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Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
88
Imaging
58
Features
48
Overall
54
Nikon Coolpix A front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

Nikon A
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28mm (F2.8) lens
  • 299g - 111 x 64 x 40mm
  • Introduced June 2013
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released July 2018
Photography Glossary

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Nikon A versus Sony RX100 VA, both Large Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the A (16MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is relatively well matched but the A (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The A was launched 6 years earlier than the RX100 VA and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Large Sensor Compact).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the A scores against the RX100 VA with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon A over the Sony RX100 VA

 A RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Nikon A

 RX100 VA A 
ReleasedJuly 2018June 2013More recent by 62 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k921kClearer screen (+308k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon A and Sony RX100 VA

 A RX100 VA 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon A has got outer dimensions of 111mm x 64mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VA has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Nikon A versus Sony RX100 VA in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the A against the RX100 VA.

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A and RX100 VA is 88 and 89 respectively.

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking specs. The visual underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A and RX100 VA.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX100 VA will give you extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older A is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon A
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VA
74
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
66
manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Nikon A Street photography features
Sony RX100 VA Street photography features
71
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
86
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon A
Sports photography with Sony RX100 VA
47
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
focal length is fixed (28mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery power (230 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
70
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon A as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Travel photography camera
63
lighter than competition in class (299g)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery power (230 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
76
lighter than competitors in class (299 grams)
megapixel count good (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (220 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon A Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography info
54
has manual focus
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
low battery power (230 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
66
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon A Vlogging features
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging features
31
includes face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (299g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
81
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (299g)
does not have microphone socket
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Nikon A vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon A and Sony RX100 VA
 Nikon Coolpix ASony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix A Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Category Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-06-06 2018-07-13
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.7mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 370.5mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 315
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28mm (1x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 10cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 24.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 11.50 m 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000s 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 299 grams (0.66 pounds) 299 grams (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 64 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.6") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 1164 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 220 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $778 $998