DSC-RX100M3

This camera fits the bill for my needs and works perfectly. There are a few things about this camera that swayed me vs. the competition. I looked at many cameras before deciding which one to buy. The canon cameras which I was going to buy have a few problems that steer me from them, for example the Canon G7X does not accept aftermarket batteries and can only charge via a dock charger. I am not spending fifty dollars for a camera battery when the original runs out, I will use my old AA battery camera if I have to in that case. Many people report noise in videos from the mechanism on the canon cameras. This camera charges by USB and of course you have the option to use the dock charger of your choice if you wish, if you don't have a dock charger they are available cheaply here on amazon. More options for charging is always better. The USB can charge with any android phone charger and mini USB cable. I tried several and they all work. Nikon is nice and everything but apparently those require a specific adapter to use so you will have to make room for that and the cable on your charging strips. I can verify that this camera takes aftermarket batteries just fine, and they are very cheap, in the tune of around five to ten dollars each. Since a single battery will likely last for at least a year or more at minimum that is a great value. A camera is useless with a bad battery or without a battery or one that does not function properly, so its pointless to buy something that won't accept aftermarket batteries especially with an item this expensive I expect the camera to last me many years. I don't mind if the battery doesn't show properly on the meter, I haven't gotten that far with the camera yet, its easy enough to change it out with a spare in a very short amount of time and keep right on shooting.This is a fast camera, that means it takes a snapshot very quickly, therefore it would be ideal for real world use and families with kids, there is very little lag time between when you hit the button and when the picture is taken. I don't think you can find a faster camera of this size. If you need to catch something quickly, this is your camera. Its easy to use, I had no problem adjusting to it.The flash seems to be made out of metal which is good, the hinges are metal which is good. You do have to flip the flash up with a switch and push it back down manually. I recommend using a light touch on this, as it does feel delicate but I don't think I will have a problem with that, again the hinges are made of metal so it should last. The flash can be angled if you hold it in the position you want to keep it in while shooting the picture, not that difficult to do if you need to do it. Some people might need this feature so I am mentioning it here.The Sony RX100 MK2 has a tilting screen but cannot tilt into the selfie position making it pretty pointless in my opinion (I spent a long time trying to figure this one out so I figured I would write it here). If you want a camera that tilts into the selfie position you must buy this one, the MK3 or one of the newer versions. The original Sony RX100 doesn't have a tilting screen at all. The screen on the MK3 does tilt down about halfway as well. The screen feels delicate but the hinges are made of metal so again, they should be fine. Just use a light touch on it and you should be fine.I haven't tried the viewfinder much yet but it does pop up when you hit the button or switch, when you put the viewfinder down the camera turns off, might be minor thing for some people.I guess my only complaint is the grip accessory, its just too expensive. Its a NEEDED accessory and at $14 its literately a 2 inch piece of rubber with some adhesive on the back. Its easily the most expensive accessory I ever bought ever for anything. But I guess if someone is buying a camera that costs $700+ then an extra $14 isn't that big of a deal....Update: I have to update this, this camera takes video with absolutely stunning quality, that is the only way to describe it, when playing the video back, it looks like you are actually there. I have never seen a camera produce such stunning video and I highly doubt there are many cameras on the market that can produce a video like this camera can. This camera captured my summer memories perfectly. The camera is sturdy and the battery lasts a long time, it got me through an entire day at a theme park where I took many pictures and made many videos and still had a little bit of battery left at the end of the day. You can probably take 200 photos easy and film a bunch of short videos and you will still have life left. I filmed a 10 min video and it held up great. I also filmed a couple local bands and even at night with bright lights the video was absolutely stunning. It works great in low light and indoors.

(Update Dec 6th 2014)I highly recommend this book for the RX100M3 by Gary Friedman. I bought it and love it ([...])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