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Nikon A vs Sony RX100

Portability
88
Imaging
58
Features
48
Overall
54
Nikon Coolpix A front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Nikon A
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8) lens
  • 299g - 111 x 64 x 40mm
  • Revealed June 2013
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 II
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Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Nikon A vs Sony RX100, both Large Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the A (16MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is fairly similar but the A (APS-C) and RX100 (1") enjoy different sensor size.

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The A was revealed 10 months later than the RX100 and they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the A grades against the RX100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon A over the Sony RX100

 A RX100 
ReleasedJune 2013August 2012More recent by 10 months

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Nikon A

 RX100 A 
Display resolution1229k921kSharper display (+308k dot)

Common features in the Nikon A and Sony RX100

 A RX100 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon A provides physical measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) while the Sony RX100 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon A vs Sony RX100 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the A compared to the RX100.

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A and RX100 is 88 and 91 respectively.

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The graphic here may offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A and RX100.

As you can tell, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The A having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX100 will offer extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The newer A should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon A
Portrait photography with Sony RX100
74
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW files
64
has manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Nikon A Street photography information
Sony RX100 Street photography information
71
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (299 grams)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (240 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no articulating screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon A Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 Sports photography factors
47
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
focal length is fixed (28mm)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
no phase detect auto focus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon A Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 Travel photography highlights
63
lighter than competitors in class (299 grams)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
79
lighter than competition (240g)
good MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon A Landscape photography highlights
Sony RX100 Landscape photography highlights
54
has manual focus
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon A as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
31
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (299g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic jack
38
fairly wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (240g)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
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Nikon A vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon A and Sony RX100
 Nikon Coolpix ASony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix A Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-06-06 2012-08-28
Body design Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD monitor WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 11.50 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 299 grams (0.66 lbs) 240 grams (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 64 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 80 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.4 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.8 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1164 390
Other
Battery life 230 photos 330 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $778 $448