• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 392.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Canon SX230 HS advantages over Sony RX100 III

  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • More telephoto lens reach
    392 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • Lighter weight
    218g vs 287g
    Lighter weight
  • Faster shutter
    1/3200 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony RX100 III advantages over Canon SX230 HS

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1 inch vs 1/2.3 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 2.41 vs 1.54 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/1.8 vs f/3.1
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 320 vs 210 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • More dots on screen
    1229k vs 461k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Less shutter lag
    0.15 vs 0.40 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.2 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle lens
    24 mm vs 28 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Longer exposure
    30 vs 15 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 3.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Buy the Canon SX230 HS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 Mark III
All RX100 III Deals

Review Excerpt

  • Great zoom range from 28mm to 392mm equivalent; Full HD and slow-motion video; excellent print quality.

  • Low battery life; some chromatic aberration; flash pops up when powered on every time.

  • Read our Canon SX230 HS Express Review

  • Pocket-friendly design; Popup electronic viewfinder; Bright lens across the zoom range; Great performance with very fast autofocus; Very high resolution gives lots of detail in good light; High ISO noise levels much better than most pocket camera rivals; Wi-Fi wireless networking

  • Feels a little unbalanced without an accessory grip; Not as much telephoto reach as its siblings; Noise processing is heavier-handed than in earlier models; Quite pricey for a fixed-lens camera

  • Read our Sony RX100 III Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100

Canon SX230 HS
Sony RX100
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
  • $1074
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Sony RX100

Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $1074
  • 1 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Faster RAW shooting

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100

Compared to Sony RX100 II

Canon SX230 HS
Sony RX100 II
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Fast startup
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100 III
Sony RX100 II
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Fast startup
  • $598
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100 II

Compared to Canon G7X

Canon SX230 HS
Canon G7X
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1239
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Canon G7X

Sony RX100 III
Canon G7X
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1239
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Canon G7X

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Canon SX230 HS
Panasonic LX100
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Built-in GPS
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Panasonic LX100

Sony RX100 III
Panasonic LX100
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Panasonic LX100

Compared to Samsung HZ35W

Canon SX230 HS
Samsung HZ35W
  • $269
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in GPS
  • $350
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX230 HS vs Samsung HZ35W

Sony RX100 III
Samsung HZ35W
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $350
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Thinner

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Samsung HZ35W

Compare Other Cameras?