Canon EOS M3 vs Sony RX10 II

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon EOS M3 vs Sony RX10 II

Leave Feedback

APS-C 332.3mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M3 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M3.
Compare Canon EOS M3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M3 conclusion.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 200.00mm (35mm eq.)

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

Buy From

Differences

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Sony RX10 II

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$850 vs $998*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 3.72 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
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.
EOS M3 test data on DxO Mark RX10 II test data on DxO Mark

1,169 vs 531 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
44 mm vs 102 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
366g vs 849g
Lighter weight
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 44 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony RX10 II advantages over Canon EOS M3

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
Fast startup
~1.70 vs 2.4 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

400 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Higher max flash sync
1/3200 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Faster JPEG shooting
14.2 fps vs 4.2 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.0 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
29 vs 4 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
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
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
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M3 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read RX10 II User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M3

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (White)

All EOS M3 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX10 II

Sony RX10 II

All RX10 II Deals

Review Excerpt

DSLR image quality & resolution in a mirrorless body; Higher-res 24MP APS-C sensor; Much improved AF performance; Better ergonomics with full PASM dial; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC; Tilting LCD.
No built-in EVF; Limited native lens selection; Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; No 60p video frame rate or 4K video option.
Read our Canon EOS M3 Review

Excellent build quality; Superb viewfinder; Excellent image and video quality for its class; Bright and versatile zoom lens; Very fast autofocus; Great burst performance and depth; Incredible slow-motion capabilities; Really intuitive Wi-Fi image transfer; Good battery life.
Expensive compared to its nearest competitors; Less zoom reach than rivals; Soft in corners wide-open; Slow buffer clearing; Small rear control dial has poor tactile feedback; Long delay to render each high frame-rate movie; No tilt/swivel or touch on the LCD panel.
Read our Sony RX10 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX10

Canon EOS M3

Sony RX10

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$698
1 inch

Less expensive
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Sony RX10

Sony RX10 II

Sony RX10

$998
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Higher effective ISO

$698
1 inch

Less expensive

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Sony RX10

Compared to Sony A6000

Canon EOS M3

Sony A6000

$850
APS-C

Touchscreen
More telephoto lens reach

$674
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Sony A6000

Sony RX10 II

Sony A6000

$998
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$674
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Sony A6000

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Canon EOS M3

Samsung NX3000

$850
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Samsung NX3000

Sony RX10 II

Samsung NX3000

$998
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Focus peaking

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Canon EOS M3

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$899
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Sony RX10 II

Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

$998
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Integrated ND filter

$899
1 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Longer exposure

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Leica V-LUX (Typ 114)

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Canon EOS M3

Fujifilm X-E3

$850
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
NFC

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Sony RX10 II

Fujifilm X-E3

$998
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

$699
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Sony RX10 II vs Fujifilm X-E3

Compare Other Cameras?