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Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57

Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 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
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Successor is Sony RX100 IV
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 Overview

The following is a thorough overview of the Sony RX100 III versus Sony A57, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the RX100 III (20MP) and A57 (16MP) and the RX100 III (1") and A57 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor sizes.

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The RX100 III was released 21 months after the A57 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the RX100 III grades versus the A57 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony A57

 RX100 III A57 
IntroducedMay 2014September 2012Newer by 21 months
Screen resolution1229k921kSharper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony RX100 III

 A57 RX100 III 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Sony RX100 III and Sony A57

 RX100 III A57 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony RX100 III features exterior dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Sony A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Analyze the Sony RX100 III versus Sony A57 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the RX100 III and the A57.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 III and A57 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specs. The pic below might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 III and A57.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The RX100 III featuring a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony RX100 III will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The fresher RX100 III is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
Portrait photography with Sony A57
64
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
85
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (290g)
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 III Sports photography info
Sony A57 Sports photography info
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 III Travel photography information
Sony A57 Travel photography information
85
lighter than competition (290g)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
really wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
67
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 III Landscape photography info
Sony A57 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
72
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 III Vlogging factors
Sony A57 Vlogging factors
80
really wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (290g)
missing external mic support
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
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Sony RX100 III vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 III and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IIISony SLT-A57
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Sony SLT-A57
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-05-15 2012-09-13
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-70mm (2.9x) -
Max aperture f/1.8-2.8 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,229k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000s 1/160s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 290g (0.64 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 75
DXO Color Depth rating 22.4 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 13.0
DXO Low light rating 495 785
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 550 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $748 $1,000