Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony RX10 III

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Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony RX10 III

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35mm 864.0mm²
22.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Canon 5D Mark III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 5D Mark III.
Compare Canon 5D Mark III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 5D Mark III conclusion.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 600.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX10 III Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX10 III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX10 III.
Compare Sony RX10 III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX10 III conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV

Succeeded by the Sony RX10 IV
Compare RX10 III vs RX10 IV

Compare CANON 5D MARK IV vs SONY RX10 IV

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Sony RX10 III

Larger sensor
35mm vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.25 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 2.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
5D Mark III test data on DxO Mark RX10 III test data on DxO Mark

2,293 vs 472 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

950 vs 420 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
76 mm vs 127 mm
Thinner
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony RX10 III advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$1398* vs $2299
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Newer
9 years vs 13 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Faster JPEG shooting
14.2 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
29 vs 18 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter

User reviews

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Review Excerpt

Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.
Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.
Read our Canon 5D Mark III Review

Versatile all-in-one replacement for a DSLR or mirrorless camera; Great handling and build; Excellent image quality; Spectacular zoom reach; Swift performance with generous buffer depths; Extremely capable video capture; Comprehensive remote control; Quick-and-easy image sharing
Extremely expensive for a fixed-lens camera; Fairly heavy for fixed-lens camera; Somewhat soft in the corners at wide-angle or tele; Noise reduction intrudes at higher sensitivities; No built-in ND filter; Not as fast when shooting raws; Slow buffer clearing
Read our Sony RX10 III Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2079
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1499
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Sony RX10 III

Canon 6D

$1398
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1499
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2099
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Sony RX10 III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1398
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2099
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A850

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Higher effective ISO

$2219
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A850

Sony RX10 III

Sony A850

$1398
1 inch

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$2219
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Sony A850

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III

Nikon D800E

$2079
35mm

Bigger pixels
More cross-type AF points

$2212
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Nikon D800E

Sony RX10 III

Nikon D800E

$1398
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2212
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Nikon D800E

Compared to Sony A99

Canon 5D Mark III

Sony A99

$2079
35mm

Lens selection
Fast startup

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony A99

Sony RX10 III

Sony A99

$1398
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Wi-Fi

$1998
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX10 III vs Sony A99

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