in bright conditions.

The RX100 VII’s fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen with equal resolution lets you shoot from creative angles, including selfies and vlogging. Its EVF offers 0.59x magnification and 100% coverage to assist with manual focusing and avoiding glare, a must-have advantage for advanced photographers.

Video Capabilities: From Basic to Pro-Level

Shooting video with the G3 is limited to 640x480 at 30fps - lower resolution and frame rates, and encoded as Motion JPEG - resulting in blocky, low-quality footage by today’s standards.

The RX100 VII supports 4K UHD video (3840x2160) at 30fps with advanced XAVC S compression, producing crisp, professional footage. It also features real-time AF tracking in video mode, optical steady shot, and external microphone input, enabling superior audio quality - critical for serious vloggers and content creators.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

The G3’s battery life is unspecified but historically, early compacts ran shorter, especially relying on LCD shooting. It uses Sony's Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards, proprietary and less common now.

The RX100 VII shoots approximately 260 images per charge, reasonable for travel and extended shooting. It uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, offering broad compatibility and faster write speeds for video.

Genre-Specific Performance: What Each Camera Excels At

To understand real-world suitability, I tested both cameras across popular genres.

Sony G3 front Sony G3 screen back Sony RX100 VII front Sony RX100 VII screen back

Portrait Photography

The RX100 VII’s superior sensor and lens deliver excellent skin tone reproduction and creamy bokeh, with the advantage of eye tracking AF ensuring tack-sharp portraits. The G3 produces softer images with less background separation due to its slower, smaller lens and weaker AF.

Landscape Photography

The G3’s narrow dynamic range and lower resolution handicap landscape shooters, while the RX100 VII shines with deep tonality and fine detail capture.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

With continuous 20 fps burst and lightning-fast hybrid AF, the RX100 VII excels at capturing action and wildlife in flight. The G3’s 2 fps burst and slow AF make these challenging.

Street Photography

The G3’s tiny size and weight aid discreet shooting, but restricted lens flexibility and poor low-light AF limit effectiveness. The RX100 VII balances portability with performance - its silent shutter enables non-intrusive shooting.

Macro Photography

The RX100 VII’s 8cm macro focus and stabilized lens outperform the G3’s lack of macro specification, allowing detailed close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography

The RX100 VII’s clean high ISO performance, long shutter speeds, and advanced manual controls make it suitable for low-light and astrophotography. The G3 cannot match this capability.

Video Recording

The RX100 VII’s 4K with microphone port is a decisive advantage over the G3’s VGA video.

Travel and Professional Use

The RX100 VII combines size, image quality, and flexibility that suit travel pros who need pocketable power. The G3 is ultra-portable but offers basic imaging below professional standards.

Technical Analysis and Real-World Implications

From an engineering standpoint, the most striking differences start with the sensor size - the RX100 VII’s 1-inch sensor surface area (116mm²) dwarfs the 1/2.3" G3 sensor’s 28 mm². This fundamental factor drives the leap in image quality, low light capability, and dynamic range.

The RX100 VII's BSI-CMOS sensor coupled with the Bionz X processor enables rapid data throughput, high ISO fidelity, and sophisticated AF algorithms, including phase detection AF, a feature entirely absent in the G3.

Build-wise, the RX100 VII’s solid metal construction and ergonomic control layout empower the photographer to actively shape exposures; the G3’s simplicity sacrifices flexibility for compactness.

The lens on the RX100 VII is faster (F2.8-4.5) and offers a broader zoom range (24-200mm), while the G3 offers a slower, shorter zoom (35-140mm F3.5-10).

Connectivity is modern with the RX100 VII’s built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, options absent from the G3.

Price and Value Considerations

At launch, the Sony G3 came in at around $200 - attractive for casual users seeking basic digital photography. The RX100 VII’s $1300 price tag reflects its advanced features, sensor, and overall performance, placing it well beyond entry-level.

For budget-conscious buyers needing an ultra-compact point-and-shoot, the G3 or comparable models serve simple needs well. However, serious enthusiasts or pros seeking a travel camera with professional-grade quality should look to the RX100 VII or similar contemporary compacts.

Summing It Up: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 is a relic from an earlier compact camera era - perfect for ultra-basic snaps, casual family photos, or secondary backup. Its light weight and ease-of-use have restricted appeal today.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII is, to this day, one of the best large sensor compact cameras available, offering near-professional quality, extraordinary autofocus, versatile video, and rugged ergonomics - all in a pocketable form.

Who should choose the Sony G3?

• Beginners or casual shooters on a tight budget
• Users favoring extreme compactness over image quality
• Collectors of retro or entry-level digital cameras

Who should invest in the Sony RX100 VII?

• Enthusiasts wanting a powerful all-in-one travel or street camera
• Professionals needing a lightweight secondary camera
• Videographers or vloggers requiring 4K and mic input
• Photographers shooting portraits, wildlife, sports, or landscapes

Final Thoughts from My Testing Experience

Having handled both cameras extensively in daylight, low-light, and fast-action environments, I find the RX100 VII remarkably versatile, capable of delivering professional-grade results in a compact package. The G3, while nostalgic and user-friendly, is a museum piece in technical terms.

My recommendation is clear: if budget allows and image quality matters, the RX100 VII is worth every penny. It’s the rare compact that blends cutting-edge tech with heightening your creative possibilities.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you navigate these two Sony compacts - feel free to ask if you want sample RAW files, test images, or shooting tips with either model! Happy shooting!

Sony G3 front Sony G3 screen back Sony RX100 VII front Sony RX100 VII screen back