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Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 III

The Nikon D300S and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in July 2009 and May 2014. The D300S is a DSLR, while the RX100 III is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D300S) and an one-inch (RX100 III) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D300S
versus
Sony RX100 III
Nikon D300S   Sony RX100 III
Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
Nikon F mount lenses 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8
12.2 MP – APS-C sensor 20 MP – 1" sensor
720/24p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 200-3,200 (100 - 6,400) ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 1229k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
7 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
950 shots per battery charge320 shots per battery charge
147 x 115 x 81 mm, 938 g 102 x 58 x 41 mm, 290 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D300S and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D300S and the Sony RX100 III are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 III
Compare D300S versus RX100 III top
Comparison D300S or RX100 III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX100 III is considerably smaller (65 percent) than the Nikon D300S. It is worth mentioning in this context that the D300S is splash and dust resistant, while the RX100 III does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX100 III has a lens built in, whereas the D300S is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D300S and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the D300S gets 950 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL3e battery, while the RX100 III can take 320 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the RX100 III can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
2.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D3100 124 mm 96 mm 75 mm 505 g 550 n Aug 2010 599ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D3S 160 mm 157 mm 88 mm 1240 g 4200 Y Oct 2009 5,199ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3000 126 mm 97 mm 64 mm 536 g 500 n Jul 2009 599ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D90 132 mm 103 mm 77 mm 703 g 850 n Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D700 147 mm 123 mm 77 mm 1074 g 1000 Y Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D300 147 mm 114 mm 74 mm 925 g 1000 Y Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon D200 147 mm 113 mm 74 mm 920 g 400 Y Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 n Jun 2014 899ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 749ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The RX100 III was launched at a lower price than the D300S, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D300S features an APS-C sensor and the Sony RX100 III an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX100 III is 69 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon D300S and Sony RX100 III sensor measures

Despite having a smaller sensor, the RX100 III offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the D300S. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 5.53μm for the D300S). However, it should be noted that the RX100 III is much more recent (by 4 years and 9 months) than the D300S, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Sony RX100 III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 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. The corresponding values for the Nikon D300S are 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.5 x 36.2 cm for good quality, 17.2 x 11.4 inches or 43.6 x 28.9 cm for very good quality, and 14.3 x 9.5 inches or 36.3 x 24.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D300S has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the D300S is build around a CMOS sensor, while the RX100 III uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D300S versus RX100 III MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
2.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
3.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
4.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
5.
 
Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.785466
6.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
7.
 
Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.9116780
8.
 
Nikon D3100 APS-C 14.2 4608 30721080/24p22.511.391967
9.
 
Nikon D3S Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832720/24p23.512.0325382
10.
 
Nikon D3000 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.156362
11.
 
Nikon D90 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.597773
12.
 
Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.2230380
13.
 
Nikon D300 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.112.067967
14.
 
Nikon D200 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.558364
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
17.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the RX100 III provides a better video resolution than the D300S. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Nikon is limited to 720/24p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the RX100 III has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the D300S has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the D300S has a higher magnification than the one of the RX100 III (0.63x vs 0.59x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D300S and Sony RX100 III in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
7.
 
Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D3100optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D3Soptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
10.
 
Nikon D3000optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D90optical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 4.5/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D700optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D300optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
14.
 
Nikon D200optical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
15.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One feature that is present on the D300S, but is missing on the RX100 III is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The RX100 III has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the D300S does not have a selfie-screen.

The Nikon D300S has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D300S writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the RX100 III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The D300S features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the RX100 III only has one slot. The RX100 III supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the D300S cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D300S and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
7.
 
Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D3100Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon D3SYstereo / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Nikon D3000Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D90Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D700Y- / ---mini2.0---
13.
 
Nikon D300Y- / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Nikon D200Y- / ----2.0---
15.
 
Panasonic FZ1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the D300S has a hotshoe, while the RX100 III does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D300S (unlike the RX100 III) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D300S and the RX100 III have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D300S was replaced by the Nikon D500, while the RX100 III was followed by the Sony RX100 IV. Further information on the features and operation of the D300S and RX100 III can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D300S Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony RX100 III Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D300S or the Sony RX100 III – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Reasons to prefer the Nikon D300S:

  • Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.7 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.63x vs 0.59x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (950 versus 320) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2009).

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Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 28%.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60p vs 720/24p).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 920k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the D300S requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 147x115mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the D300S).
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 9 months of technical progress since the D300S launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the RX100 III emerges as the winner of the match-up (17 : 14 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D300S 14:17 RX100 III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D300S and the Sony RX100 III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D300S and the RX100 III in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
2.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D31005/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2010 599ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D3S5/5....89/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2009 5,199ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3000..+..72/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 599ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D90..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Aug 2008 1,299ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D700..89/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D300..+ +..+ +5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com
14.
 
Nikon D200..+ +..+ +o.. Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 899ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 749ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Nikon D300S vs Sony RX100 III

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon D300S Sony RX100 III
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8
    Launch Date July 2009 May 2014
    Launch Price USD 1,799 USD 799
    Sensor Specs Nikon D300S Sony RX100 III
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor 1" Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
    Sensor Area 372.88 mm2 116.16 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm 15.9 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 2.7x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4288 x 2848 pixels 5472 x 3648 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.53 μm 2.41 μm
    Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 17.18 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 720/24p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 12,800 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 6,400 ISO 80 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 70 67
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.5 22.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.2 12.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 787 495
    Screen Specs Nikon D300S Sony RX100 III
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.63x 0.59x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 1229k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D300S Sony RX100 III
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D300S Sony RX100 III
    External Flash Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port no MIC socket
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D300S Sony RX100 III
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL3e Sony NP-BX1
    Battery Life (CIPA)950 shots per charge320 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81 mm
    (5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in)
    102 x 58 x 41 mm
    (4.0 x 2.3 x 1.6 in)
    Camera Weight 938 g (33.1 oz) 290 g (10.2 oz)
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    Check D300S offers at
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    Check RX100 III offers at
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