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Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV

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Sony RX100 III

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

Sony RX100 III
$648.00
or
CHECK TODAY's PRICE
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Sony RX100 IV

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

Sony RX100 IV
$898.00
or
CHECK TODAY's PRICE
Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing RX100 III and RX100 IV, two Large Sensor Compact cameras by Sony. Both Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 IV cameras have 20.0MP 1" sensors.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 IV 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″ Tilting Screen
  • 1440k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 120 fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 290g. 102 x 58 x 41 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II Compare

Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-06-10
  • 20MP - 1" BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3″ Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 16.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 960 fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 298g. 102 x 58 x 41 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Compare

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

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Battery Life 320 shots vs 280 shots 40 more frames with a single charge
Weight 290 g vs 298 g 8 g lighter
Price $648 vs $898 $250 cheaper
Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Continuous Shooting 16.0fps vs 10.0fps 6 fps faster
Viewfinder Resolution 2359k dot vs 1440k dot 63% higher resolution
Color Depth 22.9 vs 22.4 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 12.6 vs 12.3 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO 562 vs 495 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Wireless Connection Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization Optical vs Optical All the lenses are stabilized
Articulating Screen Yes vs Yes 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 1.229k dots vs 1.229k dots Higher resolution screens
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
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 Yes vs Yes Use larger aperture under strong light
Selfie Friendly LCD Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
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 Control 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 IV
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 RX100 IV: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 IV.

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

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX100 III is 8g lighter than the Sony RX100 IV but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 IV
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 IV
Min
Average
Max
Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 IV 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 RX100 III and RX100 IV sensor size comparison.

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Size Comparison


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

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX100 III and Sony RX100 IV features 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 2.9x zoom lenses so they have the same focal range and light collecting ability.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm and have the same max aperture of f1.80 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 70mm and have the same max aperture of f2.80 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 IV
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

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

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100 III
RX100 IV
Fastest - Leica Q
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

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

Sony RX100 IV for Portrait Photography
GOOD
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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Street Photography
EXCELLENT

Sony RX100 IV 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
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

Sony RX100 III for Sports Photography
AVERAGE

Sony RX100 IV 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
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 16.0fps
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 280 shots
70 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Daily Photography
GOOD

Sony RX100 IV for Daily Photography
GOOD
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
290g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Body Thickness 41mm
3X Optical Zoom
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
298g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Body Thickness 41mm
3X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Sony RX100 III for Landscape Photography
AVERAGE

Sony RX100 IV 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
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

Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 IV: 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 IV, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 IV scores compare:

Sony RX100 III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #24 out of 52 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #211 out of 1156 in all Cameras
Sony RX100 IV
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #17 out of 52 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #180 out of 1156 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 IV 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
$648.00

Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 IV
$898.00

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony RX100 III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2014-05-15 2015-06-10
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Price $648.00 $898.00
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
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 125 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 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 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-70 mm (2.9x) 24-70 mm (2.9x)
Max Aperture F1.8-2.8 F1.8-2.8
Macro Focus Range 5cm 5cm
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3″ 3″
Resolution 1,229k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 1,440k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.59 0.59
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync 1/2000s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 16.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 290g 298g
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm 102 x 58 x 41mm
Battery Life 320 shots 280 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 67 70
DxO Color Depth 22.4 22.9
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 12.6
DxO Low Light ISO 495 562
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