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Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950

Portability
53
Imaging
53
Features
77
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Key Specs

Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Announced March 2016
  • Superseded the Sony RX10 II
  • Successor is Sony RX10 IV
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Sony RX10 III versus Sony S950, former is a Large Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the RX10 III (20MP) and S950 (10MP) and the RX10 III (1") and S950 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The RX10 III was unveiled 7 years after the S950 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX10 III being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a complete comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the RX10 III grades versus the S950 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Sony S950

 RX10 III S950 
RevealedMarch 2016February 2009More modern by 87 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony RX10 III

 S950 RX10 III 

Common features in the Sony RX10 III and Sony S950

 RX10 III S950 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony RX10 III features outside measurements of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") along with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs) whilst the Sony S950 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Sony RX10 III versus Sony S950 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the RX10 III against the S950.

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RX10 III and S950 is 53 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by going through specs. The image below might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RX10 III and S950.

All in all, both of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The RX10 III with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX10 III will produce extra detail having an extra 10MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent RX10 III is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX10 III Portrait photography factors
Sony S950 Portrait photography factors
71
has manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
26
focusing manually
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX10 III as a Street photography camera
Sony S950 as a Street photography camera
64
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
heavier than average (1,051 grams)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX10 III as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
70
incredible zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking focus
weather proofing
great battery (420 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX10 III Travel photography highlights
Sony S950 Travel photography highlights
55
great battery (420 shots)
weather proofing
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than average (1,051 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX10 III Landscape photography details
Sony S950 Landscape photography details
64
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
great battery (420 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not have Time Lapse function
31
focusing manually
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX10 III Vlogging information
Sony S950 Vlogging information
28
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic socket
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.4)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
heavier than average (1,051 grams)
9
can't shoot video
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Sony RX10 III vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX10 III and Sony S950
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Type Large Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2016-03-29 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Min boosted ISO 64 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-600mm (25.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.4-4.0 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 14.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.80 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) -
Max video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1051g (2.32 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 472 not tested
Other
Battery life 420 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $1,398 $130