How many Megapixels does the Sony RX100 III have?
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III is equipped with a an one-inch sensor that offers an image resolution of 20 megapixels (MP), or 20 million pixels. With its native aspect ratio of 3:2, the sensor has 5 472 horizontal pixels and 3 648 vertical pixels.
A 35mm film slide or negative contains 5-15 MP of useful detail, so that the Sony RX100 III can be considered to be a high-resolution camera that outresolves any 35mm film camera.
A high megapixel count makes it possible to crop any captured image substantially or to make very large prints from the image file. On the downside, large megapixel files are slower to transfer and take up more storage space on the computer harddisk. Also, high-resolution imaging requires sharper, more expensive lenses than low-res picture taking.
How large can I print with 20 MP?
The maximum print size of the Sony RX100 III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. Few people actually print their images that large on a regular basis, but it is nice to have the option to make very large prints of exceptional shots. Also, as mentioned earlier, a key advantage of high-MP cameras is that it is possible to crop an image ex-post and thereby, for example, change the composition of the capture or zoom in on some detail.
Sensor specs and performance
The table below compares the sensor specs of the Sony RX100 III to those of several similar cameras. In addition to sensor class and megapixel count, DXO values are reported as indicators of the sensor's imaging quality (higher is better). Three aspects are covered: color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape), and high-ISO noise (DXO Sports). Larger sensor cameras tend to outperform cameras of the same generation that are equipped with a smaller imager. On the other hand, larger sensors are more expensive and require bigger and heavier lenses than smaller light receptors.
Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Sony RX100 III | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 22.4 | 12.3 | 495 | 67 | |
2. | Canon G5 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.4 | 12.3 | 471 | 62 | |
3. | Canon G7 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 23.0 | 12.7 | 556 | 71 | |
4. | Panasonic FZ1000 | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.1 | 11.7 | 517 | 64 | |
5. | Ricoh GR | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 1080/30p | 23.6 | 13.5 | 972 | 78 | |
6. | Ricoh GR II | APS-C | 16.1 | 4928 | 3264 | 1080/30p | 23.6 | 13.7 | 1078 | 80 | |
7. | Sony A5000 | APS-C | 19.8 | 5456 | 3632 | 1080/60i | 23.8 | 13.0 | 1089 | 79 | |
8. | Sony A5100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 23.8 | 12.7 | 1347 | 80 | |
9. | Sony RX100 II | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 22.5 | 12.4 | 483 | 67 | |
10. | Sony RX100 IV | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.6 | 591 | 70 | |
11. | Sony RX100 V | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 586 | 70 |
In the United States, the RX100 III was initially launched in May 2014 at a price of $799.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 40D vs Nikon Z6
- Canon 650D vs Sony RX100 III
- Canon SX710 vs Sony RX100 III
- Fujifilm X10 vs Nikon Z6
- Hasselblad X1D vs Nikon Z6
- Nikon D750 vs Nikon Z6
- Nikon D7500 vs Sony RX100 III
- Nikon Z50 vs Nikon Z6
- Nikon Z6 vs Panasonic G95
- Olympus E-3 vs Sony RX100 III
- Pentax MX-1 vs Sony RX100 III
- Sony A900 vs Sony RX100 III
Camera Model | Sony RX100 III | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | |
Camera Lens | 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 | |
Launch Date | May 2014 | |
Launch Price | USD 799 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
Sensor Format | 1" Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 13.2 x 8.8 mm | |
Sensor Area | 116 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 15.9 mm | |
Crop Factor | 2.7x | |
Sensor Resolution | 20 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 5 472 x 3 648 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 2.41 μm | |
Pixel Density | 17.18 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12 800 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 80 - 25 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | BIONZ X | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 67 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.4 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.3 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 495 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.59x | |
Viewfinder Resolution | 1440k dots | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1229k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
Touch Input | No touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/2000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 10 shutter flaps/s | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | MS or SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | no Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | Sony NP-BX1 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 320 shots per charge | |
In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
Body Dimensions |
102 x 58 x 41 mm (4.0 x 2.3 x 1.6 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 290 g (10.2 oz) |
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