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Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Key Specs

Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Introduced September 2014
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Revealed March 2016
  • Superseded the Sony RX10 II
  • New Model is Sony RX10 IV
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Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

Below is a extended assessment of the Sony QX30 and Sony RX10 III, former being a Lens-style while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Sony. The resolution of the QX30 (20MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is relatively similar but the QX30 (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The QX30 was revealed 19 months before the RX10 III which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera and the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the QX30 grades vs the RX10 III for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony RX10 III

 QX30 RX10 III 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Sony QX30

 RX10 III QX30 
RevealedMarch 2016September 2014More recent by 19 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution1229k0kCrisper screen (+1229k dot)

Common features in the Sony QX30 and Sony RX10 III

 QX30 RX10 III 
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sony QX30 comes with outside dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony RX10 III has proportions of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") along with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Look at the Sony QX30 and Sony RX10 III in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the QX30 vs the RX10 III.

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the QX30 and RX10 III is 91 and 53 respectively.

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to see the gap between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The visual below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the QX30 and RX10 III.

Clearly, both of these cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit not the same sensor measurements. The QX30 has got the tinier sensor which should make achieving bokeh more difficult. The older QX30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony QX30 Portrait photography information
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography information
38
decent MP (20 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony QX30 Street photography advice
Sony RX10 III Street photography advice
62
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
64
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
weather proofing
heavier than competition (1,051 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony QX30 Sports photography factors
Sony RX10 III Sports photography factors
47
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
70
excellent zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery pack (420 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony QX30 Travel photography details
Sony RX10 III Travel photography details
65
offers focus via touch
decent MP (20MP)
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
55
great battery pack (420 per charge)
weather proofing
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (1,051 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony QX30 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography factors
39
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small ( inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery life (200 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
63
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
weather proofing
great battery pack (420 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX10 III as a Vlogging camera
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
28
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
good video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic support
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.4)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition (1,051g)
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Sony QX30 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony QX30 and Sony RX10 III
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Class Lens-style Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2014-09-03 2016-03-29
Physical type Lens-style SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.3 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focus range - 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal - 3 inches
Resolution of screen 0k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Max silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options None Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 193 grams (0.43 pounds) 1051 grams (2.32 pounds)
Dimensions 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 472
Other
Battery life 200 photos 420 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN, NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage type microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $348 $1,398