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Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
51
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Nikon D1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

Nikon D1
(Full Review)
  • 3MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1200g - 157 x 153 x 85mm
  • Introduced November 2000
  • Successor is Nikon D1X
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced July 2018
Photography Glossary

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Nikon D1 and Sony RX100 VA, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the D1 (3MP) and RX100 VA (20MP) and the D1 (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The D1 was unveiled 18 years prior to the RX100 VA and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D1 being a Large SLR camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the D1 scores against the RX100 VA with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D1 over the Sony RX100 VA

 D1 RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Nikon D1

 RX100 VA D1 
AnnouncedJuly 2018November 2000Fresher by 214 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2"Larger display (+1")
Display resolution1229k130kSharper display (+1099k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon D1 and Sony RX100 VA

 D1 RX100 VA 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon D1 has got outside measurements of 157mm x 153mm x 85mm (6.2" x 6.0" x 3.3") and a weight of 1200 grams (2.65 lbs) while the Sony RX100 VA has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Nikon D1 and Sony RX100 VA in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the D1 and the RX100 VA.

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D1 and RX100 VA is 51 and 89 respectively.

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through specifications. The graphic here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the D1 and RX100 VA.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The D1 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 VA will show extra detail having an extra 17 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older D1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D1
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VA
50
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/500 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
low MP (3 megapixels)
66
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Nikon D1 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Street photography camera
48
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
86
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (299g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D1 Sports photography features
Sony RX100 VA Sports photography features
40
max shutter speed is good (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
max frames per second low (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low MP (3MP)
70
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high fps (24.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (220 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Travel photography camera
28
missing Time Lapse recording
low MP (3 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
76
lighter than competition in class (299g)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (220 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D1
Landscape photography with Sony RX100 VA
42
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2 inches)
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
low MP (3MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
66
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low battery pack (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon D1
Vlogging with Sony RX100 VA
9
no video shooting
81
quite wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (299g)
does not have mic support
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Nikon D1 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D1 and Sony RX100 VA
 Nikon D1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon D1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Class Pro DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2000-11-27 2018-07-13
Physical type Large SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.5mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 367.4mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 3MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 2000 x 1312 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Lowest enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 315
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 309 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 130 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/2000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames/s 24.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash settings Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/500 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1200g (2.65 lbs) 299g (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 157 x 153 x 85mm (6.2" x 6.0" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $5,130 $998