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Sony RX100 III vs Nikon D500

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and the Nikon D500 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in May 2014 and January 2016. The RX100 III is a fixed lens compact, while the D500 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an one-inch (RX100 III) and an APS-C (D500) sensor. The Sony has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 20.7 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Sony RX100 III
versus
Nikon D500
Sony RX100 III   Nikon D500
Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Nikon F mount lenses
20 MP – 1" sensor 20.7 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 25,600) ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 1,640,000)
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots) Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1229k dots 3.2" LCD – 2359k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Tilting touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
320 shots per battery charge1240 shots per battery charge
102 x 58 x 41 mm, 290 g 147 x 115 x 81 mm, 860 g
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Check RX100 III offers at
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Check D500 offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and the Nikon D500? 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 side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony RX100 III and the Nikon D500. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Sony RX100 III vs Nikon D500
Compare RX100 III versus D500 top
Comparison RX100 III or D500 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D500 is considerably larger (186 percent) than the Sony RX100 III. It is noteworthy in this context that the D500 is splash and dust-proof, 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 D500 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 D500 and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the RX100 III gets 320 shots out of its Sony NP-BX1 battery, while the D500 can take 1240 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL15 power pack. The power pack in the RX100 III can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 US$ 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 US$ 1 799ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D3400 124 mm 98 mm 76 mm 445 g 1200 n Aug 2016 US$ 499ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D5500 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 470 g 820 n Jan 2015 US$ 899ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 Y Mar 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 US$ 1 299 amazon.com
10.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 n Jun 2014 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 240 g 330 n Jun 2012 US$ 649ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 US$ 749ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 US$ 999ebay.com
14.
 
Sony RX100 V 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 299 g 220 n Oct 2016 US$ 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony RX100 VII 102 mm 58 mm 43 mm 302 g 260 n Jul 2019 US$ 1 199 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony ZV-1 105 mm 60 mm 44 mm 294 g 260 n May 2020 US$ 799ebay.com
17.
 
Sony ZV-1 II 106 mm 60 mm 47 mm 292 g 290 n May 2023 US$ 899 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

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 D500, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the 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 Sony RX100 III features an one-inch sensor and the Nikon D500 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D500 is 218 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sony RX100 III and Nikon D500 sensor measures

With 20.7MP, the D500 offers a higher resolution than the RX100 III (20MP), but the D500 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.22μm versus 2.41μm for the RX100 III) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the D500 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 7 months) than the RX100 III, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D500 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D500 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-1640000.

In terms of underlying technology, the RX100 III is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the D500 uses a 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.

RX100 III versus D500 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the D500 offers substantially better image quality than the RX100 III (overall score 16 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.6 bits higher color depth, 1.7 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.4 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty 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 36481080/60p22.412.349567
2.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
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.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
6.
 
Nikon D3400 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.813.9119286
7.
 
Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0143884
8.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
9.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
10.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
11.
 
Sony RX100 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.612.439066
12.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
13.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
14.
 
Sony RX100 V 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.458670
15.
 
Sony RX100 VII 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p21.812.441863
16.
 
Sony ZV-1 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.666966
17.
 
Sony ZV-1 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.312.996567
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the D500 provides a better video resolution than the RX100 III. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the RX100 III has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the D500 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 D500 has a higher magnification than the one of the RX100 III (0.67x 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 Sony RX100 III and Nikon D500 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty 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.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
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.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D3400optical n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Sony RX100none n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony RX100 V2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony RX100 VII2359 n3.0 / 921 tilting Y 1/2000s 90.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony ZV-1none n3.0 / 922 swivel Y 1/2000s 24.0/s n n
17.
 
Sony ZV-1 IInone n3.0 / 922 swivel Y 1/2000s 24.0/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The RX100 III has one, while the D500 does not. While the built-in flash of the RX100 III is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The RX100 III has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the D500 does not have a selfie-screen.

The Nikon D500 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 RX100 III writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the D500 uses SDXC or XQD cards. The D500 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 D500 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the RX100 III can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

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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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Nikon D500 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
3.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
5.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D3400Ymono / mono--mini2.0--Y
7.
 
Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
8.
 
Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
9.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
10.
 
Panasonic FZ1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony RX100-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
12.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony RX100 V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony RX100 VII-stereo / monoY-micro2.0YYY
16.
 
Sony ZV-1Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
17.
 
Sony ZV-1 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y

It is notable that the D500 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The RX100 III does not feature such a mic input.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D500 (unlike the RX100 III) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the RX100 III and the D500 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The RX100 III was replaced by the Sony RX100 IV, while the D500 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the RX100 III and D500 can be found, respectively, in the Sony RX100 III Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D500 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Sony RX100 III better than the Nikon D500 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Reasons to prefer the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the D500 requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 147x115mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the D500).
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in May 2014).

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Advantages of the Nikon D500:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (16 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.6 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.7 EV of extra DR).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.4 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.67x vs 0.59x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2359k vs 1229k dots).
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • 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: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1240 versus 320) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • 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.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 7 months) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D500 is the clear winner of the contest (26 : 11 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 sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

RX100 III 11:26 D500

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony RX100 III and the Nikon D500 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the RX100 III and the D500 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera 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
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 US$ 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 US$ 699ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 US$ 1 799ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D34004/5+4/576/1004/54.5/5 Aug 2016 US$ 499ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D55005/5+..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2015 US$ 899ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 US$ 1 299 amazon.com
10.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 US$ 899ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX1005/5+ +..78/1004/55/5 Jun 2012 US$ 649ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 US$ 749ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 US$ 999ebay.com
14.
 
Sony RX100 V4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Oct 2016 US$ 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony RX100 VII4.5/5..4/5..4/55/5 Jul 2019 US$ 1 199 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony ZV-14/5+4/585/1004/54.5/5 May 2020 US$ 799ebay.com
17.
 
Sony ZV-1 II4.5/5..3.5/583/1003.5/54.5/5 May 2023 US$ 899 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Check RX100 III offers at
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Check D500 offers at
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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Sony RX100 III vs Nikon D500

    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 Sony RX100 III Nikon D500
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date May 2014 January 2016
    Launch Price USD 799 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Sony RX100 III Nikon D500
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format 1" Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 13.2 x 8.8 mm 23.5 x 15.7 mm
    Sensor Area 116.16 mm2 368.95 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 15.9 mm 28.3 mm
    Crop Factor 2.7x 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 20 Megapixels 20.7 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5472 x 3648 pixels 5568 x 3712 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 2.41 μm 4.22 μm
    Pixel Density 17.18 MP/cm2 5.60 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost 80 - 25,600 ISO 50 - 1,640,000 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X EXPEED 5
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 67 83
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.4 24.0
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.3 14.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 495 1324
    Screen Specs Sony RX100 III Nikon D500
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.59x 0.67x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 1229k dots 2359k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Sony RX100 III Nikon D500
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peakingno Peaking Feature
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards SDXC or XQD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Sony RX100 III Nikon D500
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Sony RX100 III Nikon D500
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Sony NP-BX1 Nikon EN-EL15
    Battery Life (CIPA)320 shots per charge1240 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging no USB charging
    Body Dimensions 102 x 58 x 41 mm
    (4.0 x 2.3 x 1.6 in)
    147 x 115 x 81 mm
    (5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in)
    Camera Weight 290 g (10.2 oz) 860 g (30.3 oz)
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    Check RX100 III offers at
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    Check D500 offers at
    ebay.com

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