Отзывы о Фотоаппарат Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II

Отличный фотоаппарат, только крышка слабо держится, с этим я согласен, а так только плюсы, дешевый, а выглядит стильно и работает гораздо лучше своих вложений в него, спасибо!

Купил 3 дня назад. Очень доволен. Снимки четкие и дома и на улице, не тормозит, фокусируется моментально ( в отличие от предыдущего моего аппарата), очень удобный и простой в настройке. Пока минусов (кроме слабой крышки объектива) не вижу.

Хороший цифровичек, перепробовала многие за эти деньги, он оказался самым нормальным. Мне очень нравится! и фотки четкие и видео.

Приобрела 2 дня назад. Из рук не выпускаю) Отличное качество, моментально фотографирует, фокусируется быстро. Немного разобралась в настройках, фотки просто супер. Не ожидала за такую цену)))

I’ve purchased many, many Sony cameras over the years, probably more than I should confess to. I used one of the very first Mavica’s ever released on the market in the 1990’s. I was exhilarated when the DSC-F707 came out, and marveled at what good shots came out of that oddly-shaped, but surprising facilely shaped device. Then it was the DSC-F717, which really, to me, did not offer any real gains on the F707 model, regardless of what the spec sheet said, and seemed to be just a little bit of a waste of money (my F707 performed every bit as well).

Things really picked up with release of the DSC-F828, which, like the earlier models, I took with me all over France multiple times, shooting cathedrals, museums, parks, cityscapes, and everything else. The 828 was really a massive step up from the earlier models, not because of the so-called “four color HAD sensor” that Sony was tooting at the time, but rather, in my mind, the shape of the camera, which was just delightful to use and to hold, and the wonderful Zeiss lens that improved even beyond the F707 and F828 models. THE F828 was a delightful camera to use and I still have fond memories of its pleasing shape and operation.

Then came the DSC-R1. This beastie of a camera became my favorite, and it was capable of shooting such terrific photos that people regularly confused the shots with those coming from much higher-end DSLRs. Because the R1 had a full sized APS sensor, and because it had what was arguably the best lens ever to date on a non-DSLR camera (the luscious Zeiss 24-120mm which opened to F/2.8 at the wide end), it was unrivaled at the time, while, admittedly, being a specialist camera. It wasn’t cheap, either, running $1,000 sans accessories. It took no video, had no image stabilization, and was over two pounds in weight. No matter. This was my camera of choice, and the only thing that could drag me away from it was the introduction of the Fuji X system, and even then, it was a long, drawn out thing. I loved not only the image quality, but the fact that I could rotate that oddly-positioned LCD screen so that it was at the top of the camera, allowing me to shoot head down, which, surprisingly, offered all kinds of advantages that don’t become apparent until you try it.

All right, this review is about a camera that has almost nothing in common with any of these models, the Sony DSC-RX100III (and please carefully note that this camera is the “III,” that is, the third generation of the DSC-RX100, which can be confusing; the DSC-RX100III is in some respects different than the first two models). This diminutive camera is small enough to fit into one of my pants pockets, weighs practically nothing, and sports an intermediate 1” sensor (much larger than the typical 2/3” sensor in many compacts, but not nearly as large as a full APS sensor). So why mention any of the previous models? Well, first of all to say that I’ve had lots of experience with Sony cameras (including some additional models I’ve not mentioned above, including the SLT-a33, the SLT-a57, and a handful of their compact models), and to also help describe what this camera is and what it is not.

First of all, what IS this camera? It’s a compact camera. As such, it is tiny, it is light, and it designed to operate with minimal user configuration (if that’s what you desire to do). It has an aluminum body. It has a very limited zoom range, only 2.9X, but does open to a very respectable 24mm, and a HUGE F/1.8 aperture. This means that the camera is well suited to shooting in low light settings, and also to shooting anything you want with a wide vista (e.g., landscapes, interiors, etc.). So, if you want to use it inside, in museums, churches, and so on, it’s suited for that type of setting, amongst others. It’s not made in Japan, but it is built to a very good quality level, and feels much more like a Japanese product that one might at first expect. It has a “BSI-CMOS” 20mp sensor, which is Sony’s name for their fancy backlit sensor, and also has a Zeiss lens, like much of Sony’s camera predecessor models. It also has a tilting screen, which is still somewhat of an oddity for pocket cameras, in spite of their obvious usefulness. It also comes equipped with a slew of customizable settings, special settings, programmable functions, pre-set scene settings, shutter priority, aperture priority, etc., so it tends to straddle a bit into the DSLR world in spite of its diminutive size. It takes very good quality video, and it also has panoramic stitching. And, it’s expensive.

What ISN’T it? It’s not a DSLR. It does not have a significant zoom. It does not have the complete complement of customizable settings that a DSLR typically has (although it comes close). It doesn’t have a full size sensor (but the 1”

@Sony: please read this (more or less) bug list (for firmware V1.10) and fix these issues in the next firmware. Thank you.

ToDo list for next Firmware Update: (Please Forward to the Sony RX100M3 development team)
=========================================================
These wishes, lacks of functionality, problems and bugs are related to Firmware V1.10. I will mark the appropriate entries as DONE/FIXED/SOLVED if Sony indeed did solve them. Additionally I will increase the rating to 4 or 5 stars, depending on which and how many issues are solved.

Anyone is highly encouraged to copy & paste this list or parts of it and publish it, ideally in a way Sony will take notice of it.

Legend:
BUG = Real software bug or malfunction (also if malfunction is with intent)
LOF = lack of self-evident feature that nearly anyone expects in this class
WISH = wish

==========================================================

1.) [LOF] : Enable separate power-save delay durations for "LCD off" and "turning off completely". So LCD could be turned of e.g. already after 5...10 seconds if no key is pressed. Cam then could fall into sleep mode (wake-up by e.g. slight pressing shutter key)

2.) [LOF] : During LCD off (respective during OLED-Finder off) ensure to set all components to sleep mode (energy consumption nearly 0). This would save a huge amount of energy by a) no need to drive lens motor when user manually turns cam off/on to try to save energy, PLUS it would save energy already after a few seconds if the cam does no operation. Since battery is VERY small (3,9Wh, means ~30 minutes of video if not recording continuously) this is absolutely needed. I guess this could increase recording time also if stopping video near to the 55 minutes that can be achieved if recording nonstop.

3.) [LOF] : enhance list of video modes to have ALWAYS available *all* frame rates, independent if cam is set to PAL or NTSC. Maybe warn user, but do NOT prevent him to use 60fps if he wants to use 60fps/NTSC frame rate in PAL mode. (If this is done, there's no more need to implement bugfix/wish #4)

4.) [BUG] : do not force user to re-format SD-Card when changing from PAL to NTSC or vice versa. What the hell should this be good for? Why this absolute insane artificial restriction? Even better solution: put all NTSC frame rates into the Video Menu if in PAL mode and vice versa. (see previous entry, #3.) )

5.) [WISH] : Maybe put all video modes in one list instead having to switch between AVCHD and XAVC-S, add (AVCHD) and (XAVC-S) in brackets in the appropriate menu entries

6.) [LOF] : enable start/stop of video recording also by pressing shutter key (if dial is set to video mode)

7.) [LOF] : enable capturing of still images while recording video (at least in modes when CPU has enough capacity left). Remember: the cam has enough power to simultaneously record a low-quality MP4 stream to be sent to a smartphone. Since is NOT really needed, it would be totally OK if capturing still images only can be done if "dual video recording" (saving of additional MP4 video stream) is disabled.

8.) [LOF] : If #7. is done, do not forget to also enable FIFO buffering for multiple still images while recording video (2 or 3 images, the more, the better) to prevent that user has to wait up to 10 seconds to be able to take next picture (as it is the case with RX100M1).

9.) [BUG] : It is not possible to enable the "water level bubble" meter additionally to other status displays. Please fix this bug.
EDIT: this max be by intention. "DISP Button" (I'd rather call it "wheel upper button" steps through the previously selected elements)

10.) [WISH] : Add a back-in-time-shot option (shoot but not store stills before pressing shutter)

11.) [WISH] : Add a back-in-time option for video (e.g. save the 3 seconds that have happened BEFORE the movie button has been pressed)

12.) [WISH] : Add a short-sequence high-speed recording function with optional back-in-time. e.g. Save 3 seconds at 100..200 fps and play back at 25..50 fps), identical to that in Sony HDR-CX116 (Camcorder), if cam is capable of 200 fps for a short period, then also additional recording at 200 fps with playback at 25 would be adequate. (I guess if dual video recording is disabled there are some fps above 120 possible, same if resolution is reduced)

13.) [BUG] : review the German translation of several menu entries. (least important, but I would have expected much better translations).
For example: the following strings are named very misleading/un-understandable: "Anzeigequalität" (Better: "Bildrate Anzeige" or english: "Display Refresh Rate"), "Dateiformat", "Für Sucher", "Key-Benutzereinstlg.", "Bew.interv.-Einstlg", "Spur-Intv. im Beweg. aufn.-Video einstellen.", "Energiesp.-Startzeit"

This is my fourth Sony camera and easily my 10th digital and roughly 20th camera (counting both film and digital). It's a beauty, and as many have commented on these pages and elsewhere (such as DPReview), a significant improvement on the earlier generations of the RX100 (better sensor in RX100ii, better lens now in 100iii plus an EVF). I thought it would be hard to top the Sony RX1 as the perfect travel camera (please see my detailed review of the RX1 on Amazon), but I think on balance, this is a better travel camera than even that brilliant piece of full frame ingenuity. Not a better camera mind you, but a better travel camera, when space and size are at a great premium. Its lens and sensor produce images that are not quite as sharp as the RX-1's - but they are not that far off either. And the RX100-III does beat the RX-1 in one critical functional area, in terms of having a useful range of wide to mild telephoto focal lengths. No more zooming with just the feet . . .

Although the RX-100M3 cannot beat the RX-1 or any other full frame camera in overall photo image quality, it is superior in relationship to video quality to the RX-1/A99/A77-65 (and many other APS-C and FF DSLRs), where the improved Bionz X processor in the RX100III allows for a way better sampling heuristic (instead of the clumsy line skipping approach done in the RX1, A99, and all the other recent APS-C cameras). It's also astonishingly flexible in terms of shooting modes and operational styles, and additionally, Sony's improved image stabilization gives it a ~2 stop advantage, narrowing the low light performance gap between this sensor and a full frame sensor but without image stabilization (such as seen in the RX1) to basically nothing by allowing the RX100-III to shoot at slower shutter speeds, and thus keeping ISO lower. I'm able to shoot wide open at a 24 mm equivalent in low light at 1/5 second shutter speed, often without any image blurring, keeping my ISO relatively low and basically wiping out much of the low light advantage of the RX-1 FF sensor. It still of course doesn't quite create images that are as breathtaking as full frame equipment (still less dynamic range and color depth) - that is not a hittable or realistic performance target, but it comes amazingly close, and with only slightly more noise as ISO rises compared to the APS-C Sony sensor in a Sony A65 (although that camera was clearly no low light phenom). It might be slightly less noisy in RAW than the A65 at 3200 and 6400 - but they are certainly close. This is mighty impressive, given that this sensor is much smaller than an APS-C chip (but RX100's sensor is newer than the A65's). It's not quite one stop noisier than the newer Sony APS-C sensor in my A77II in head to head testing (The new A77ii is roughly 1 stop better sensor in terms of noise compared to the previous generation chip in the A65). This is still a mighty fine performance.

What this means is that there is a (roughly) one stop noise jump from these various levels of sensor size: most cell phone sensors > most compact cameras > RX-100 (and several other large sensor compacts) > newer APS-C (A6000/Nikon5300) > full frame (FF) RX1/Nikon600 > Sony A7s. Each level is a significant jump in low light performance, and thus impacts and limits you on exposure, shutter speed, and the whole range of shooting options. While noise/high ISO performance initially sounds like a lot of techno-obscurity that only geeks would care about or understand, it's really indicative of what basic physical restrictions there are on your creative options as a photographer. Not only that, and less appreciated by the average person, as noise does up, dynamic range, color depth, and virtually every other parameter that might index picture quality goes down in a linear and direct ratio. That's why noise and high ISO performance is so important. All this underscores also that the size of the sensor is critical - and kudos to Sony for its continual efforts to stuff the biggest sensor it can into smaller (and smaller) camera bodies.

All this just means simply that this camera has phenomenal low light performance, FOR ITS SIZE. Its low light performance is simply way ahead of every other compact its size, and is reasonably competitive with much larger cameras (such as m4/3 and APS-C where its noise is roughly one stop poorer than the best of the m4/3-APS-c crowd, and about two stops poorer than a typical FF pro-cam). The formal noise testing that I just did (comparing this to both an A77ii and RX1 in RAW) confirms this and shows it almost exactly two stops behind an RX-1. This is still mighty impressive, and with Sony's improved IS system giving it a 2+ stop advantage, I can do quite a bit of low light shooting, without worrying about noise (or heavy-handed noise reduction in the JPEG engine) wiping out details. I have to really want low light performance and/or slightly more resolution to lug the bi

RX100 M3 review

Some background on me first. I have owned a Canon 5D Mark 2 since 2008 and I have an iPhone 5. So the question was, do I need/want this camera?

I have previously owned an early Olympus micro four-thirds camera and a large sensor compact Canon. I ended up selling both of these, as I got very little use out of them.

I bought this camera primarily as a video camera. I have always wanted a discretely sized excellent quality video camera and the specs in this seemed to fit the bill. This review will mainly look at video.

I read about the new XAVC S codec with some skepticism. It seemed like overkill for HD video as it uses a scary amount of storage. After using it though, there is no way I am going back to the lower bit-rate alternatives. With this codec I can shoot extremely complicated visual scenes, a forest in bright daylight for example, pan the camera and see no compression artifacts at all. If I compare this with my iPhone 5 or 5D video the difference is glaring.

I had even more skepticism about 60P, imagining I'd shoot 24p for a more cinematic look. I saw the high-frame-rate version of The Hobbit and was slightly sickened by it. I also imagined light sensitivity would be improved at lowers shutter speeds. This does not appear to be the case however. Also, as there are no compression artifacts at 60p, there is no reason to shoot at a lower speed to avoid them. I imagine the way intra-frame compression works, doubling the frame rate does not mean a commensurate increase in file size. This only leaves the aesthetic question of 60P versus 30 or 24. I have to say, even though the video has a hyper-real quality to it and looks in no way cinematic, I have grown to love it. I tell myself that if I want 30 frames per second later I can always reduce the frame rate during the editing process. Also, 60 frames per second allows for smooth slow motion, only 50% slower true, but it is full HD, unlike the 120fps mode, which is unpleasant to use and outputs poor quality video. So yes, I love 60P video and it is now all I shoot.

My love of the 60P mode also helps me get over my biggest gripe about the camera. The lack of 4K video. I have read a lot of reviewers who say 4K video is overkill, and if it was available on this camera, it would be more than regular consumers could handle. As in the amount of storage it would consume and the amount of processing power necessary to edit it successfully would be too much. This may be true for some consumers, but I think this is also true of the 1080 60P mode and that didn't stop Sony implementing that. This is a camera for people who know what they are doing, so I think the option for 4K should be there. The camera has the same sensor and processor as Sony's first consumer 4K camcorder, so there is no technical limitation. I can only assume they are afraid of canibalizing sales of that more expensive camera. I have used their 4K camcorder and the video is spectacular. The headroom 4K gives you for cropping/correcting on a 1080p timeline is also wonderful. It's a real shame this camera doesn't have it. I imagine the next iteration will, but that does not help me now. Perhaps some ingenious individual will circulate a firmware hack to enable it? I live in hope.

Incidentally, exporting the video to my Mac is not the easiest process. Neither Aperture nor Lightroom recognizes the XAVC S format, so I can't store it with my images. Final Cut Pro X does not recognize it straight out of the camera either. I have to use Sony's gross Playmemories software to import, then have Final Cut import the resulting files. Not the end of the world, but a hassle all the same.

Before leaving the topic of video I would like to stress that this camera shoots amazing video. All my criticisms aside, I am keeping the camera because the video quality is so much better than my iPhone and shooting is so much easier than it is with my DSLR. If your subject is sharply focused and the light is good, the video is to die for.

As a still camera I find it lacking. DPReview summed it up well when they said it wasn't fun to use. I can't help but compare using this camera to using the iPhone. The iPhone is just so intuitive. If you want to focus on something, you touch it. I keep finding I want to touch the screen on this camera, and the fact I can't bothers me. There are also so many modes that I have a hard time remembering which mode does what. I have googled the intelligent auto and intelligent auto plus modes half a dozen times and still don't know what they do. They seem interesting, so I don't want to ignore them, but if I can't easily see what they are doing I just end up frustrated. In these modes the display is littered with information, very little of which makes much sense.

I love shooting stills with my DSLR, I love the large viewfinder and I love my 85mm portrait lens. This camer

HARDWARE
You'll still get better performance from a top-of-the-line mirrorless camera or DSLR, but those aren't nearly as portable, and they're certainly not small enough to carry in your pocket. The RX100 is plenty capable, but its greatest strength is its size. While heavier than many other point-and-shoots, it's not much larger. Its powerful 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Vario-Sonnar T* zoom lens does make it quite a bit thicker than your run-of-the-mill compact, but assuming you can deal with a moderate bulge, it can fit in a pants pocket.

You'll more likely be dangling the RX100 III from your wrist, using the included band, or from a third-party neck strap (the requisite adapters are in the box). Despite its small size, however, the camera offers all of the necessary buttons and dials, including a dedicated mode dial, a video record button, a scroll wheel (for adjusting aperture and/or shutter speed) and a button for accessing the integrated WiFi mode, which lets you transmit images from the camera directly to a smartphone or a tablet.

This time around, the greatest engineering feat is the pop-up electronic viewfinder. It's located at the far-left corner, and extends up about one inch when in use. The clever design includes a slide-out magnifier, complete with a diopter adjustment dial. The camera powers on as soon as you extend the EVF using the release switch on the left side of the housing, though it also turns off when you push it back down. Like most other EVFs, there's a proximity sensor that activates the finder and disables the LCD when you raise it to your eye. Of course, grazing the viewfinder with a finger or other appendage has the same effect, but you can simply push it back into the housing to eliminate the issue.

Because the EVF takes up quite a bit of space within the housing, Sony had to move the pop-up flash a bit to the right. It's now centered just above the lens, though it extends far enough to reach beyond the zoom, even at the widest focal length. Given that the flash has now taken over the real estate previously allocated to the full-size hot shoe, that component is a casualty of the RX100's redesign, though (as mentioned earlier) with the exception of perhaps a few hardcore shooters, it likely won't be missed.

USER INTERFACE
For a spell, Sony began including touchscreens with its mirrorless cameras, such as the NEX-5N, but newer models, including the Alpha 6000 and flagship A7s don't offer that feature. All three RX100 models also lack touch functionality, including this year's iteration, which may be a disappointment to some. On the other hand, no touchscreen means Sony needed to include a range of dedicated controls and dials, which ultimately work to improve the experience. The trade-off, of course, is that you can't tap to focus, which many shooters have come to count on when capturing video.

The user interface hasn't changed much since the original RX100. The menu layout is more or less identical, though there have been some slight cosmetic tweaks. The quick-access menu has been refined -- it's a bit more straightforward to use now -- but indicators and the camera's general workflow are consistent with past models. Like with the RX100 II, you can transfer images over WiFi using Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app for smartphones and tablets, but unlike competing products, you can't control the camera remotely.

PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE
The first model in this series was lauded for its incredibly fast focusing, and the RX100 III performs just as you'd expect. It focuses very quickly, and it's accurate nearly all of the time. Focus hunting is perceptible, particularly with dim subjects when you're not using the AF-assist light, but if you miss a shot due to speed, the camera probably won't be to blame. Granted, it's not the fastest gun in the West, but it's definitely one of the best in its class. As with any compact camera with a power zoom lens, it takes a second or two to get the camera powered on and ready to capture its first shot. If you're anticipating an upcoming capture, it's best to leave the RX100 powered on -- once the camera's standing by, shutter lag is barely noticeable.

As for battery life, I took the RX100 on vacation and managed to get through three days of exploring without charging up. On average, I probably used the camera for a few hours each day, so if you tend to capture hundreds of shots and dozens of video clips during each day of touring, you'll need to charge up overnight. During that period, I was able to snap more than 500 stills and 13 minutes of 1080p/60 video, which was captured with the high-bit rate (and processor-intensive) XAVC S codec.

IMAGE QUALITY
Since we're already on the topic of video, I'll start with some analysis there. The XAVC S codec available with Sony's latest cameras is a significant step up from AVCHD. Video looks great on the cam

Summary of my thoughts: a good "palm sized" camera that outperforms a smartphone but is still some distance from an interchangeable lens camera.

Everyone buys a camera because they have a "use case," that is one or more set of needs they'd like to have met. I use a range of cameras, from the one in my iPhone 5s to a Leica MP film camera with a collection of prime lenses and a medium format "folder" camera, the Fujifilm GF670. I am a serious amateur with a passion for shooting black and white film (which I then scan, post-process, and print or post).

Though my Leica has set the benchmark for me in terms of image quality when shooting film, I enjoy the convenience of small digital cameras, particularly the one in my iPhone 5s. I can capture an image, process it in Snapseed (convert to BW, add a touch of "grain," juice up the contrast a bit), and upload it to Instagram "in a heart beat." But the iPhone lacks the ability to provide any real shallow depth of field, which I enjoy for portraits and to give images that "3D" appearance. Its zoom is digital and its low light performance . . . well, it's great for a phone.

I also own a Lumix GH1 with the 20mm "pancake lens" with a fast f 1.7 aperture. It's marvelous . . . but not really "palm sized". And fitting a zoom on it, makes it even larger.

So, my dream "palm sized" camera is one that provides a meaningful level of shallow depth of field, functions well in low light, has some optical zoom capability, and can fit in the palm of my hand.

The Sony RX100M III does MOST of these things . . . it fits perfectly in the palm of my hand, has a moderate zoom, does very well in low light, and has an acceptable though not outstanding shallow depth of field capability. While the lens IS an f1.8 aperture (and that get's the heart racing if you're an old film buff like me), it's mated to a 1 inch sensor, which is a long way from a full frame sensor. So while the low light capture capability is nice, the shallow depth of field? Meh. Unimpressive. Once you begin moving towards 50mm field of view, the aperture has dropped to nearly f 2.8 on a 1 inch sensor and "subject isolation" is scant to non-existent.

You might ask: why not get an Sony RX1 or RX1r? Besides the fact that it's nearly 4X the price, it doesn't zoom. And don't give me the "zoom with my feet" lecture . . . I own a collection of Leica primes and I get that part really well. It's just I'm getting a bit lazy in my "old age" and prefer more "reach" to the optics :-)

I'm not a purist who shoots only RAW. When I really get fixated on information density in an image, I shoot an ISO 50 speed film in my medium format camera and scan it to get a 500 Gb file. Lots of data . . . but I'm not a pixel peeper so if the jpeg output of my digital camera is decent, I'm happy. And the jpeg output of the Sony RX100M III is excellent.

And for the black and white film purists out there, fasten your seat belt: the high contrast monochrome setting on the Sony will knock your socks off! I'm tempted to call the Sony RX100M III a "Mini Monochrom", Leica's $8,000 black and white only digital camera. There are two other monochrome settings to use as well but I am having lots of fun with the high contrast setting. Is the sensor really as good as Leica's? No, of course not. But it is VERY good for the size and price.

The zoom range is nice: 24-70mm. To be honest, I'd like it to reach 100mm like the earlier models but then I'm not ready to trade the smaller aperture for that ;-)

A couple of other features I enjoy: you can shoot video in black and white . . . but I should point out that the sound of zoom "motor" is audible in the recording. Second, there is a built in ND (neutral density) filter that is automatically "turned on" if, like me, you are seeking to shoot with the lens "wide open" in sun light. When using the Aperture priority mode (and auto ISO), the camera will step down the ISO and increase the shutter speed to accommodate a wide open lens. But if that is not enough, it will engage the ND filter to enable you to "open up the lens." This is a very nice feature.

Finally, the built in WiFi transfer is serviceable for iOS devices. I don't fault Sony that Apple doesn't support NFC but the interface on Sony's iOS app is pretty weak. That being said, I now routinely transfer images from my camera to my iPhone or iPad. If anyone's having trouble with the process, ask a question on this "review" and I'll be happy to take you through the precise sequence that works nearly 100% of the time. (Rube Goldberg was Sony's software consultant).

So if you have a use case that is similar to mine, I'd recommend the camera. Or you can wait about 3-5 years or so and Sony will put a full frame sensor in an $800 palm size camera, with a zoom and a fast lens. And I'll own one :-D

Today's compact cameras offer (almost) no advantage over the smartphone cameras. SLR cameras and the new generation mirrorless cameras (such as Sony NEX) do provide better quality but are too large and heavy to schlepp around unobtrusively. The RX100 is a camera that is pocketable while giving a dramatic quality advantage over an iPhone 5s. Its beats the larger NEX camera in nearly every aspect. And it is equal or better than bulky SLR cameras (unless you need a true zoom capability).

Amazon sent my pre-ordered RX100-3 just in time before leaving on a vacation to Spain. This offered a great opportunity to test my brand-new camera under many different conditions: in dark churches, bright beaches, city panoramas, pictures in musea, selfies, concert videos, etc. After shooting over 700 pictures I am more enthusiastic about this camera than any camera I have owned until now. The pictures are very good. The RX100-3 seems to do most everything right. On top of that, it feels great in the hand as its made of high-quality materials.

It shoots razor sharp pictures that are a feast for the eye. The quality difference is immediately apparent when viewed on an retina-display iPad. Thanks to the large 1" image sensor and F1.8 lens it can crank up the ISO without introducing noise, resulting in spectacular low-light capabilities. I hardly used the flash as there is little need with such great hardware. In bright sunlight the built-in ND filter allows to perform some background defocussing.

The built-in viewfinder is unique and turns out to be very useful in practice, especially if you need reading glasses such as myself. Popping it out automatically switches the camera on, popping it back in switches it off again. The regular LCD screen can be tilted 180 degrees to shoot selfies, which is a nice touch. Apropos touch: the LCD screen is not. All controls are with tiny buttons, making for s steep learning curve given the many options of the camera. Sometimes I accidentally pushed one of those buttons, and it turns out to be hard to quickly recover from that. This camera is not for you if you are easily intimidated by options and buttons, or prefer a zen/Apple style minimal user interface. To make things worse, the built-in help feature is borderline useless. One has to consult the paper manual to understand what the DRO1 or HDR3 is, and what the sweet spot for each is.

The easy to grip ring around the lens controls the zoom, focus or exposure (depending on the shooting mode). Compared to the RX100-2, the ring operation is much faster, allowing for smooth zooming. The default 24mm is nicely wide-angle, great for most shots. In some situations a slight zoom in is better to prevent the unavoidable distortion from becoming noticeable. Maximum zoom is only 70mm, which makes this camera no suitable for birdwatchers. I do not mind as most of my shots did not require zoom. I enabled the digital zoom to get a little more zoom range. Given the super high resolution the penalty is not too bad.

It is strange that all expensive cameras lack GPS geotagging and easy connectivity. The good news is that the RX100-3 has a built in wifi which avoids messing with adapters and wires. I used it many times to send pictures to my smartphone and iPad. That still requires a bit too many button clicks, but it does work well and does not depend on external wifi network.

I did not have the time to read the manual, but I discovered a few other interesting features in the past 2 weeks of shooting:

- It has a built-in 'beautification' tool for those hedonistic selfies: skin smoothing, eye-widening, teeth whitening and more. It worked remarkable well even though it seems a bit of a marketing gimmick.
- Sweep panorama pictures can be shot either horizontally or vertically. I found the vertical sweep panorama to be an excellent way to get a wide-angle view without much distortion. All panoramas are shot at 1/500s.
- I still need to figure out when to use 'intelligent auto' and when 'superior auto'. If seems that superior auto is more creative with HDR (multi-exposure) in high contrast situations.
- The built-in flash can be aimed upward to the ceiling, resulting in a softer effect.
- The viewfinder can show an artificial horizon that helps shooting straight pictures.
- Digital zoom has 3 modes: 'off', 'clearimage', and 'on', where 'clearimage' seems to cleverly adjust zoom range to avoid too much resolution loss. (I have not read the manual yet ;)
- Battery life turns out to be quite good. I short over 200 pictures on a day and still had 20% battery left.
- The camera has a tendency to focus on the front object and defocus the background in auto-mode. That is great for portraits, but not always what is intended. Forcing a larger depth-of focus seems to require using the A or S modes instead.

The RX100-3 is probably the best portable cam

I have been waiting over a month for this camera and I am excited to say, "I LOVE IT!". Best quality I've seen on a COMPACT CAMERA. Even on some DSLRs I've tested out. I have been bouncing back ENDLESSLY between getting a Sony A7/r, an a6000, an RX1/r (yikes!), or this camera. Keep in mind that I am not a professional photographer. On we go...

Since I'm upgrading from my iPhone, I didn't want anything too big or too drastic of a change. For me, I knew I would get frustrated with having to decide what kind of lens I want, bringing the lenses, etc. But I kind of wanted that same high quality look to the pictures I was taking...something you can no doubt get with a DSLR at half the price of this camera. So it's really up to your affordability and what you're willing to sacrifice in terms of the ability to change lenses or the ability to have something compact. If you want something a bit of both, I recommend getting the a6000. A camera I was very close to getting until I found out about the RX100M3. The a6000 is the same price as the M3 INCLUDING the lens. Some notes:

WiFi: I used the WiFi a LOT with this camera. I used it while I waited in line at Disneyland and during down time at sporting events. I uploaded them quickly onto my Instagram/Flickr account. It's pretty easy to set up...just make sure to read the instructions carefully. You can select the pictures you want to send to your phone/iPad and it only takes a few seconds.

VIEWFINDER/LCD: One of the only reasons I bought this camera over the previous RX100 models and the RX1/r is because the viewfinder is built in instead of buying an extra $400 accessory. The viewfinder is clear and almost exactly what you see when you take the picture. I kind of wish you were able to pull out the viewfinder a bit more because my cheek touches the screen and so my makeup ends up getting on it. BUT I was still able to see the LCD screen in broad daylight with no problem. So those of you who want the cheaper RX100s and don't really need a viewfinder...by all means get the previous models. It's not that different in terms of picture quality. And the LCD is almost perfect. I just wish it was touchscreen so I can easily navigate through the different tabs on the menu screen. But other than that, I love that you can flip it 180 degrees for selfies ;)

MENU: As I said in the previous paragraph, I wish I was able to touch where I want to go instead of constantly clicking through the different tabs. But the menu is pretty self-explanatory.

FLASH: The pop-up flash is useful instead of buying a flash like you have to do with the previous models . Haven't found a flaw with it yet.

BATTERY: Taking about 50-100 shots a day and the battery was still halfway-3/4 full. I did notice that it drained the battery significantly if I did continuous action shots.

HANDLING: There is no grip on this camera, so it might be hard for people with larger hands to hold this. Sony sells an attachment grip (really a sticker) that you can put on the front. It's about $15. But I'm kind of iffy on sticking something on an $800 camera. The weight of this camera is heavier than a usual compact, but I like that. Its a good balance for my hands. Sony does sell a leather jacket case for this camera for a whopping $85. Unfortunately, you can't use both the attachment grip and the case with this camera.

QUALITY: I think I've already established how great the quality is on this camera. It's comparable, if not better, than some DSLRs out there. At 20.1 megapixels, this thing is a monster. In a good way.

In the end, this camera gives me everything I want and more. Ever since I've had an iPhone, I've rarely used a REAL camera...besides my GoPro (is that considered real?). And I didn't want to lug around a huge DSLR either. Now that I have this camera, I know I'll be taking this everywhere I go. I'd recommend this to anyone whether they're a beginner or not. I know some people who already have DSLRs that will purchase this as a second camera because it's so compact yet the picture quality isn't sacrificed. If you're somewhat of a beginner like me and love to learn about how things work, definitely read up on apertures, shutter speeds, ISO, etc. You'll love your camera a lot more. Anyways, can't wait to start scrap booking! :)

Side note: If you plan on taking video with this camera, you have to get the 64GB Sony memory card because it records in XAVC S format. They normally retail for about $145, but I was able to get it for half off for $73. On the box: "Use SDXC card of Class 10 or faster to take movies in XAVC S format."

*Update 07/26/14
Took my camera on a recent trip to Hawaii. My review for the camera is still the same. If not, better. What I wanted to update you all on is the leather jacket case that Sony sells as well as the software I use to edit my photos. For the case priced at around

I'll start off with the good. I owned the Fuji x100s for about a year before I sold it. Not becuase I didn't like it, because I did, but because it was simply too big to fit in my pocket and its weird in camera rendering to skin tones when the iso increased. I also still own a Nikon D800 and D600 but needed something for every day photo's with family and just for fun. This camera on paper is perfect. Size, large aperture, 24-70mm equivalent, image stabalized AND has a revolutionary built in EVF. When it arrived the first thing I noticed was how compact it really is. It is a tiny camera even if the previous generations are small as well. It seems very solid (except the popout flash which feels like I'm going to break it every time I push it back in) for being so small but at the same time there is so much packed into a tiny space I'm constantly worried I'm going to break something. I guess that's what I get when I go from 2 full frame DSLR's to a pocket cam for travel. Nonetheless this is a technological marvel. My favorite feature, that incredible rotating LCD. Awesome. I shoot weddings with pro-level DSLR's and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the rotating LCD! The fact I can flip it around 180 degress to take a picture with my wife and then rotate it to 45 degrees down to shoot over my head is so useful I can't recommend it enough. We've taken more pics together since getting this camera than in the past year simply because it is easy to do. The viewfinder is very neat but to be honest I haven't found a situation where I've wanted to use it yet (that doesn't mean that I won't but I haven't as of yet). The image quality, in terms of focus and clarity, is excellent. The low light results have been reasonably good up to about 1600 iso and I allow it to go up to 3200 iso sometimes if I really need a shot. This is impressive for a camera with a sensor this small. Now I have to mention my number one issue with this camera and the reason it gets a 4 instead of a 5 from me.....Auto White Balance. I don't know why but every sony camera I've ever used has substantially cooler white balance than any other brand I've used. This comes across as a slightly blue and green tint in photos. Maybe the average consumer won't notice but I look at images all the time when I edit for weddings and these colors are off. I know I can set multiple manual white balances with this camera but my purpose in getting this was to have a small camera for everyday use that I can shoot JPEG's with in aperture priority and have no editing to do in post. The Auto White Balancing is, in my opinion, terrible. My old fuji rendered significantly more accurate colors straight out of camera. I plan to play around with the camera to see if I can globally adjust the auto white balance to a level I'm comfortable with. If sony reads these I would encourage them to examine their AWB outputs vs the competition and release a firmware update that at least offers a second "auto" setting to warm up the tones across the board. I hate to harp so much on this as the camera itself is excellent. Hopefully I can find a way to make it work as I don't want to return the camera. If you have a lot of experience with these cameras and know of a solution for me, I am open to input from the community as well! The only other con to this camera is the On/Off button. I don't know why they insisted on this being a button. A switch would have made this a non-issue. I accidentally turn this thing on frequently while sliding it into my pocket. This is a scary thing to do as the lens shoots out as soon as the power goes on. When this happens you are greeted with the unpleasant sound of the motor griding to push the lens out through your pocket. I have to be very careful when holding the camera as you barely have to press the button to activate the power.

In conclusion, fantastic small camera with some small issues. Definitely the best pocket camera out there. If you prefer cool tones in your images this is a no brainer. If you prefer more realistic tones, I'll post an update if I find a way to get this thing to warm up.

UPDATE: So if you don't mind shooting in the Auto modes then there is a pretty good solution. If you click down on the rear dial it brings up a simple settings menu. On that menu is a temperature adjustment that lets you warm up the image to your liking. The downside is that it resets everytime you turn the camer off. Also, that simple menu is only available under the auto modes and does not activate under the A,S or M modes. For me, this is a good enough answer as my usage of this camera is primarily in auto mode (if I want a highly technical photo I'll probably use my D800). No doubt this camera can do great things and has very versatile raw files but I have no desire to edit these files and it is meant to be a quick fix when I want a picture:) I'm still not giving it 5 stars because the

I bought the RX100 in its original configuration a few years ago when it first came out. I liked the camera from the outset and have taken more than a few pictures with it that I am really happy with. It is my choice for backing up my Nikon D4 or D800 when I can't deal with taking along two large DSLRs. I took a look at DXO mark and they rate the sensor the same as the sensor for my old D200 which may sound like damning with faint praise but the D200 was a workhorse and shot a lot of great stuff. I will say at the outset that I like the M3 a lot. I am happy I upgraded from the original but I think that if you have the M2 you may not need this update. The faster lens is a noticeable improvement. Indoor shots without flash at reasonable ISO's are much more feasible now.

Updated 6/24/14 - I thought I would add a comment about a statement from the dpreview piece on the M3. Dpreview praises the cameras abilities and then go on to say that it is not "fun" to shoot with. I guess an old SX-70 may have been more fun with all the whirring and spitting of prints but beyond that I am at a loss. I have had great creative session with both the M1 and M3. In fact, one of my favorite things about the camera is that is so easy and transparent to handle.

Pros:

Articulating LCD - I think this is a huge improvement over the original RX100. The ability to easily shoot high or low angle pictures is a great advantage. I have always liked using compact cameras from the ant's eye view and this makes it a lot easier to do. Like most of the construction of the RX100m3, the articulating LCD feels well built but clearly this is not a ruggedized camera. Care must be taken with the flash, EVF and LCD or damage could result. Things don't feel cheap they just don't feel "battle ready"

Picture Quality - I really like the output of the RX100M3. The pictures are sharp, vivid and relatively free of noise at moderate ISO settings. One of the big improvements in the area of low light is the enhanced widest aperture of the lens. One can pixel peep any lens into a corner (no pun intended) but Sony has done a very respectable job here. I will discuss this more later but by going with a fast, modest zoom with a nice wide end, Sony has created a more enthusiast oriented camera. As Robert Capa said, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

Zoom - As mentioned above the zoom range is modest. I just really like the ability to use 24mm equivalent at the wide end. The zoom speed is quite good. Again, I think it compares favorably to other high-end compacts that I have used.

EVF - When I opened the EVF for the first time and look through it was terrible. Then I adjusted the diopter and it was beautiful. Seriously beautiful. This is my first EVF and I like it very much. I can see using it a great deal with this camera.

Shutter - The shutters drops very quickly without any undue lag. I really like the burst mode on this camera with the shutter sounds turned off. It is a great way to get very natural candids of friends and family.

Neutrals:

Weight - The RX100M3 is noticeably heavier than the original. Noticeably but not significantly heavier. Yes, when you pick it up you are just a touch more cognizant of gravities pull but nowhere near the point where you would leave on the table because it's too heavy to deal with. When carrying and using the camera the extra weight never crossed my mind.

Size - Certainly related to weight but also a function of adding goodies like the EVF and articulating LCD. I wear a lot of clothes with big pockets and I have never been one to just stuff a compact camera in a pants pocket on an ongoing basis. I have a very small Lowepro belt case for my original RX100 and the new one fits perfectly even with an extra battery tucked inside. The size and weight differences are certainly discreet.

Added 6/22/14 The current implementation of the Fn button is very nice. I really didn't use this button in the past but now it brings up a very clear, easy to follow UI for the some of the most commonly accessed functions. I really like this feature.

Added 6/22/14 I am growing very fond of the artificial horizon in the EVF. Despite 30+ years of photography I am still amazed how often in Lightroom I have to straighten the horizon. Maybe my head is just tilted. Whatever the cause, the artificial horizon really helps and as a result I am not losing any of the frame having to rotate in post.

Cons:

Menus - While the menu system on the M3 is improved and certainly better than the old NEX software it could still use improvement. My biggest complaint has to do with navigating between menu categories and sub-menus. To me the UI manipulation is not intuitive but is certainly workable.

Functions - Marketing people are wonderful and I know scene modes and scene recognition m

I was excited when I bought the new Sony RX100M3 Camera brand new from Amazon about 3 months ago. I used it for a week on vacation and took about two thousand pictures. I have also used it for a couple day trips since then with no issue. I turned it on last week and to prepare it for my Christmas trip, format the SD cards, and set some of the presets. The camera powered on, the lens extended, but the rear screen would not display text or images. Also, all the buttons stopped working and it seemed to be stuck in movie mode, regardless of the dial settings, any button I pressed turned on and off record mode.

At that point, I checked Amazon online to see what the service policy was and where to go for support. Amazon's site said to contact the manufacturer for questions and/or repair, fair enough. So I called Sony support. The Sony tech asked me to try a couple things, power off and on, take the battery out, and finally said it sounded like a firmware issue and told me to send the camera back. He said that Sony would fix it under warranty.

I sent the camera in. A few days went by and Sony called me. They told me that the camera has some corrosion inside on the circuit boards, and said it was probably due to the humidity or moisture that may have entered the camera while in my use. I explained that I take very good care of tech gadgets and know for a fact that this camera was never exposed to any water or moisture. Apparently, corrosion is conveniently excluded from coverage under their warranty. Anyway, they told me that the repair of my camera is going to cost $225. I could either accept the fee or they would send the broken camera back to me. What was I going to do with an $800 paperweight and I really wanted this camera for Christmas photos. After trying to negotiate a more amicable solution, with no success, I agreed to the repair.

This was an $800, "TOP OF THE LINE" Sony camera (plus case, batteries, and other accessories) that I used for one trip, owned it for a total of 90 days, and now I have to spend another $225 to have it fixed. I checked online and found a lot of similar complaints about this corrosion issue with this camera and others are in same situation having to pay out of pocket for repair. In my opinion, here are the reasons this camera failed: inferior parts; poor construction; lack of quality control; and the body is not sealed from humidity. I have gone back and forth with Sony customer support and keep hearing, "this is our policy" and "while we would like to help, there is nothing we can do". I asked them to send me pictures of the corrosion, which I have not received. I can see me being charged if this was negligence on my part or if I had dropped the camera in the pool or ocean, but this camera has been dry since day 1. I don't expect every product to be perfect, if Sony would just acknowledged the camera was faulty and fix it under warranty, I would be happy.

I have several other cameras, Panasonic, Canon, and Nikon as well and iPhone, iPad, etc. Most are less expensive than the RX100M3 and some more than 10 years old. They are all still in top working condition, except for the Sony RX100M3.

Needless to say, I am very disappointed in Sony! The product quality and customer service are horrible! At one time, Sony was the go to company for high quality equipment and you didn't mind paying a little extra for it. It's just not that high quality company anymore. If Sony won’t stand behind the products they sell, who will?

There are far too many quality products on the market to waste your money on this overpriced junk. It takes great pictures and has lots of features, but in my opinion the costs are not worth the risks of getting one with a corrosion issue.

This will definitely be my last Sony product!

(Update Dec 6th 2014)
I highly recommend this book for the RX100M3 by Gary Friedman. I bought it and love it (http://friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2014/12/lots-of-announcements.html?m=1)

I bought this camera because of its faster lens (f/1.8 to f2.8), which means, to me, more light entering onto the cameras sensor which, in turn, means to me slightly better images than previous models. Which translate to a shallower depth of field available. And that's exactly what I like and want in this model, and precisely why I bought it, even though I also have the previous M2 model. One thing I want to note here before I go on. The Aperture seems to move quite fast from 1.8 to 2.8 thru the smaller zoom range. In that, a case could be made that this lens is more of a steady 2.8 thru out the zoom range.

So then what exactly did I get with this upgrade from my M2 to my new M3? Well, you've got the newer Bionz X processer. The new 180 degree LCD (for Selfies if you are so inclined). The pop-up EVF (which is an innovation in and of itself, and a help with image stabilization when pressed against my face). Zebra pattern and focus peaking which is available on my RX10 and now the M3.

I feel the 24mm-70mm lens (though not the same reach as my previous M2 model - 28-100mm) is a good walk-around lens. And since I have been using this same zoom range for a long time on my DSLRs, I feel very comfortable with this zoom range in a very capable and now compact camera. When I use this for portraits at the long end of 70mm I expect to shoot mostly 1/2 to 3/4 body shots to full body shots. As opposed to the previous models zoom range of 28-100mm where I used it up to head and shoulder shots at the long end.

This camera has the same Bionz X processor that Sony has in their A7 line of cameras (one of which, the A7R, that I have). That was another plus for me in buying this camera. As far as image stabilization, it is important to compact cameras today and thus, to me. And I find that holding the camera up to my face while using the EVF gives me the 'feel' of a more stabilized shot. And my pictures look better to me. This is important to me because now that I am in my 60's, try as I might, holding the M2 or my smartphone without an EVF - is not as steady as I'd like it to be or as I remember it was when I was younger. And I need image stabilization in lower light. And this EVF on my new compact M3 seems to provide that for me. The only 'unofficial' (perhaps non-technical) test I could do with this camera was to zoom it out to 70mm, and hold the shutter half-way to see how much 'lock' I had on the image. Then I tried it with my M2. My observation was that I did see an improved difference with the M3.

There is a slight difference in camera size from the previous model (which I also have). The thickness of this model is about 2mm more. And the weight is about 8 to 9 grams more. What this also means in terms of fitting a leather case to it is that my previous models Sony leather case will not fit this camera. You're going to need the Sony LCJRXF/B Premium Jacket Case (Black). This new case will fit all previous models as well as this model. Just as the Sony LCJRXC/B Premium Jacket Case (Black) would only fit the M2 as well as the M1. Some people think that the case for the M2 will also fit the M3. It will not. I have tried it. I also recommend the custom camera grip by Richard Franiec (camera accessories by Richard Franiec). This goes for about 35$ and is worth its weight in gold - to me. It is far better than the Sony grip that I used on the M2 for 15$. Its made of metal (anodized aluminium) is sleek looking, feels good quality and solid, and gives you a good grip on the camera while still maintaining the cameras pocketability (because it doesn't protrude past the lens assembly). Of course with the camera grip added, the M3 will not fit in the Sony Leather camera case. So it is either one or the other. So to get around this I ordered another OP/TECH USA Soft Pouch Digital D-Micro (Black) for my M3 which I also have for the M2. And it fits great.

If my review was any help with your decision to purchase, and I hope I was of some help, kindly choose 'Yes' in the comments section below. Thank You. Richard

WHERE I'M COMING FROM
I would describe myself as an advanced beginner and (I confess) a pixel peeper. I was looking for a small camera that I can tuck into my purse when it's not practical to bring my Canon 70D for everyday still shots. I had picked up a used Canon PowerShot SX260 compact camera for this purpose; however, certain manual features (for example, focusing manually, setting a specific focus point, or locking exposure to recompose a silhouette) were not intuitive, slow to implement, or nonexistent, and I quickly got frustrated. I gave the SX260 to my husband, closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and wrote the hefty check for the RX100 III.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
What I lost in the telephoto reach of the SX260 I gained in other technical aspects that are important to me at this time. Right out of the box, I could pop into aperture mode (for example), spin a dial to change aperture, press a button to set exposure compensation, and, using another button, quickly access other functions such as ISO, drive and focus mode, and white balance. When I wanted quick access to a function that wasn't on the Fn screen, I just replaced one of Sony's choices with one of my own. When I wanted a super-quick way to set a specific focus point, I just set a custom key to pop me right into the Flexible Spot focus area mode (how cool is that, for a compact camera?). This camera really seems like a full-fledged dSLR, in miniature.

IMAGE QUALITY
I mostly shoot raw. This camera's .ARW files are recognized in Lightroom with the 5.5 update. I tried the RAW + JPG setting to compare the two formats; I'm impressed with the quality of the JPGs that come straight out of the camera.

I don't have a particularly steady hand, and I'm finding that I end up with more keepers using this camera than the 70D in similar situations, maybe because of its lighter weight and brighter lens. Even shots I took from the back of a motorcycle, at speed, came out surprisingly crisp.

My aim here is not to compare camera specs but to offer my impression of overall image quality and the ease with which I can obtain an image that pleases me, no matter which camera I'm using. I've spent countless hours viewing my images at 100% and beating myself up over shots that I missed because I moved, or focused on the wrong thing, or couldn't get the camera to do what I wanted at that moment. The point is that I'm pleased with the results I'm getting with this little camera, and now that I'm getting more consistent results I can stop obsessing over the technical aspects of my gear and concentrate on what I think making photographs is all about--composition, mood, and lighting. I'm excited!

OTHER RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
- The documentation for this camera is pretty sparse, but I've picked up some great tips from helpful contributors on various user forums.

- Personally, I don't mind that this camera "only" reaches a zoom of 70mm. I think it will make me a better photographer in the long run. In the meantime, I can crop in Lightroom if I missed an opportunity to get up close. I don't print larger than 8x10 prints, so cropping won't be a problem for me.

- I had gotten used to the touchscreen on my dDLR, but I don't miss having a touchscreen on the RX100 because accessing functions is speedy enough with the Fn button.

- I love the viewfinder and the control ring around the lens. I think these features help me hold the camera much steadier than having it positioned out at arm's length in front of me, like I was doing with the SX260.

- I like that the flash tilts so it can be bounced off of the ceiling instead of pointed directly at one's hapless subjects. It's a bit odd that the camera lacks a mechanism to hold the flash in a desired position, however. This makes it seem like a happy accident for Sony rather than a deliberate feature.

Hope this helps someone with similar expectations and shooting style make their purchase decision.

You can imagine camera manufacturers trying their best to squeeze every possible feature into a compact camera body while still keeping it priced reasonably. In my opinion, Sony has innovated the most and made the third iteration of the RX100 the best of the three, as well as when compared to the competition.

I have both the original RX100 and the RX100M3. I bought the first model right away when it came out a couple of years ago. It is still an excellent prosumer camera in 2014 with a good, basic feature set.

I did not buy the RX100M2 because I felt it did not have enough additional useful features to justify the added cost. Visually, the protruding multi-function hot-shoe also made the camera less aesthetically pleasing.

I bought the RX100M3 because of the following reasons:

1. The excellent Zeiss lens offering a wider wide angle (24mm) and much larger aperture (f/1.8 to 2.8) while trading off a smaller zoom range (24 to 70mm vs. 28 to 100mm), when compared to the original RX100. I use the wide end of a zoom lens much more often, and frequently in low light, so this lens is more suitable and useful for me than the one on the original RX100. For shooting in the bright outdoors, the M3 has a built-in 3-stop neutral density filter that helps to keep the aperture from stopping down for a pleasing blurred background effect.

2. The built-in, pop-up Electronic ViewFinder (EVF) which allows picture-taking the traditional way (up against the eye/body for more steadiness), is useful, unobtrusive, and more convenient than an external one. It is also a necessity when the shooting environment is the sunny and bright outdoors, where the LCD screen cannot be seen clearly. An external EVF is available for the RX100M2, but beside additional bulk, it costs $450 extra. The built-in EVF is great not just for composing a shot but also for checking exposure after a shot (or a video) is taken. You can't appreciate this feature enough until you find how frustrating it is trying to compose/check a shot under a bright sun, looking at a dim and washed out LCD screen.

3. An even more versatile tilt screen. The RX100M3 now allows you to take pictures from a low position, above the crowd, and of yourself. Without the protruding hot-shoe of the RX100M2, it was then possible to design the M3 screen to tilt up 180 degrees for taking selfies (self-portraits). You may be surprised how much you will use this feature now that it is possible. No need to risk asking strangers to take pictures for you anymore when you want to be included in a travel scene.

4. Last but not least, the RX100M3 is a vastly better video shooter compared to the two previous models. The new BIONZ X image processor permits full-sensor readout and XAVC S compression (requires SDXC memory card class 10) for excellent quality video comparable to the Sony RX10 bridge/superzoom camera. Video frame rates now include 24p, 30p, 60p, and 120p (@720p).

The RX100 series cameras utilize a 1-inch image sensor in a compact body while most point-and-shoot cameras use 1/2.3 inch sensors. A larger sensor can gather more light so its image quality tends to be better than a small sensor. But compared to 1/2.3 inch sensor cameras, a 1-inch sensor camera's lens size needs to be physically bigger and its zoom range much smaller, given a limited camera size. With these constraints, I deem it a wonder that Sony can come up with the RX100 series camera with so many features while keeping it very compact. Sony also makes cameras in the Compact System Camera (CSC) category that feature an even larger sensor (APS-C) and interchangeable lens capability, but they are not "pocketable" and an equivalent 24-70mm Zeiss lens costs $1,200 alone.

While I have other cameras, the Sony RX100M3 IS the one that I carry with me all of the time. I suggest using Sony's well-designed LCJ-RXF jacket (ever-ready) case to carry around your RX100M3. It allows the camera to be well protected until the moment you want to use it.

This little camera provides incredible performance in a very compact package! I was looking for a "pocketable" camera with a fast lens and large sensor, and the RX100 III delivers. I initially felt that the pop up electronic view finder was a critical feature. However, in practice I have seldom used it, even though it provides a great image. An extremely useful feature is the tilting rear LCD screen, which I use often when holding the camera at waist level or over my head. This allows me to effectively frame the shot when the subject is down low (pets or grandkids) or if I have to contend with a crowd or other obstruction blocking the subject.

I haven't found the limited zoom range to be much of a handicap, especially when the camera is set to take 20MP exposures. While the files are big, this allows for substantial cropping, which has the same effect as zooming in further- without significant loss of detail. In the past, I typically set my cameras on "Intelligent Auto" or equivalent. However, with the RX100 III I've gone to consistently using the "Program" mode, in which the camera automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture. It is very easy to rotate the control wheel on the camera back with your thumb to select other aperture and shutter speed combos to your liking, depending on the situation. I've also set up the rear control wheel to allow very quick ISO adjustment. All the buttons plus the control ring on the front of the camera are programmable, which makes the camera highly customizable to suit your personal way of shooting. I've programmed the front control ring to adjust exposure compensation while in Program Mode. Being able to customize the functions of the buttons, etc., eliminates the need to dig through the many layers of menus to set the camera the way you want.

Another feature that sold me on the RX100 III is its ability to shoot video in both AVCHD and XAVC S formats, the latter of which allows 50Mbps Full HD (1920x1080) 60p recording for incredible results. However, I've quickly found that my dated iMac isn't nearly fast enough to easily work with such high quality video.

I've found two references to be very helpful in getting up to speed on the RX100 III. The first is a YouTube video by Dave Cheung (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SqyM3_AQu0) that offers what is essentially a tutorial on how to customize the functions of the camera's buttons and other controls. You don't have to set the controls as he recommends, but his suggestions are a very good starting place.

The second is an eBook (Kindle edition) by Alexander White (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N325FIY/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o00_?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that in effect provides a comprehensive pocket guide on my iPhone or iPad (requires the Kindle Reader app). I found this to be very useful during a recent trip to Disney World, unlike the useless little manual that comes with the camera. This eBook includes color photos showing the results of various camera settings and functions, and I often refer to it on my iMac as well.

While the RX100 III fits in the front pocket of my jeans or shorts, I also often use the ApeCase120 belt pack, which is just large enough to hold the camera by itself. It has a secure velcro closure on the flap, which allows for quick retrieval of the camera, and the pack is well made and about as small as possible.

How about that? Focus has bundled together all the accessories you would need as a beginner with an awesome camera. I had heard about Sony's RX100 from several of my friends about a year ago, all of whom claimed it to be the best point-and-shooter. I believed them. But I didn't need a new camera back then. And then I dropped my canon and was in need of a new camera. Looked into all the different models and compared reviews etc. I came to the conclusion that Sony's RX100M2 was a no brainer, now only if I could justify paying almost double that of a great canon camera (s110 and such). Seeing this Focus bundle the decision was made easier. So, I ordered it. After using it for about a month, I have to say I am truly impressed by picture quality. If you are bothered by unnatural color in flash photography like I am, then you are going to love this. For the most part, in natural light or lack of it, this camera takes great pictures! I actually haven't even played around with all the settings, just using the automatic everything, I can take great pictures with this. For me, that's the true purpose of a point-and-shoot. If I really wanted to mess around with the settings I'd get a semi-pro DSLR. But with this camera you have option to mess around with quite a few settings to your hearts content as well.

One thing missing from many of the reviews in amazon is how great the battery life is. In the one month I've gotten the camera, I've charged the original battery twice. First was the first time. Second time was after only losing 25% battery, but because I was going on a short trip. How many pictures have I been able to take in that time? 200+! That's right. And not just that, I've viewed my pictures in the camera many times, I've transferred the pictures from the camera to the phone over nfc/wifi several times, and I've also controlled the camera with my phone several times. Yet the battery never drained too much! This time I'm going to wait until the battery drains completely, because until the original battery drains, I can't even get to the focus' bundled additional battery to test that out.

The focus bundle is also quite brilliant. It comes with an original Sony pouch, that I use. The included 64 GB SDXC was needed very much, for I always take pictures at the highest possible resolution setting. The red cloth pouch was not needed for me as I'm a guy, but I'm sure girls would prefer that instead. The second battery is always handy, though since the camera is so great with battery life, I actually haven't gotten to it yet. The stands are useful, especially since I can remotely control this camera using my phone. Many places I cannot put the camera down to take our picture, now I can take our group shot with me included, thanks to these stands. (comes with two stands, one for even surface, one for uneven surface, I've used both kinds before with other cameras). Thanks Focus for making an awesome bundle.

The best thing about this bundle? Definitely the awesome camera. However, Focus being able to keep the price as low as the camera's regular market retail is also amazing. So, to me this pretty much meant, I got great and useful accessories for the camera all for FREE. Hey the genuine Sony 64 GB SDXC Class 10 memory card alone was worth a good 50 bux to me! Sony Class Memory SF64UY TQMN

I can nit pick a few things and say the camera fell short on certain things such as:
1. the remote control software for phone to control the camera isn't fully featured (better to say barely featured), pretty much all you can do is to hit a button to take a picture, after you've adjusted the camera physically.
2. the playmemories app for playstation 3 only recognizes the internal storage of the camera, and not the SD card (that makes ps3 integration pretty much useless), also there aren't a great deal of documentation for the PS3 integration with the camera (possibly since this is quite a new feature)

but that's where I'll stop and say, there's really no better camera out there. These two points and others, appear to me should be easily ratified via software upgrades. The nfc/wifi on this camera works so flawlessly to connect to phones that, I didn't have to read the manual even once so far (with the playmemories app on your phone).

Great job Sony. And great job Focus.

I hate this camera. I hate this camera. I hate this camera.

When I'm on my deathbed, surrounded by my family, my children will say, "Please! Give us your final words!"

They will be: "At least I, cough cough, don't have to deal with that stupid Sony RX100M anymore!"

From about 2000 to about 2006 I used to buy a new digital camera every year. It was interesting to see them improve slightly year to year, but the ultimate feature eluded me: a camera that would take crisp pictures in low light without a flash. Every year the cameras were getting closer and closer to being able to do this, although they frequently failed.

Then I lost interest.

Years later, I finally splurged on this, figuring that, heck, 9 years or so have elapsed: they're sure to have gotten that down by now. Plus, this was no two hundred dollar job. This was top of the line, in its class.

But guess what? Even top of the line compact cameras these days STILL cannot take pictures in low light! Imagine how disappointed when this one frequently failed in the afternoon, giving me blurry shot after blurry shot. (I'd upload them for your edification, but this apparently can't be done on Amazon.)

More irritatingly for me, there's no way to delete all the pictures! Instead the best you can do is go in and delete everything on a certain date. But if you've been using the camera for say, a month, you're going to have to go in 30 separate times to clear everything out of your camera! As if that's not enough of a bother, everything's write protected, so there is no way to delete the pictures from your camera when it's connected to your computer. No, you have to disconnect the camera, open each day individually, and delete them that way. And don't think you save time by quickly deleting them from within Windows. No, Sony classifies all your images as "read only" so you can't delete them from within the computer. And don't think you can simply "select all" and uncheck "read only." Nope. Sony has seen fit to gray that option out.

The insanity also applies to transferring your pictures to a computer: there's no way to simply "transfer all." Instead you have to choose a certain date and transfer them individually, each by date. Sony: I want my camera to behave like a USB stick. Everybody does. What's so hard about that? Canon cameras can do it. Kindles can do it. Why can't your product?

What a hassle. Heed my warning: a super-expensive camera, but I only use it when I really have to, since it's such a hassle to get my pictures off.

Also note: it does not come with a memory stick.

Another annoyance: when you plug the camera into the wall (via the USB cord), it won't charge! The power has to be off! Why?!

As a big Sony fan and owner of the RX100M2, I was happy to see some features I wanted incorporated into the M3 which was the tipping point to me forking out my dough and buying this. Initially, I was disappointed somewhat disappointed with the reduced zoom but not anymore as I'm quite happy with the low light quality.

This camera does take excellent pictures and the F2.8 does well in low light situation when zoom all the way out. The ability to take 3:2 is new and the camera seems to process the picture lot faster. There are now new options for video recording format. Battery wise, it's near identical and the difference is non meaningful. Size and weight between the M2 and M3, it's near identical. Both use the same battery and battery charger. The M3 has a flip out screen so you can do selfies.

The M3 EVF feature was one I was really looking forward to, but it's a big disappointment. Previously with my M2, I had an external EVF hooked up to it which works well but made the camera harder to carry. When you slide up the EVF the camera will automatically turn on, and when your done, you push it down and the camera lens retract and turn off. Sounds good? Not really. What Sony did not mention is that when using the EVF, not only do you have to pop it up, but you have to pull the EVF towards you to adjust the diopter EVERYTIME, else it will be out of focus. Can you imagine how inconvenience this will be? Sony should have put a small diopter dial. The other problem is that the EVF is so small it is very hard to make out any of the letters/numbers. In other words, I find the EVF practically useless..

In the beginning, I missed the M2 zoom but now, I prefer the faster F/1.8 instead. I don't find myself zooming beyond the 70mm range and for the few shots that I missed (vs the many I take within the 24mm-70mm range) I can live with it.

After over 1000 pictures, I see that the picture quality with the M3 (especially in low light performance) is far superior than the M2. I've decided to keep this camera and my M2 is out on eBay!

UPDATE: 09/10/2014
So after taking over 2000 pictures on with the M3, I've come to really appreciate the performance of this camera. First my whining about the longer zoom has stopped. I'm quite happy with the M3 reduced zoom and to be honest, I haven't missed it. But there were some shots that I did get and it was because of the F/1.8. At around 7:00PM, in the garage with only natural light, I was amazed at the clarity of the pictures the M3 was able to capture. My neighbor with a Nikon D800 (she had the standard F/3.5-F/6.0 lens) had a hard time adjusting the various settings to get the ideal shot and by that time, the "Happy Birthday" song was over and the candles were blown and I was able to pull off close to 15 snapshots. The bokeh on this is also amazing; you can see the separation and different strands on black hair in outdoor photo's.... As for the EVF, well I'm still not happy about the two step process (pop up and then you have to pull it towards you) but I've come to accept it. Overall, you do get a lot features for such a small pocket camera. now the only question is (since the RX10 was just reduced to $999) will you spend $799 for the M3 or spend $999 for the RX10? Or, just get both!

I'm now on my third DSC-RX 100 version: the Mk III. I also own a Canon 5D Mk III and a Leica M9, but the great truism is that your photo is only as good as the camera you happen to have with you. Hence a lot of photos today are taken using smartphones and every one of them is better than the photo you would never have taken if you didn't have a camera in hand!

The RX 100 is arguably the best compact camera on the market, on balance. And the Mk III outshines its predecessors in the following ways:

* The effective image quality is improved. It uses exactly the same sensor as the Mk II but it has a stop or more advantage as you zoom in and that simply means that a photo that would have been captured at, say, 400 ISO is now captured at 200 ISO. (The lower the ISO the less noise). Richard from Boston, respectfully: all three versions have the same F1.8 lens at the widest focal length. It is as you zoom that the maximum F stop decreases: from F4.9 in the prior versions at 100mm (35mm equivalent) focal length, to F2.8 in the current version but at a maximum focal length of only 70mm.

* The zoom range is reduced but extended at the wide angle end: 24mm-70mm (35mm equivalent) from 28mm-100mm in the prior versions. This is a big plus for me but maybe less so for others. I used to use Panasonic/Leica LX compacts (same friggin' camera but you pay at least 2X for the Leica label and Leica's product design - the plastic casing - is more than 2x better than Panasonic's) that had a 24mm-90mm (F1.4-F2.8) lens and I really missed the 24mm widest angle when I moved to Sony. So, why did it take so long for Sony to catch up with Panasonic? Fact is, Sony's sensor is much, much bigger than Panasonic's. This translates to superior performance, but makes it much harder to make bright zoom lenses for such a compact camera. (Consider how large lenses are on a DSLR.)

* The EVF is fantastic. I've been using SLRs for 50 years, literally, and the greatest advantage to a viewfinder in my opinion is that it anchors the camera to your face and you end up with a more stable camera and a lower required shutter speed which translates into a lower ISO and better image quality. This EVF is 'only' 1.44 megapixels, versus 2.44 in their higher end cameras, but both look absolutely 'real' (as if you were looking through an optical viewfinder for the most part with the larger pixel space simply 'looking' larger through the view finder.)

Other advantages include a better menu structure and a dedicated flash on button - which is a big deal from my POV. Also a rear screen that can flip up completely for selfies.

Any way you look at it, the Sony RX-100 is a fantastic camera in any version, but the Mk III is the most impressive.

Bravo, Sony!

PS: all there versions have a pivoting flash that allows one to bounce the flash off a ceiling. The results are so much better than direct flash. It really delivers vastly superior flash photos assuming you have fairly light and low ceilings. (Only really works in landscape orientation where the flash pivots up. The Mk III pivot also goes much further (beyond straight up), and the only downside of the whole line is the flash time which is on the slow side.

This is the camera I have been waiting a looooong time for.

I am a professional photographer who does a lot of work overseas. So I find myself traveling with all of my camera gear packed into my Thinktank rolling bag and always have liked to have a small fast camera to use in case I saw something I wanted to shoot. Be it something that just peaked my interest or even if I was on a flight where the flight attendant decided to strip naked, swig a bottle of champagne, and then deploy the emergency shoot and run away (no that has not really happened on any flights I've been on, but, you know, it could).

I wanted to be able to make a picture of something if I needed/wanted to without having to drag my roller out of the overhead and pull a camera out or feeling like the image quality would suffer because of the compromise of having a smaller point and shoot camera. But every other P/S camera I have used over the years left me feeling just that way... it was an image quality compromise either because the sensor was not very good or because the lens was slow, or the camera was painfully laggy.

So I usually ended up carrying one of my Canon 5d mkIII bodies over my shoulder with the 24-70 on it... which is also not an ideal solution because you have to take it through security and try to keep it from swinging around while carrying bags, etc... then you have to find somewhere to put it once you get on your flight.

Then I saw this camera... and fell in love with it. The image quality is amazing. It has a sharp and fast Zeiss lens 24-70 f1.8-2.8, fast and accurate autofocus, great fps rate (if you need it), and absolutely knockout image quality. I actually used this to shoot some work for a client (alongside my regular pro gear) and a liked a couple of the images so much that they made it into the edit and it is hard to tell the difference between the images shot with pro dslr's and the RX-100M III.
This is also the perfect vacation camera or for trips with the kids where I don't want to lug my work gear. It is small and light but is good enough to shoot just about anything that they end up doing on a daytrip/vacation.
I have been very pleased with the battery life on this camera. It seems to go an awfully long time for such a small battery.
I also like how easy it is to operate settings like exposure compensation, flash modes, etc. on this camera. It takes seconds and minimal button pushing to reach most of the features one regularly accesses on a small camera like this. Sony really thought this through when designing it.
I can't say enough about how good the image quality is. I have not shot the camera in jpg mode, only in raw, but in some very tricky lighting situations (kids in mid-day sun wearing hats on carnival rides) where you would expect a point-and-shoot to stumble, the Sony produces an image with more than enough latitude to burn and dodge a bit to end up with an amazing image. Color looks good as does the contrast. It seems to do a great job with white balance in less than ideal light, too.

Finally, the perfect carry-around small camera to compliment my pro gear has arrived.

I've had a Sony RX100 for 2.5 years (first generation). I bought an a6000 a month ago.

The picture quality is almost identical, when using the kit lens (16-50mm) on the a6000. The a6000 has a better sensor but the RX100 has a better lens. If you don't have the budget for prime lenses the a6000 won't take better pictures than a good point-and-shoot. To put this another way, cameras get better and smaller and cheaper every year. Lenses don't. Cameras are now so good and inexpensive that you'll spend far more on lenses to match the camera.

Ten days after I bought it, the a6000 went haywire. I returned it to Sony's repair center. They found moisture inside the case, which voided the warranty. They wouldn't fix my camera. Instead, they offered to sell me a "B" stock camera for $407. The a6000 died while hiking on a sunny day. It was in my backpack next to a water bottle, so maybe the water bottle leaked? I was never aware of the camera getting wet.

My RX100 has gotten wet a zillion times, with no problems. If you buy an a6000, also buy a camera case.

I asked Amazon if they'd exchange my dead a6000 for a new camera, and I included Sony's damage report. To my surprise Amazon said yes! So buy from Amazon, not directly from Sony.

My RX100 fits in my pocket. I can easily take it out and shoot pictures. The a6000 isn't a big camera but it's big enough that getting it out of my backpack takes time and effort. Plus removing its new neoprene case takes a minute. Plus changing lenses takes time. I missed a bald eagle flying overhead because of the time to get my 55-210mm telephoto onto the a6000. I would've gotten the pictures if I'd used my RX100.

I never liked the viewscreen on my RX100. It's hard to see in sunlight and my 52-year-old eyes need bifocals to see it. I like a6000's viewfinder, esp. the 4 diopter adjustment (my right eye is -4.25), but the RX100-III also has a viewfinder. (Given that I never use the viewscreen on my a6000 I put a film protector on the viewscreen to prevent wear and scratches.)

I like that a6000's kit lens is the equivalent of 24-75mm, compared to the 28-105mm on the RX100. But the RX100-III has a 24-70mm lens.

I dislike that my RX100 shoots HDR pictures at one picture per ten seconds. The a6000 shoots HDR at one frame per three seconds. I presume that the RX100-III shoots HDR faster than my RX100.

I like the level on the RX100. The a6000 doesn't have a level. IMHO, these cameras should save level data in the EXIF, so that Photoshop could level photos.

All in all, the RX100-III is a better hiking camera than the a6000. The a6000's only advantage is interchangeable lenses, which is mitigated by my lack of a budget to buy expensive lenses, as well as unwillingness to carry heavy lenses and the time to change lenses.

Expectation:
The camera should be compact so it can go anywhere, focus quickly, focus accurately, and take sharp/high quality photos that are rich in color. As an added bonus, it should take high quality video and do well in low light without a flash.

With that expectation in mind, the following pros and cons were found while shooting extra fine jpeg images and AVCHD 60p 28M(PS) videos.

Pros:
1) Compact enough to go everywhere.
2) Takes excellent photos in low light without a flash.
3) Takes beautiful macro shots that are rich in detail.
4) Focuses very quickly.
5) The background can be forced out-of-focus to create a professional looking effect.
6) Takes high quality video at 1080p.
7) Easily takes panoramic shots.
8) Zooming in and out is nearly silent.
9) The screen flips up for self-portraits.
10) The "Fn" button brings up a highly customizable quick menu.
11) Several buttons including the control ring can be customized.

Cons:
1) The "Wide" "Focus Area" setting frequently results in the image, especially the center, being out-of-focus. Half pressing the shutter button will correct the issue... sometimes.

2) "Intelligent Auto" shooting mode is not a dependable mode to leave the camera in.
a. It ALWAYS uses the "Wide" "Focus Area" in this mode (see con #1).
b. Scene recognition frequently selects the wrong scene. Taking an image of a car passing at 25 miles per hour results in a blurred streak.

3) When the "Center" "Focus Area" setting is selected, images still lack sharpness when compared to a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 from 2009.

4) Colors are dull, especially when compared to images taken by a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 from 2009.

5) Auto white balance (AWB) sometimes produces shots that are too warm.
a. If two shots are taken back-to-back sometimes one will be warm and the other accurate.

6) In a space the size of a living room, using a flash at distance frequently results in overexposure.

7) When shooting handheld, it's difficult to maintain the proper grip and use the control ring due to the size of the camera and lack of an actual grip.

8) The screen is cluttered with an excessive amount of icons that cannot be individually shown/hidden. Given that individual icon control is unavailable, the following seem like unnecessary icons for these reasons:
a. Infrequently changes: image ratio, number of megapixels, video format
b. Simply unneeded: SteadyShot

Summary:
There are several pros when it comes to the RX100 III but they seem to center around physical camera interaction and less frequent uses such as, low light and video. When it comes to daylight photos, which is a very frequent camera use, the bottom line is that pictures are not sharp enough or rich enough in color. Furthermore, you need to be ready to take a picture at a moment's notice and that requires a high quality and dependable automatic shooting mode that is lacking in this camera.

I never try to be harsh on a product out of visceral response so sadly, I'm giving this a poor rating because, frankly, it has failed in many important ways.

Most importantly, on the first day of use, the rivet that connected the strap loops to the case snapped under the weight of the camera swinging several inches (5 or 6) down off a table while holding the strap, i.e., under the weight of the camera for which it was designed. I had seen other reviews reporting similar issues which does suggest to me that this is product flaw rather than a mere anomaly. I took delivery of it the day before traveling and was forced to purchase another strap which I connected directly to the camera body. This is to me sufficient reason for docking score fully to one star.

The case is very pleasing to look at and this, along with its price is it's great appeal. It looks (though doesn't feel at all) like leather and the brass fixtures do add a wonderful retro touch. The interior is a smooth sort of felt that seems to fit my RX 100 M3 reasonably well (though not perfectly). However, I will say from a practical perspective, it is cumbersome to use. I think that is inherent to satchel-like cases so not a flaw per sec. However, the snaps that connect the top to the bottom don't handle much knocking around while the top dangles from the bottom during shooting. The result of these weak snaps is that the top often falls off completely, to the point where one is best off disconnecting it completely while the camera is in use which means you need to stow it somewhere until you are ready to reattach it. While the nuisance of a dangling top half is inherent to the design and, the lack of a sturdy snap that allows it to hang without fear of it coming off is certainly a problem.

I have another gripe but this is more of a "be informed" thing than a design flaw. The Sony RX100 M3 camera has a separately purchasable grip (which by all counts should have been integrated). The case (for understandable reasons) doesn't take account and the camera won't fit in the case if you have added or are planning to ever use this adhesive-attached accessory.

FYI, the case does NOT allow the following while an RX 100 Mark III camera is holstered in it:

1) Charging via the USB port
2) Access to the HDMI port
3) Access to the batter/SD card chamber

The case DOES allow access to:

1) The pop-up view finder
2) The tilting screen

All in all, I wanted to love it but found at every opportunity that it hindered rather than helped when it came to quickly taking images and was very much lacking in practical manufacturing quality.

I read a lot of reviews about this camera. I wanted to buy the best one I could afford. The camera did work well at the beginning and took great shots. I own several camera and take incredible care of each one I own. With all my camera, this one is always in a case. 3 weeks after the warranty expired, the lens cap stopped opening fully. I contacted Sony who advised me to restore the camera to factory settings and make sure the battery was fully charged. Nothing seemed to help. I live in Dallas Tx and was shocked to learn that there are no local dealers authorized to look at the camera. I had to send it into Precision Camera repair in Ct. I was told there was a typical 10 day turn around time. As I was planning to go on a trip (and take the camera), I expedited the package to allow enough time to have it repaired and returned.

I did not hear back from them for over a week and so I contacted Sony who gave me their contact information. When I called, I was informed that they were just about to call me. The warranty had just expired and there would be a standard $350 fee just to look at the camera. When I asked what was wrong with the lens, I was told, they did not know as they did not even look at the camera at that point. Also, there was no way for them to get the camera back to me in time for my trip as they may have to wait for parts. Did I mention they didn't even look at the camera but they were expecting delays for parts???

I then contacted Sony again and finally spoke with a supervisor. They seemed very concerned about my problem and promised to look into the matter to help expedite the process. After the 2nd week, I still had not heard back and when I again contacted Sony, they had no updates on my camera. I never revived anything in writing about what work would be expected fro the $350. They received my camera on Jan 13th and as of this date no one knows what the status is. Shame on Sony for poor customer service and holding customers ransom to almost half of the cost of the camera to have them even look at it!!! Further research reveals that the lack of lens opening is an established problem with this camera.

This is simply the best pocket camera there is right now. As a pro photographer and having used a previous generation RX100 I have to say this latest version is simply amazing. I only just received it so bear in mind this is a first impression review.

PROS:

- The 24/70 lens with f1.8/2.8 max aperture is outstanding (a very nice upgrade from the last two RX100 models)
- Very good high iso performance for a camera this size
- Quick start time
- Full hd video with really good image stabilization
- NFC/Wifi (actually quite useful if you want to quickly post a nice quality pic to instagram)
- The new customizable FN menu is very convenient
- Built-in ND filter
- USB charging (one less charger to keep track of, yes!)
- Flip screen (with selfie mode)
- Amazing camera that actually fits in my pocket (I pretty much take it everywhere)
- Sony fixed the image/video browsing from the previous versions, they can be seen together instead of having to load a still or video folder to see each type of in playback mode.

But nobody's perfect! There are a few minor CONS, some which already existed in the previous models and some which hopefully can be fixed via a BIOS update (one can always hope!)

- Closing the view finder shuts down the camera, which doesn't make sense. Either disable this or make it an option in settings.
- The screen is not touch-screen. I mean at this point almost everything is touch screen, this just seems like a strange oversight in such an amazing camera. This is especially missed when zooming in/out during playback. Not an absolute must have but would be nice.
- Picture effects cannot be disabled. Some are actually useful (high contrast mono for example) while others are completely useless. But since you can't select which picture effects are enabled you have to scroll through all the options every time. (previous RX100 also had this annoying problem). It's a pretty minor issue though.
- I wish the NFC/Wifi connect was faster, it’s not slow but one would hope could be made faster. I guess the connection time is mostly taken by having the phone change wifi settings, not sure if there ever could be a way around that.

And a suggestion for the next generation:

- Camera size: while it’s amazing sony was able to fit such a good lens in such a small package (and it does fit in my pockets), each version of this camera has increased very slightly in size and weight. I hope the next version could be downsized a bit - slimmer would be nice to be more easily be pocketable. Or maybe offer two versions, the standard one with all the bells and whistles and an "rx100 mini" version (no flip screen and no viewfinder) with a slimmer profile?

I love this camera! I know it's a bit expensive for a compact camera, but this has almost replaced my DSLR for the majority of my photography. I'm only an amateur photographer, but I use photos in my artwork so having a good quality camera is important to me. And this one I can keep with me at all times without having to lug around a bunch of big equipment. The articulating screen is especially fabulous -- I'm able to take low and high shots without just guessing. It's also less conspicuous if you're trying to get candid shots and don't want people posing (like at a business meeting or a wedding). The different scene selections are also very useful.

If I was to get picky, there would be a few things I would try to improve on in the future. One is the slow response time on the automatic setting. It can take several seconds to produce an image -- not great if you're trying to get several shots in a row. Also, once you take a shot, you have to wait a few seconds before using the zoom feature or it will zoom in on your last image instead of zooming for the shot you're about to take. If you tap the shutter, it will go back, but it's a bit annoying. Finally, on the scene selection, if you want to change it, you have to slide the dial to something else and then back again. Also, when you do slide the dial to scene selection, you can't just start using the wheel to select one -- you have to quickly push the menu button to activate the scene selection feature and then scroll through them. Took awhile to get used to that.

The video feature is wonderful. Obviously not super quality with the sound, but the image is really good and will do for most uses.

Even thought it is small, it's still a bit heavy. It will fit in your pocket, but you will notice it. I bought an extra battery because even though it will last most of the day, it will go quickly if you're reviewing photos or doing video. I also recommend this particular kit because it includes a battery charger so you don't have to plug the camera in to charge it. However, I'd spring for an actual Sony battery as the after-market ones don't last as long.

The case that comes with this is great -- really protects the camera and is compact. I keep this camera with me at all times so I'm always ready. I don't use the neck strap because it's thin and uncomfortable, but the wrist strap is usually enough.

I would have given it five stars, but it doesn't have much of a zoom lens. But everything else is wonderful.

So far I really like this camera. I'm strictly an amateur photographer, but I've been taking photos since I was a kid and had a darkroom in my late teens. I have 5 SLRs and a variety of point and shoot cameras as well as four or more generations of video cameras.

I was looking for a highly portable camera that I could take on trips without adding a lot of weight and volume. I also wanted great low light capability for times when a flash isn't allowed or is inconvenient. Many years ago, I bought a Nikon Coolpix 990. It was an early pro-am digital camera that swiveled in the middle which allowed me to take overhead and ground level shots while having a clear view of the display.

The RX100M III covers my range of requirements very well. It slips in the pocket of my cargo pants very easily. The display can be easily positioned for selfies, overhead and ground level shots. The F1.8-F2.8 lens has few peers in the market as far as I can tell. Though I hoped for a camera with a bit more zoom, I know that no camera can do it all. I went back and forth between the Nikon 1 V & J models, but ultimately the speed of the lens on the RX100 swayed my final decision. I decided that low light capability was more important for this particular purpose than zoom. The other features that sold me on the RX100 were the small form factor, movable display and built-in view finder (for bright light situations or when I want to minimize the light I'm generating myself)

I may pick up the next version of the Nikon 1 AW1 when it comes out to complement this purchase. That will give me a higher end underwater camera than the AW120 and access to greater zoom and perhaps some of my Nikkor lenses via the adapter.

So far, I've just taken a few shots to experiment with the features. I plan to take it on an upcoming trip and see how it performs.

The only problem I've had so far is with the panorama mode. I tried using several times this morning and no matter what I did, it complained that I wasn't moving fast enough or some other issue. I contrast this to how simple it is to create a panorama with the iPhone 5s. The iPhone is very forgiving and does a great job stitching it all together....not pro-quality, I'm sure, but totally acceptable for consumer use. My experience here is the only reason I held back the fifth star. Otherwise I'm very happy with this camera for my intended uses.

When it comes to cameras, you really need to use a variety of them prior to setting your expectations... I have used digital point and shoot cameras since they debuted, I own several SLR's and DSLR's and some older manual film cameras. I use Nikon, Canon, Olympus, and some smaller foreign brands. I travel, shoot weddings, portraits.. etc. I freelance.

I'm going to start off with the basics. The exterior is rugged, which I like. The cover over the shoe/ hot shoe is nice. With previous cameras I have had trouble with them falling off or being lost easily, but I do not experience that with this camera. The pop-up flash is versatile which one can appreciate. You can adjust the direction of the flash which is really nice. I DO NOT like the hardware used for the pop-up as it makes me nervous. I fee like I'm going to break the flash when repositioning it back into the camera.. So I'm still getting used to that. The functions/ buttons are VERY easy to get used to. I noticed people complained about having troube navigating and using different options.. If you pay attention to where you are and don't spaz when first using it, you won't encounter that problem. If need be, you can refer to the product guide and go step-by-step through every last function.

Now let me get to the fun part. The quality is absoutely STUNNING. When in "auto" mode it tells you what shooting mode it recommends. If you're close to an object it automatically switches to macro.. darkness reverts to night/ low light settings.. I love those features but if you're going to shoot in only auto, you may or may not. I suggest setting up your own manual settings for various objects if you will be going back and forth and want to have more control of the depth of photos, light intake, and focal points. This camera has the option of saving multiple manual settings to your own personal preference. For example if you shoot in manual primarily, you can set your camera at ISO 1600 and f1.8 and save that for low-light photos under a preset, then change it to ISO 400 and f.3.0 for whatever else you may be shooting and only have to rever back and forth between them through the menu.

I shot in video for a bit and it glides so smoothly and focuses so fast I can barely keep up. You don't get that humming sound when zooming in and out while filming either which is a huge perk.

After using this for only two days I'm set on getting the RX100 IV when it debuts...

I had the chance to test the RX100 Mark II agains the Canon G1X Mark II, and as soon I started using the RX100 Mark II, I understood why it's gained so much attention. It is a really nice little compact camera, with excellent image quality, faster AF and shot-to-shot speed than the G1X MKII.

The faster AF can be a bit deceiving though, since whenever it feels challenged by the scene it has to focus, instead of trying to lock focus on a small spot, it just increases the focus area by a huge amount and does a general large area focus, which isn't as precise, and you can end up with your intended focal area slightly out of focus.

I liked the menu design better than the G1X Mark II, with more tabs instead of extremely long scrolling list. The number of buttons and dials and customizability is very similar between the two cameras.

While the size of the RX100 Mark II is actually pocketable, like I already mentioned, I have no need or desire to pocket an electronic device -- I much rather use a shoulder-sling pouch. There are a lot of people who do want to pocket their electronic devices though, so its small size is one of its most attractive points.

The image quality on this little guy is so nice that it competes favorably against the G1X MKII. The images have less noise, but the difference isn't as meaningful to me since a little noise reduction evens results. You won't get the same level of DOF control though, and for some people, this is a deal breaker.

The other possible deal breaker is the lack of a touchscreen and touch-focus/shutter. The face-recognition helps a lot, but when it failed, I really wished it had touchscreen shooting. Again, the old focus and then recompose or moving the AF point around with physical controls just doesn't cut it anymore when we now have superior methods.

For those who don't care about the possible deal breakers of the RX100 Mark II, I would recommend it over the G1X Mark II.

(And now that RX100 Mark III is out, it's an even better camera than Mark II, with a built-in EVF. But unfortunately still no touchscreen shooting, and it's still an 1" sensor.)

If you want to read my review of the G1X Mark II, it's here:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1H83DLB5CIXDE/ref=cm_aya_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00I58M1VK

BTW, I ended up choosing the Olympus OM-D E-M1 over the RX100 Mark II and G1X Mark II. You can read about why I made that decision in the E-M1 review I wrote:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KADWQS2KXJU2/ref=cm_aya_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00EQ07PG2

Really do like this camera as always-on-me alternative to my Nikon D610s. It does not compare to the Nikons in overall image quality of course, but really does a fantastic job in low light, excellent sharpness even wide open, and I have fun trying to push the envelope with it. The high-speed mode (good lord, 10 frames per second) increases the odds of getting a sharp image even at lower shutter speeds as you pan along with a subject. I never use the the flash, sure auto-ISO 4000 or 6400 is grainy but for those of us who remember pushing Tri-X to 1600, it's like a miracle taking photos of say a Christmas parade at night on a dark street...almost too dark to see yet the images look great and my friends on the floats were thrilled with them (no one mentioned grain, by the way.) My previous "serious" P&S was the Canon S100 but the Sony is really a step up from that (at a small cost in size). I also LOVE the viewfinder. My only negative comment is the stupid way Sony sells additional "apps" for example to do time-lapse photos...I paid for the app, jumped the hoops and downloaded and do use it, but it's like switching to a different interface when you want to "load the app" in the camera...would have been easy to include as a basic feature. While I'm at it, I wish they'd add filter threads so we could protect that front element without clunky add-ons by various manufacturers. Love the camera, but only 4 stars considering those last couple of issues. I picked mine up for just a little over $600. (yahoo!) from "Amazon deals" and have had no problems with it in nearly 3 months' use.

I researched for several months to find a replacement for my Lumix ZS20, which stopped working after only 1.5 years. The Lumix made me think my eyesight was going because the pictures always had a slight fuzz to them, even in great shooting conditions. And it's low light abilities were horrible. So the two highest priorities in my search for a new point-and-shoot were picture quality and low light capability.

I was worried that I would sorely miss the 20x zoom of my Lumix. But the picture quality of this Sony is so much better that I can crop a photo for as good or better zooms than I was receiving with the Lumix. Since I geotag every photo I take, I do miss having in-camera GPS. But again, the picture quality of this camera far outweighs the luxury of GPS. I do appreciate the ability to send photos directly from my camera to my smartphone, which has been fun while on vacations. And the indoor picture quality far exceeds any other point-and-shoot I've ever used.

As tempted as I was to remove a star for a couple minor Sony irritations, I decided they were not really related to the quality of the camera. But you should be aware of them just the same. If you want to be able to hold the camera with one hand without slipping, you will need to buy the adhesive camera grip for $10. For a camera at this price it seems ridiculous that this would not be included in the bundle. In addition, the "instruction manual" is absolutely useless. It includes helpful advice such as "Do not sit down in a chair or other place with the camera in the back pocket of your trousers or skirt, as this may cause malfunction or damage the camera". But don't expect to actually learn how to use your camera with this. I purchased "Photographer's Guide to the Sony DSC-RX100 II" and have been extremely happy with its real instructions. Again, I'm surprised useful instructions don't accompany a camera at this price.

Overall, I would buy this camera again in a heartbeat. I've enjoyed the photos almost as much as when I traded my Kodak Instamatic for my first SLR camera as a young boy.

The automatic lens cap is great. No protrusion to hold the camera more easily - not so good. The on/off switch is pretty awkward - sometimes I hit it three times before it goes on. It has some fun effects like sepia and watercolour. The excellent panorama mode is something I really appreciate.

The big selling point is the image quality and indeed this is excellent, even at ISO 400. There are too many menus and options, many very cryptic, but you can probably skip all but the first two sets. Exposure compensation is quickly accessed. The physical controls are a bit fiddly but that's to be expected on such a small piece of kit. The RX100 is surprisingly good for macro. I bought it as a replacement for my Lumix LX3, which is a reasonable camera, but nothing to rave about. I hoped that the RX100M3 would be a big step up from the LX3 and it is.

One drawback is that the printed manual provided is simply inadequate - you need to go on the Net, which is not very practical if you are in the woods. If you use Windows XP then make sure you specify MP4 for movies, or else you won't be able to watch them on your PC. The dp review cites the front dial as the biggest drawback of the Sony. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was able to use this dial to focus manually. During the five years I used the LX3 I never managed to achieve manual focusing, getting countless unsharp macro shots. This is not a problem with the Sony. I suspect that most people will not see the front dial as a major drawback.

A real drawback is that the zoom range is so limited. However, I bought it mainly for wide-angle, as an addition to my DSLR with a telephoto zoom for travelling. I recommend wearing it in a small pouch attached to your belt.

Conclusion: the RX100M3 is a very accomplished, high quality camera and I am very glad I bought it. I give it 9/10.

I've had this case for over a year now and I like it quite a bit. It's very sturdy and well-made and looks a treat. Just a few issues knocked off a star for me though -

1. The shoulder strap is much too short to be comfortably worn cross-body. I'm a fairly tall person (5'10"/177cm) and when I put the strap across my torso, the camera sits above my waist, which isn't too comfy and a bit of a hassle to swing forward to take a pic, especially if you're wearing several layers.

2. The strap slipped off the case one of the first times I used it! Gave me quite a fright (the camera wasn't cheap! lol) so I ended up double-knotting the straps in place. That doesn't look very nice but I don't worry as much about the thing falling down.

3. The top cover is pretty but ultimately just useless. It's too bulky and when you want to take a quick shot, you have to unsnap and flip it and it tends to slip out of the little notch that's supposed to hold it. I've dropped that thing so many times I just took it off. Now it sits in my purse for when it rains or something.

Those are really the main issues I have with it. The camera (RX-100ii) fits snugly in it and I don't really care that it's screwed in and the battery/sd card compartment is covered. I only open that once I'm home and want the photos off and it's a quick undoing! I love how securely the camera sits in its beautiful case!

Along with the amazing Sony RX1R I own this Canon 5D3 which can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007FGYZFI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007FGYZFI&linkCode=as2&tag=newcams-20&linkId=YU7KW6Q443O72HZC

Sometimes I only travel with the RX1R and leave the 3D3 behind, it's image quality is incredible, certainly on par with the 5D3 and a premium lens, given the pairing of the Zeiss 35mm f/2.0. I bought the RX100 III to supplement travel, and make sure I always had something that was incredibly capable with excellent IQ. I've tried other point and shoots in the $ range and none come even close to producing the IQ of the RX100. It blows me away.I waited for the Mark III revision to have the included EVF mostly. The 24 - 70mm equivalent focal range is okay, I'll take it given the high IQ but of course more range would always be welcome. I've found the autofocus a little laggy, but it may just be me - I haven't RTFM and just went out on a short family trip with this new camera, thinking I could figure it out given my knowledge of the RX1R and Sony's menu system. It's different though, and I've found myself getting frustrated a few times trying to find the setting I needed, but, that's the case with almost any digital camera these days - who can make a utopian menu system?So far I've used the RX100 III for family photos, which I know will be printed eventually in my yearly family album. I've done a few landscapes but nothing serious, yet. I realize though, that if I wanted, this little powerhouse could certainly produce a high quality and printable landscape image no problem, and the built-in ND filter will be fun to use. I'm attaching a photo of a sunset taken handheld, on a ferry. The optical image stabilization is a nice feature. How did they pack so much into this camera?

I wanted a well rounded, small, lightweight camera with the ability to transfer photos via WiFi to an iPhone 5S or iPad. The first night I had it, I could not get it to connect. The next night, I went back to the store (sometimes a physical store is what you need) Ythe camera Connect's easily - the issue is the instructions. Here's what to do AFTER inputting WiFi and Password into camera per the included instructions

Single Image
- Press Playback
- Select the image
- Press Fundtion button (FN/cell phone icon)
- Select image
- This image
- Open Sony Play Memories App downloaded from App Store
- the image will have been transferred.

Multiple Images
- Press Menu
- Navigate to "send to smartphone"
- select Images on iPhone/iPad
- Open Sony Play MemorkesApp downloaded fromApp Store
- App shows all photos - select those you want.

Other things to note (I read up a lot on line, and these were issues noted)
- buy a screen protector for the LCD screen, which scratches easily.
- make sure to set the diopter on the viewfinder (people have complained about its clarity)
- buy a stick-on grip, which makes camera feel more secure (not with OEM fitted case)

I haven't tested it enough to review image quality, etc., but thought I'd throw this into the reviews.
Alternatively, for iPad, buy AppleSD > Lighting Connector ($29), set up and view/transfer photos as desired to an iPad - does not work on an iPhone (there is a camera to lightening connector too). Read the reviews before buying.

The image quality on this camera for both still and video images exceeded what I believed was possible in what appears to be a simple point and shoot camera. My needs are for casual family and travel photography. I've dragged my DSLR along with two or three lenses all over the world to grab that perfect shot. Until now, I never considered the numerous shots that I missed on days that I just didn't feel like lugging all that gear around.

Now, this is not a technical review. Consider it an observation from a casual user. With that understood, here's my take on who should consider buying the RX100 M3.

Who should buy this: If you are a casual/family type photographer with enough experience to know the difference between shutter speed and aperture, and feel comfortable making those adjustments and desire some creative control, then this is the perfect camera when your DSLR is not handy. No, it won't replace your DSLR but you'd be shocked at the quality you can achieve from this little thing.

One thing that I noticed right away is that the number of photos you take will increase dramatically. It's small enough to carry in your pocket or purse so all of those missed moments due to not having the DSLR around are history. I took the kids to the pool this afternoon. I would have never even considered bringing along my DSLR for such an outing but I carried my RX100 M3 in my pocket and have some amazing photos.

Things to consider: This model has the viewfinder and advance video features. The image quality is about the same for the previous models, so if you can do without the viewfinder and near 4K video, you can save money by buying the older model. Unless you're going to enlarge your photos to very large sizes, you'd be hard pressed to even notice a difference.

One downside to buying this is that I hardly ever bring out my expensive DSLR. I know there will be occasions that I'll need my old gear, especially for zoom shots, but that hasn't happened yet.

I don't review many things because I just can't be arsed, but I have to praise this sweet camera. I have had a ton of incredible cameras in my life, but as the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. That is the best part about this camera. No longer do I have to lug around my large Canon DSLR, my Nikon 1, a Leica 35mm, or have to rely on my iPhone camera. The perfect size of this camera being packed with everything I really need makes it my #1 go to camera these days.

I didn't even mean to buy yet another camera, but last summer I moved from New York to Oregon and in my frenzy of packing, I packed up all of my cameras and had them shipped to the west coast without leaving me anything to document our crosscountry roadtrip with. Just being without a camera was making me tetchy, so I thought I would look around for a small camera since that seemed to be the only thing I didn't have. I read a lot of reviews and ordered this camera straight from Sony the day it was released. I will never ever underestimate the insane convenience of the wireless transfer to my iPhone and iPad. No more card readers!!

It fits in a small purse and the battery life is quite good, so I have found myself taking my camera to concerts and leaving my iPhone at home. With a camera, you're present. With a smartphone, you're entertained and distracted.

You won't regret buying this. I've looked at the mark 2 version of this which is a decent amount cheaper, but I think not having to buy and lug around the peripherals with the mark 3 will make you happier. I would get an extra battery for it, but that's just because the thought of my battery dying halfway through a hike or a game or a concert makes me really anxious. Whatever. Just get this camera.

As a serious hobbyist photographer, I've been looking for a camera that can replace my DSLR when traveling. While DSLR will give you unrivaled photo quality, the biggest trade-off is the equipment size and weight that you have to carry with you. Initially, I used to carry 3 lenses with my DSLR all the time: 14-24, 24-70, and 70-200mm. After a few years of traveling, I reduced it to carrying only the 24-70 lens. I feel like this mid-range zoom provides me with the best photography coverage, from landscape to portrait. And that's the reason I decided to get the Sony RX100. I bought a used one from Amazon a couple of weeks ago and took it with me to Singapore on my recent business trip. What a joy. It was a great feeling to finally able to travel without carrying a big DSLR on my shoulder. I feel like I enjoyed my travel better because of this.

This camera is capable of giving you the same picture quality that you can get from your DSLR if you know photography. Depending on what I shoot, I use a combination of manual, aperture, or shutter mode when I travel. When I was exploring the town at night, I set the camera to aperture mode with the lowest aperture available (2.8) and set the ISO to auto. That way, I only need to focus on getting the right composition.

I love the wifi sync feature of this camera as well. I use it to sync the photos that I took directly to my iPad, edit it with Snapseed, and post it directly to my Facebook and Google+ accounts.

To summarize, this little machine is capable of giving you great results if you know the principle of photography. Highly recommended.

I will not bore everyone with specs and details that have already been shared in previous reviews. Shooting experience with this pint size powerhouse is a pleasure, however, I will say that you have to know what you are doing to get the full potential of the camera unleashed. This is not a traditional point and shoot so it is not as easy to operate (it is highly customizable). The camera is built like a tank and is glorious to look at and the beauty if it all is people think you are just using a normal point and shoot camera, but it soooo much more than that. I played around a lot with the camera and uncovered some cool features that I was not expecting so I was pleasantly surprised. One of them is "Eye Tracking", this technology locates the eye of a subject that is nearest the camera and uses it as the focus point so that your portrait pictures are sharp. You enable it by pressing the center button on the camera when focusing on a person. Another bonus feature for me was the flash, this new implementation allows you to bounce the flash all the way vertical so that you get softer light on your subject vs. pointing it directly at your subject. The other feature I was not aware of is the focus tracking, to enable it you have to be in continuous focus mode (AFC) and then you can select Lock on AF which will then follow your subject if they move...VERY helpful for little kids that are moving...love it!

I am literally blown away by the image quality on this camera. I own another Sony DSLT with some nice glass and this rivals the picture quality on that.

So here are some pros and cons:

Pros:

Image Quality is AMAZING!
Build Quality
Pop-Up EVF (Did not think I would use it but in sunlight it is so useful and I found myself using it more than the LCD)
Flash Bounce
Focusing Modes
Low Light Capabilites
Zeiss Glass is SUPERB

Cons

Focal Length (Perhaps a tad too short for some people, but works for me)
Minimum Focal Length - Wish that you could get in closer!
Slippery Body (Get a grip for sure!)

I selected this camera because I needed something that I could slip into my pocket and that has many of functions and quality that you find with a DSLR. I have owned a number of point and shoot camera's over the years and the picture quality for the most part has been lacking. I own a couple of Nikon DSLR's so I guess I'm somewhat spoiled when it comes to both capability and to picture quality. I have to say the the RX100M3 is an impressive camera. While it can't replace my DSLR's it's very lightweight and it will easy fit into a pocket. The picture quality is very good and it does offer the major of features (RAW file format, manual exposure/shutter adjustment, etc). Why didn't I give it 5 stars? First of the RAW format appear to be proprietary. I use Abobe Lightroom and Photoshop so I have to use the Adobe Raw Plug In to convert the files in the DNG format before I can bring them into LIghtroom. Sony could have used the DNG format which would allow me to import directly into LIghtroom. Yes Sony offers a Raw Converter program that has some simply editing capability but serious editing requires Lightroom and/or Photoshop. The other complaint is the instruction manual. This camera has serious capabilities and the manual simply skims over the detail on how use most of the features. It has what I call the quick guide for a person who just want to take pictures easily. The Help Guide, which you can find online and is downloadable is definitely required. I'm used to instruction manuals that go over every feature in detail.

I've owned both the RX100 and RX100M II. The RX100M III is a major improvement over previous versions.

To highlight some improvements and changes:

1) The Wi-Fi/Smart Remote app works better

When you power cycle the camera after turning on Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi is already enabled. In other words, you can turn the cam off, then back on, and the Wi-Fi is connected and ready to go.

Depending on your shooting mode, you now have the ability to change certain settings via the Wi-Fi such as exposure.

The overall connection is much, much better. With the RX100M II, the connection constantly drops, lags, disconnects, etc. There is still some of the with the M III, but not nearly as bad.

2) Better Video

Dealing with AVCHD/.mts files is a pain. The XAVC/.mp4 format is amazing and allows recording at 50mbps. The quality is out of this world.

3) More stabilization options

They've included a new "Intelligent Active" mode which has a pretty big crop factor. I don't recommend using it unless you have to (such as riding a bike on gravel). I suggest using Standard mode or leaving it off if possible, allowing for the least amount of crop and better quality. Noise levels on Active and Inteliigent Active are noticeably high.

4) Better exposure/metering and focusing

The problem with the RX100M II is that it has problems with focusing on the foreground. You had to go into macro mode, which is a pain and not suitable for video. It also has problems with exposure and brightening subjects that are against bright lights. The RX100 MII improves on all of these issues.

I highly recommend this camera for video. It's hands down the best handheld camera for video in this price range.

Suggestions to Sony:
A backlight compensation function to further improve brightening subjects that are against lights. I still found shots that would be ruined because the camera would darken a subject in the foreground to highlight everything in the background. Very annoying!

Good for photos, just okay for video. I bought the RX100 MIII because I wanted a pocketable camera. I'm a professional videographer and found myself not wanting to carry around a big camera for family photography. I've now replaced my Canon T3i with the RX100 MIII. I think it does a pretty good job for photos. I love the fact that it gets a nice wide angle and has a very-low F-stop. One of the problems with a smaller camera is that you can't get shallow depth of field. While it'll never get the look of a full-frame or APS-C size sensor, the F1.8-2.8 lens it certainly gets you part of the way there.

On the video end, the XAVC-S is a great codec (but maybe overkill for the quality the camera can deliver). I tend to use AVCHD to save card space. In video mode, the camera will crop heavily unless you turn Active Steady Shot off. This is counter-intuitive since turning it "off" actually leaves the optical stabilization "on" and does not crop the image. I'd recommend people shoot in this mode and learn how to keep the camera steady. Not only does the Active Steady Shot get rid of your nice wide-angle, it softens the image.

I hate the video mode on the dial. It chooses really bizarre frame rates, really inappropriate for video filming. Instead, I choose shutter priority so I can keep the shutter at a consistent 1/60 of a second, then turn ND on or off and tweak exposure with the +/- adjustment.

The microphone is not great. Any wind will blow the thing out regardless of whether you engage the electronic wind filter. (Note: electronic wind filters are pretty limited, they just roll-off the bass). With no place to put an outboard mic and no mic input you don't have many options here.

If you want a good video DSLR, look at the Panasonic GH4. If you want a pocketable camera for photos that you can take occasional videos, the RX 100iii does a good job.