Sony RX100 III vs Panasonic GM5

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Sony RX100 III vs Panasonic GM5

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1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 III Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX100 III in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX100 III.
Compare Sony RX100 III image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX100 III conclusion.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GM5 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GM5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GM5.
Compare Panasonic GM5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GM5 conclusion.

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Differences

Sony RX100 III advantages over Panasonic GM5

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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

320 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
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
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Less shutter lag
0.15 vs 0.22 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.59x vs 0.46x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
20.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 5.7 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.7 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
26 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Panasonic GM5 advantages over Sony RX100 III

Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.77 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
Fast startup
~1.00 vs 2.0 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.
GM5 test data on DxO Mark RX100 III test data on DxO Mark

721 vs 495 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/2000 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
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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
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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read GM5 User Reviews

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Sony RX100 Mark III

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Panasonic GM5

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Review Excerpt

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

Great image quality for a tiny camera; Excellent high ISO for its class; Built-in EVF; Built-in hot-shoe; Improved ergonomics; Improved image quality for long exposures; Improved burst rate with hybrid shutter; 1080/60p video.
Slightly bigger than GM1 (but not by much); No built-in flash; Shallow buffers with RAW files; Dynamic range not quite as good as some competing models; Below average battery life.
Read our Panasonic GM5 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100

Sony RX100 III

Sony RX100

$748
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$1095
1 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Faster RAW shooting

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Sony RX100

Panasonic GM5

Sony RX100

$898
4/3

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$1095
1 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Sony RX100

Compared to 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

Panasonic GM5

Sony RX100 II

$898
4/3

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$598
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Sony RX100 II

Compared to 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

Panasonic GM5

Canon G7X

$898
4/3

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$1239
1 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Canon G7X

Compared to 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

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic LX100

$898
4/3

Touchscreen
Fast startup

$598
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic LX100

Compared to Panasonic GM1

Sony RX100 III

Panasonic GM1

$748
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$479
4/3

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 III vs Panasonic GM1

Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GM1

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-camera panoramas

$479
4/3

Less expensive
Internal flash

Compare Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic GM1

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