It started with the DSC-RX100, announced on 6 June 2012,[1] and is part of the Cyber-shot RX line of digital cameras made by Sony.

Seven annual generations have been released so far until 2019, all equipped with a one-inch 20-Megapixel image sensor and rotary knob around the lens.

Filming at up to 1080p (Full HD) at 60fps is supported by the first three generations, the third additionally with 720p at 120fps, and up to 2160p (4K) at 30fps and 1080p at 120fps high frame rate video since the fourth.

[8] Unlike its predecessor, the RX100 II, it does not have Sony's multi-interface hotshoe (limiting flash photography to the small built-in unit), but includes a pop-up OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF).

The RX100 III can be set manually with shutter speed and aperture fixed, but with Auto ISO (sensitivity) giving the correct metered exposure.

However, due to extreme write speed and processing power, it can only record 5-minute 4K shots to prevent any serious damage to the camera.