CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Sony RX100 III

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

Sony RX100 III
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Sony HX90V

18 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony HX90V
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing RX100 III and HX90V, two Compact cameras by Sony. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III is a Large Sensor Compact class camera and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera.

Sony RX100 III was introduced to market in May 2014 and Sony HX90V was launched in April 2015. There is only 11 months difference between RX100 III and HX90V so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 HX90V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-04-14
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 24-720 mm F3.5-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 638k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 245g. 102 x 58 x 36 mm

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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


Related Blog Posts

Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
Sony A7 IV Firmware Update v2.0 adds support for Creators App
100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G Lens is in Stock for the first time!
Best Selling Lenses in Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X and Canon EF Mounts in 2023
Daily Deals: Sigma 12-24mm Lens, SmallRig Cage, LED Lights and more
Best Selling Lenses in Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z Mounts in 2023


**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Tiltable Flash
Yes vs No Bounce built-in flash off the ceiling
Viewfinder Magnif.
0.59x vs 0.5x Larger Viewfinder
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 18 MP 11% more pixels
LCD Resolution
1.229k dots vs 921k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Viewfinder Resolution
1440k dot vs 638.4k dot 125% higher resolution
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 1.56µm2 273% larger pixel area
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
CHECK RX100 III PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Battery Life
360 shots vs 320 shots 40 more frames with a single charge
Weight
245 g vs 290 g 45 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 70mm 650 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30× vs 2.9x more flexible focal coverage
CHECK HX90V PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting 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
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
20 MP vs 18 MP Bigger prints and more details
Max Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
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
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. 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). Sony HX90V has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 36 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.42″) and weighs 245 g (0.54 lb / 8.64 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V. Sony RX100 III has the same height and width with Sony HX90V. On the other hand, with a thickness of 41mm, it is 5mm thicker.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V.
Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony HX90V is significantly lighter (45g ) than the Sony RX100 III which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
HX90V
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
HX90V
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V provides any type of weather sealing in their body, 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

Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels.


Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V: Sensor Comparison

Sony RX100 III has a 20.0MP 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Sony HX90V has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Below you can see the RX100 III and HX90V sensor size comparison.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX100 III has a 4.1x Larger sensor area than Sony HX90V. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX100 III features a 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 2.9x zoom lens whereas Sony HX90V features a 24-720 mm F3.5-6.4 30× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Sony RX100 III is faster than Sony HX90V at this focal length. On the tele end, Sony HX90V has 650mm longer telezoom reach than the Sony RX100 III. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Sony RX100 III is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100 III
HX90V
Widest - Sony ZV-1F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
HX90V
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
HX90V
Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
HX90V
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V 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.

Sony RX100 III for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX90V for Portrait Photography

POOR
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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony HX90V for Street Photography

GOOD
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
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX90V for Sports Photography

POOR
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
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony HX90V for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
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
Compact Body
245g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX90V for Landscape Photography

POOR
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: 18.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony RX100 III vs Sony HX90V: 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 Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V, 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 Sony RX100 III and Sony HX90V scores compare:

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
Sony HX90V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #46 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #493 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony HX90V in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Sony RX100 III.

Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 III
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony HX90V
Sony HX90V
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Sony HX90V vs Sony RX100 III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2014-05-15 2015-04-14
Body Type Large sensor compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1″ 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 116.16mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 5472 x 3648 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 80 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 25 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-70 mm (2.9x) 24-720 mm (30×)
Max Aperture F1.8-2.8 F3.5-6.4
Macro Focus Range 5cm 5cm
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,229k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 1,440k dots 638k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.59x 0.5x
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 n/a 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Max Flash Sync 1/2000s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 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, AVCHD, XAVC S AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 290g 245g
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm 102 x 58 x 36mm
Battery Life 320 shots 360 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 67 not tested
DxO Color Depth 22.4 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 495 not tested
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7R IV
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R3
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon M50 II
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon EF-M Mount
Nikon Z9
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Fujifilm X-T30 II
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm GFX 100
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Nikon Z5
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Latest Cameras
Canon R50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Canon R8
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Panasonic S5 II X
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Panasonic S5 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Pentax KF
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

Report a Correction