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Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Comparison

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Canon G5 X

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Canon G5 X
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Sony RX100 III

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony RX100 III
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Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the G5 X and the RX100 III, two Large Sensor Compact cameras from Canon and Sony. Canon G5 X was introduced to the market in September 2015 and Sony RX100 III was launched in May 2014. There is 16 months difference between G5 X and RX100 III so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger G5 X, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon G5 X Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-09-11
  • 20MP - 1″ BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • 24-100 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5.9fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 353g. 112 x 76 x 44 mm
    •

Sony RX100 III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-05-15
  • 20MP - 1″ BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 1440k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 290g. 102 x 58 x 41 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II Compare

Sony RX100 III was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV vs Canon PowerShot G5 X

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G5 X over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Number of Focus Points
31 vs 25 6 more focus points
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs With optional app creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele
100mm vs 70mm 30 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
4.2x vs 2.9x more flexible focal coverage
Viewfinder Resolution
2360k dot vs 1440k dot 63% higher resolution
CHECK G5 X PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III over Canon PowerShot G5 X
Tiltable Flash
Yes vs No Bounce built-in flash off the ceiling
LCD Resolution
1.229k dots vs 1.040k dots 18% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 5.9fps 4.1 fps faster
Battery Life
320 shots vs 210 shots 110 more frames with a single charge
Weight
290 g vs 353 g 63 g lighter
Color Depth
22.4 vs 21.4 higher color depth
Low Light ISO
495 vs 471 better High ISO performance
CHECK RX100 III PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G5 X and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
20 MP vs 20 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.229k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 24mm Very good wide angle coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 1.80 Fast lenses at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 2.80 Fast lenses at tele
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs 3.0-stops Use larger aperture under strong light
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection
Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot G5 X and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon G5 X has external dimensions of 112 x 76 x 44 mm (4.41 x 2.99 x 1.73″) and weighs 353 g (0.78 lb / 12.45 oz) (including batteries). Sony RX100 III has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 41 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.61″) and weighs 290 g (0.64 lb / 10.23 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon G5 X and the Sony RX100 III. Sony RX100 III is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 10mm narrower, 18mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Canon G5 X.

Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Canon G5 X and the Sony RX100 III Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III.

Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Canon G5 X and the Sony RX100 III Size and Weight - Back View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III.
Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Canon G5 X and the the Sony RX100 III Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX100 III is significantly lighter (63g ) than the Canon G5 X which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

G5 X
RX100 III
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

G5 X
RX100 III
Min
Average
Max
Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon PowerShot G5 X nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Sony RX100 III features a Tilting-only screen which is mostly only good for shooting from waist or over-the-head levels. On the other hand, Canon G5 X sports a Fully Articulated screen which is more flexible and useful, especially for taking selfies and video.


Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III have 1″ sized 20.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the G5 X and RX100 III sensor size comparison.

Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III Cameras


Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that RX100 III has a better overall score of 67, 5 points higher compared to G5 X's score of 62.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Canon G5 X 62 21.4 bits 12.3 Evs 471 ISO
Sony RX100 III 67 22.4 bits 12.3 Evs 495 ISO
Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III Lens Specs Comparison

Canon G5 X features a 24-100 mm F1.8-2.8 4.2x zoom lens whereas Sony RX100 III features a 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 2.9x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm and have the same max aperture of f1.80 at this focal length. On the tele end, Canon G5 X has 30mm longer reach than the Sony RX100 III. Both cameras has a max aperture of f2.80 at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Large sensor compact Cameras

G5 X
RX100 III
Widest - Sony ZV-1F
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G5 X
RX100 III
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G5 X
RX100 III
Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G5 X
RX100 III
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon G5 X for Portrait Photography
AVERAGE

Sony RX100 III for Portrait Photography
AVERAGE
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon G5 X for Street Photography
EXCELLENT

Sony RX100 III for Street Photography
EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Canon G5 X for Sports Photography
POOR

Sony RX100 III for Sports Photography
AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
31 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.9fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
70 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Canon G5 X for Daily Photography
GOOD

Sony RX100 III for Daily Photography
GOOD
RAW shooting capability
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
4.2X Optical Zoom
353g
Body Thickness 44mm
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
290g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Body Thickness 41mm
2.9X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Canon G5 X for Landscape Photography
AVERAGE

Sony RX100 III for Landscape Photography
AVERAGE
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Canon G5 X vs Sony RX100 III: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon G5 X and Sony RX100 III scores compare:

Canon G5 X
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #192 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Sony RX100 III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #34 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #308 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon G5 X has a higher Overall Score than the Sony RX100 III and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon G5 X
Canon G5 X
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Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 III
CHECK PRICE

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Sony RX100 III vs Canon G5 X Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot G5 X Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2015-09-11 2014-05-15
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1″ 1″
Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area 116.16mm2 116.16mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 5472 x 3648 5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 125 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 31 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-100 mm (4.2x) 24-70 mm (2.9x)
Max Aperture F1.8-2.8 F1.8-2.8
Macro Focus Range 5cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots 1,440k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.59x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 7.00 m (at Auto ISO) n/a
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.9 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 353g 290g
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 44mm 102 x 58 x 41mm
Battery Life 210 shots 320 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 62 67
DxO Color Depth 21.4 22.4
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 12.3
DxO Low Light ISO 471 495
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