Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Review
- 20MP CMOS sensor
- Bionz X processor
- 24-600mm f/2.4-f/4 equivalent zoom lens
- ISO range of 100-12,800
- 3” tilting LCD with 1.22m-dots
- 2.35m-dot EVF with 100% viewfinder coverage
- 14fps burst mode
- 4K video capabilities at up to 30p, and Full HD video capabilities at up to 120p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- 420-shot battery life
- 2.32 lbs
The Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III is a bridge camera that was created with enthusiast photographers in mind. It features a 24-600mm equivalent f/2.4-f/4 lens and a 20MP sensor.
I rarely get to cover cameras that are designed specifically for videographers, because let’s be honest there definitely aren’t as many of them, and while the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III wasn’t designed only for videographers, I would say that it was equally designed for videographers and still photographers.
If the wide-aperture zoom lens isn’t enough to attract you to this camera, it also features 4K video and high definition slow motion video capture.
Of course, all of this does come at a price, so I’m going to share with you how you can get a cheaper version of the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III later on in this complete Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III review.
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Specs
The Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III specs include a 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor, a 24-600mm f/2.4-f/4 zoom lens, and a 3” tilting screen.
The camera can shoot 4K video at up to 30p and it can shoot 960p high-speed video.
The Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III features a 14fps burst mode, and a magnesium alloy body that is weather-sealed, which will make this camera even more appealing for sports and wildlife photographers.
Since the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III features such a large zoom lens, the camera is pretty heavy at 2.32 lbs.
Other Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Specs Include:
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Body & Design
The Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III design closely mimics the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 II, except that it is a little bit larger. However, Sony did complete a couple of thoughtful changes in the body of this camera that I’ll go over here.
For starters, since the lens is so large, it is going to take up a lot of extra space. So, instead of letting this space go to waste, Sony decided to add a semi-assignable ring. This semi-assignable ring is located right next to the other aperture ring and adjustment ring. I get why Sony made this decision, but these rings are right next to each other which means that you can bump one of them when you aren’t trying to.
For this reason, and because the rings require a lot of rotation in order to really achieve the desired effect, I don’t find myself using them too often, instead opting for the control right above the grip. It’s far easier to zoom with.
Another thing that Sony changed in this model is the ergonomics. The camera is much easier to hold because the grip is far larger and thicker. The thumb indent is also larger. Considering the fact that this camera is larger, both of these changes help to make your shooting experience feel safer.
Finally, Sony also decided to add one more custom button on the top plate.
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Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Build & Handling
The Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III build also closely mimics the build of its predecessor. The camera weighs 2.32 pounds and measures 5.24” x 3.7” x 5”. Although the camera is made from magnesium alloy, it does feel cheap for some reason. This may bother shooters who are used to a more solid build.
When it comes to the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III handling, a lot of Sony shooters were disappointed to find out that the menu really hasn’t changed at all. You can’t customize it and a lot of the features you may need seem to be inexplicably hidden. This is probably my biggest issue with the handling of most Sony cameras. It will definitely take you a few weeks to get used to shooting with this menu.
Most of the physical controls are really nice, though. For example, both the exposure compensation dial and the mode dial have a good amount of resistance and the pop-up flash comes further out of the camera than it did with the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 II, which is great for shooting subjects that are farther away from the camera.
Another frustrating aspect of this camera is its screen. It’s not only not a touchscreen, but it also isn’t fully articulating. For shooters who are used to a touchscreen (like I am) this is yet another way the controls of this camera might frustrate you.
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Video Performance
Huge thanks to Jacek Zarzycki for the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III video performance test above.
The Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III shoots 4K video at up to 30p and it also shoots Full HD video at up to 120p. The camera also comes with a High Frame Rate mode, which is how you can capture that awesome slow motion video at 1000fps.
If you’ve shot with the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 II, then most of the video features haven’t changed and the transition will be quite easy for you.
I already mentioned the fact that this camera comes with three control rings: one zoom ring, one aperture control ring, and one focusing ring. I mentioned that I don’t use these control rings very often, but I also don’t shoot video very often. This is a welcome change for videographers who need complete manual control.
This Sony camera comes with other Sony videography features, like S-Gamut color and S-Log2 contrast. What this means in practice is that you can shoot with this camera on top of another Sony camera and get the exact same color palette across the board. It’s an excellent move for professional videographers.
The camera also comes with both a microphone jack and a headphone jack. Considering the price, I would be wildly disappointed if it didn’t.
Since the camera uses a NP-FW50 battery, which can only take up to 420 shots on a single charge, you should expect to charge it via the USB port when you’re shooting video. It will just save you a lot of headaches.
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III Price
Considering all of the specs that this camera features, it makes sense that the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III price is also… premium.
If you plan to purchase a brand new Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III, you should expect to spend $1,400. It has definitely been argued that this is a little too much for the features that the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III offers.
However, if you purchase a used Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III you can get a much better deal.
For example, MPB currently has three different Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III bodies available for sale. Each one of them is in excellent condition, which means they have only the lightest signs of use, and they start at just $889.
With that $500 of savings, you could literally buy a whole new camera.
And, since MPB is a trusted used camera retailer, you can rest assured that if you do buy a Sony Cybershot DSC-RX10 III from them, it will show up at your door in the exact condition you expect it to. It’s the sole reason why I shop on MPB. I never have to guess whether a seller actually knows the condition of their camera or whether they’re lying to try and make more money off of me.
For a full list of reasons why I solely purchase used camera gear from MPB, you can read their full review in the learn more links below.
