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Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII

Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII front
Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
78
Overall
63

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII Key Specs

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
  • Launched May 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 VII
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 302g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Revealed July 2019
  • Succeeded the Sony RX100 VI
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Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII Overview

Following is a in-depth overview of the Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 VII, both Large Sensor Compact cameras and they are both manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the RX100 III (20MP) and the RX100 VII (20MP) is pretty close and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1").

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The RX100 III was manufactured 6 years earlier than the RX100 VII which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Large Sensor Compact).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the RX100 III grades against the RX100 VII when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony RX100 VII

 RX100 III RX100 VII 
Screen resolution1229k921kCrisper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VII over the Sony RX100 III

 RX100 VII RX100 III 
RevealedJuly 2019May 2014More modern by 63 months
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 VII

 RX100 III RX100 VII 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony RX100 III provides outside dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VII has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") having a weight of 302 grams (0.67 lbs).

Check the Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 VII in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the RX100 III versus the RX100 VII.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 III and RX100 VII is 89 and 88 respectively.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The pic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 III and RX100 VII.

As you can see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP and you should expect comparable quality of images however you would want to consider the release date of the cameras into account. The more aged RX100 III will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 III as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 VII as a Portrait photography camera
64
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
66
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 III Street photography details
Sony RX100 VII Street photography details
85
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (290 grams)
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
provides focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (302g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 III Sports photography features
Sony RX100 VII Sports photography features
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
does not have phase detect autofocus
70
silent shooting (1/32,000s)
high fps (20.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (260 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony RX100 III
Travel photography with Sony RX100 VII
85
lighter than competition (290 grams)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
77
lighter than competition in class (302g)
supports bluetooth
provides focus by touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
reasonably wide (24mm)
terrible battery power (260 shots)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 III Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 VII Landscape photography information
73
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
65
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
terrible battery power (260 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 III Vlogging information
Sony RX100 VII Vlogging information
80
decently wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (290g)
does not have mic support
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external microphone socket
lighter than competition in class (302 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 VII Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 VII
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IIISony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-05-15 2019-07-25
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1" 1"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-70mm (2.9x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/2.8-4.5
Macro focus range 5cm 8cm
Crop factor 2.7 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 290g (0.64 lb) 302g (0.67 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 63
DXO Color Depth score 22.4 21.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 495 418
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 260 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous) Yes
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $748 $1,298