Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony RX100 VA

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Canon 5D Mark III vs Sony RX100 VA

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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 - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 VA Review.

Succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark IV
Compare 5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV
Compare Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony RX100 VA

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Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Sony RX100 VA

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 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
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 220 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More viewfinder magnification
0.71x vs 0.59x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony RX100 VA advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Less expensive
$998* 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
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
41 mm vs 76 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
6 years vs 13 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
299g vs 950g
Lighter weight
Faster JPEG shooting
23.9 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
233 vs 63 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
23.9 fps vs 6.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
103 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.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review 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

User reviews

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Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm f/4 lens
Kit with 24-70mm Lens

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Buy the Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 VA

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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

We haven’t reviewed the Sony RX100 VA.
Read our Sony RX100 VA Initial Test

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D

$2079
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$1699
35mm

Less expensive
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon 5D Mark III vs Canon 6D

Sony RX100 VA

Canon 6D

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$1699
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Canon 6D

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 5D Mark IV

$2079
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

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

Sony RX100 VA

Canon 5D Mark IV

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$2249
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA 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 RX100 VA

Sony A850

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$2219
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA 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 RX100 VA

Nikon D800E

$998
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2212
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 VA 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 RX100 VA

Sony A99

$998
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Built-in Wi-Fi

$1998
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A99

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