Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III

The RX10 III is a bridge camera: a fixed-lens body built for photographers who want one self-contained package rather than a camera plus a lens collection. Sony released it in 2016 with a one-inch sensor, so it covers everyday photography without any lens changes.

That self-contained character suits travel and walkaround shooting. The trade is size and weight: at 1051 grams the camera is noticeable in a bag, and its bridge dimensions take up real space.

Live view and a flipping touchscreen aid day-to-day framing, with WiFi on board for wireless connectivity. The weather sealing adds reassurance for outdoor shooting.

The optics score of 63 rates as good and places the RX10 III around the middle of cameras in our database for optics. Its one-inch CMOS sensor produces 20 megapixel images across an ISO range of 100 to 12800, with the Bionz X processor handling the files. That resolution leaves room for prints and moderate cropping.

For action, the camera shoots at up to 14 frames per second. That rate is a maximum rather than a sustained figure, but it gives you several frames of a quick moment. The 1/2000 top shutter speed freezes most everyday motion, though it allows less wide-open shooting in bright light than faster shutters do.

In-body stabilisation cuts camera shake, which helps handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds. It does nothing for a moving subject, so action still depends on shutter speed and technique.

Focus comes from 25 autofocus points, and the fixed lens means those points plus the sensor make up the complete optical package: no extra lenses to buy and no mount decisions to weigh.

Recording tops out at Full HD, so there is no 4K option. Frame rates reach 120 frames per second, and footage captured at high frame rates plays back as slow motion. Resolution and frame rate are separate maximums, not a combined recording mode.

The video score of 64 rates as good, reflecting the 120fps frame rate against a Full HD resolution limit. Handheld clips benefit from the in-body stabilisation, which smooths camera shake, though a moving subject still reads at normal speed.

Clips record as MP4 or MTS files, the camera's two video file formats.

One gap is timelapse: there is no built-in interval mode, so time-lapse projects need another method rather than a setting in the camera menu.

The features score of 70 rates as good. A 3-inch TFT screen with 1.23 million dots shows plenty of detail, and it both flips for low or high angles and accepts touch input.

At eye level, the electronic viewfinder's 2.36-million-dot panel gives a detailed view for framing shots.

WiFi is built in, but there is no Bluetooth. There is no GPS either, so the camera itself records no location data.

A built-in flash covers casual indoor shots, and support for an external flash opens up more lighting control. Weather sealing protects against dust and moisture, though it does not make the camera waterproof.

The storage and battery score of 24 is limited, and the effect is practical rather than fatal. A single card slot means each shot lives on one card, with no second copy made in camera.

That slot accepts SD, SDHC and SDXC cards plus Memory Stick Duo variants, covering both standard and high-capacity options.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated for 420 shots, a figure that is not a promise of real-world endurance. Screen and viewfinder use changes the actual number, so a spare battery belongs in the bag for busy days.

There is no USB charging either, so a USB cable from a laptop or power bank cannot top the battery up while you are out.