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 RX100 II 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 RX100 II

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

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

In this review, we will be comparing the Sony RX100 III with its predecessor, the Sony RX100 II, list out what is new, its advantages over its older sibling and finally try to conclude if the RX100 III is a worthy upgrade to the RX100 II. Sony RX100 III was introduced to the market in May 2014 and Sony RX100 II was launched in June 2013 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 11 months between the two cameras make.

RX100 III and RX100 II are members of Sony's RX100 series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Sony RX100 Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Sony RX100 VII
  
2019 20.0MP - 1″ 102 x 58 x 43mm 302g
Sony RX100 VA
  
2018 20.0MP - 1″ 102 x 58 x 41mm 299g
Sony RX100 VI
  
2018 20.0MP - 1″ 102 x 58 x 43mm 301g
Sony RX100 V
  
2016 20.0MP - 1″ 102 x 58 x 41mm 299g
Sony RX100 IV
  
2015 20.0MP - 1″ 102 x 58 x 41mm 298g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-27
  • 20MP - 1-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 12800 ( expands to 100 - 25600)
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 281g. 102 x 58 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II

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


Related Blog Posts

Nikon Z8 vs Sony A7R V Size Comparison with Lenses
All Sony FE Mount 50mm Lens Options Sizes and Specs: 10 Lenses Compared
Sony ZV-1 Mark II: Wider, Costlier, Unsteadier!
Best MacBook Pro Deal for Photography and Videography
Sony A7R V, Panasonic S5 II, Canon R50 and OM 90mm Macro wins Camera GP Japan 2023 Awards
Does the World really need another Sony Vlogging Camera?
Daily Deals: Portable Recorder, CFExpress storage, Tripods 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-RX100 II
Viewfinder
Electronic vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 4.90 faster lens at tele
Low Light ISO
495 vs 483 better High ISO performance
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK RX100 III PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Battery Life
350 shots vs 320 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Weight
281 g vs 290 g 9 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
100mm vs 70mm 30 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
3.6x vs 2.9x more flexible focal coverage
Color Depth
22.5 vs 22.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
12.4 vs 12.3 higher dynamic range
CHECK RX100 II PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
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
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
1.229k dots vs 1.229k dots High resolution screens
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
Timelapse Recording
With Optional App vs With Optional App creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 1.80 Fast lenses at wide
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
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-RX100 II
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 II: 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 Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 38 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.51″) and weighs 281 g (0.62 lb / 9.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony RX100 III and the Sony RX100 II. Sony RX100 III has the same height and width with Sony RX100 II. On the other hand, with a thickness of 41mm, it is 3mm thicker.

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

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

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

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

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX100 II is 9g lighter than the Sony RX100 III but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II 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

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

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 RX100 II: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 II have 20.0 MP resolution sensors but Sony RX100 III's sensor is 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) and Sony RX100 II's sensor is 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ).

Since Sony RX100 II's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Sony RX100 III.

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

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


Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 II 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
At Camera Decision, we also look at Dxo Mark sensors when available as we think it is a good indicator of image quality.
Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony RX100 III 67 22.4 bits 12.3 Evs 495 ISO
Sony RX100 II 67 22.5 bits 12.4 Evs 483 ISO
Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 II Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX100 III features a 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 2.9x zoom lens whereas Sony RX100 II features a 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 3.6x zoom lens.

Sony RX100 III has 4mm wider coverage than the Sony RX100 II. Both cameras has a max aperture of f1.80 at the wide end. On the tele end, Sony RX100 II has 30mm 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
RX100 II
Widest - Sony ZV-1 II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

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

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

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

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 II
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 II 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 RX100 II 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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony RX100 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Optional External Viewfinder
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 II for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
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
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony RX100 II for Daily Photography

GOOD
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
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
281g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 II 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: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 II: 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 RX100 II, 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 RX100 II scores compare:

Sony RX100 III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #36 out of 64 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #345 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Sony RX100 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #34 out of 64 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #319 out of 1268 in all Cameras

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

Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 III
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100 II
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Sony RX100 II vs Sony RX100 III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2014-05-15 2013-06-27
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1″ 1-inch
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
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 160 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 100 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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-70 mm (2.9x) 28-100 mm (3.6x)
Max Aperture F1.8-2.8 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 5cm 5cm
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,229k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Resolution 1,440k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.59x n/a
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 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Max Flash Sync 1/2000s 1/2000s
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 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 290g 281g
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm 102 x 58 x 38mm
Battery Life 320 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 67 67
DxO Color Depth 22.4 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO 495 483
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Sony A7R V
61 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R8
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A7 IV
33 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R50
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony ZV-E1
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Canon R6 II
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Fujifilm X-T5
40 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Latest Cameras
Leica Q3
60 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Canon R100
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Fujifilm X-S20
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony ZV-1 II
20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 18-50 mm
Nikon Z8
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Pentax K-3 III Monochrome
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Pentax KAF2 Mount
Leica M11 Monochrome
60 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica M Mount
Sony ZV-E1
12 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision LaptopDecision

Report a Correction