Sony RX100 IV vs Pentax K-3 III

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Sony RX100 IV vs Pentax K-3 III

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

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

APS-C 361.2mm²
25.7 megapixels
ISO 100 - 1,600,000

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-3 III Review.
See real-world photos taken with the K-3 III.

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Differences

Sony RX100 IV advantages over Pentax K-3 III

In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 73 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
295g vs 820g
Lighter weight
Faster JPEG shooting
16.0 fps vs 12.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (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

Pentax K-3 III advantages over Sony RX100 IV

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.76 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
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
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

800 vs 280 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
Newer
4 years vs 9 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Higher-res screen
540k vs 307k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More viewfinder magnification
1.05x vs 0.59x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
25.7 vs 20.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Higher extended ISO
1600000 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

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 Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
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 GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance

User reviews

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Read K-3 III User Reviews

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Sony RX100 IV

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Body Only
Kit with 20-40mm F2.8-4 Lens
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Review Excerpt

Vastly improved burst speeds with deep buffer; 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; High-quality 4K video with uncompressed HDMI out; Super-fast High Frame Rate video; Same great pocket-friendly design.
Pricey for a compact camera; JPEGs can look over-processed at higher ISOs; Lens doesn't offer as much telephoto reach; Battery life not as good as predecessor; 24-70mm-equivalent lens can feel limiting.
Read our Sony RX100 IV Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Pentax K-3 III, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
See our Pentax K-3 III First Shots

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 III

$898
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Shoot 4K video

$748
1 inch

Compare Sony RX100 IV vs Sony RX100 III

Pentax K-3 III

Sony RX100 III

$1847
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$748
1 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Sony RX100 III

Compared to Sony RX100 V

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 V

$898
1 inch

Longer stills battery life

$998
1 inch

On-sensor phase detect
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Sony RX100 IV vs Sony RX100 V

Pentax K-3 III

Sony RX100 V

$1847
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$998
1 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Sony RX100 V

Compared to Pentax KP

Sony RX100 IV

Pentax KP

$898
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$999
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX100 IV vs Pentax KP

Pentax K-3 III

Pentax KP

$1847
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Pentax KP

Compared to Sony RX100 VA

Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100 VA

$898
1 inch

Longer stills battery life

$998
1 inch

On-sensor phase detect
Newer

Compare Sony RX100 IV vs Sony RX100 VA

Pentax K-3 III

Sony RX100 VA

$1847
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$998
1 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Sony RX100 VA

Compared to Canon 90D

Sony RX100 IV

Canon 90D

$898
1 inch

Slower slow-motion
Focus peaking

$1099
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony RX100 IV vs Canon 90D

Pentax K-3 III

Canon 90D

$1847
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-3 III vs Canon 90D

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