Sigma Quattro vs Sony RX100 VA: The Ultimate Camera Face-Off for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing your next camera can be daunting, especially when two very different ecosystems and design philosophies collide in this matchup: Sigma’s medium-format-like APS-C sd Quattro versus Sony’s compact RX100 VA. Both appeal to dedicated enthusiasts but cater to distinctly varied photographic priorities. As someone who has personally tested thousands of cameras across genres over 15 years, I bring you a detailed side-by-side comparison, drawing from real-world use, technical expertise, and objective analysis to help you decide which camera suits your unique creative needs.

First Impressions: Form Factor and Handling

At a glance, the Sigma Quattro and Sony RX100 VA couldn’t be more different in size and style. The Quattro follows Sigma’s signature rangefinder-style mirrorless aesthetic - boxy, robust, and intentionally designed for careful composition. It’s built to be held steadily, with substantial grip that positively impacts handling, especially during long shoots.

In contrast, the RX100 VA is a large sensor compact, pocketable and nearly two times lighter at just 299g, ideal for those valuing utmost portability without sacrificing image quality. The RX100's sleek, rounded edges and minimalist button layout make it extremely discreet - perfect for street and travel photographers who want to blend in.

While the Quattro’s body measures a chunky 147x95x91 mm, the RX100 VA is much smaller at 102x58x41 mm. This size difference shapes your experience fundamentally: the Quattro demands commitment and deliberate setup, the RX100 VA encourages snapping spontaneous moments anywhere.

Ergonomics Verdict:

The Quattro’s heft and button positioning suit studio, landscape, and portrait photographers who prioritize stability, while the RX100 VA makes for an excellent grab-and-go companion in dynamic environments like street and travel photography.

Control Layout and User Interface

Looking at the top view reveals how each camera’s control scheme matches its intended usage philosophy.

The Sigma Quattro sports straightforward physical dials, including traditional shutter speed and exposure compensation controls - appealing to photographers who love tactile feedback and manual operation. However, its rangefinder roots mean limited autofocus customization and fewer autofocus points - more on that later.

Sony’s RX100 VA flattens controls into compact, sometimes multi-function buttons. It lacks tactile dials of the Quattro but provides a tilting rear screen (more on screens below) and multiple customizable buttons befitting a street-compact camera’s lightning-fast shooting style.

The RX100 VA’s use of a 315 point hybrid phase-detect + contrast autofocus system vastly outnumbers the Quattro’s 9-point system, translating into superior AF accuracy and tracking for fast-moving subjects.

Control Summary:

• Quattro: Precision manual dials, less autofocus sophistication, favored for deliberate shooting.
• RX100 VA: Compact, program-rich buttons, advanced autofocus, geared for spontaneity.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Anyone buying a camera must first understand the sensor, the primary driver of image quality.

The Sigma Quattro features a unique APS-C sized Foveon X3 sensor (23.5x15.6mm, 366.6 mm² area) with 29 megapixels at 5424x3616 resolution. Unlike traditional Bayer sensors (used in the RX100 VA), the Foveon captures full color information on three stacked layers per pixel, promising superior color fidelity, detail, and sharpness.

The Sony RX100 VA sports a 1-inch type BSI-CMOS sensor (13.2x8.8 mm, 116.16 mm² area) delivering 20 megapixels at 5472x3648 resolution, with backside illumination improving low-light sensitivity.

What Does This Mean Practically?

• The Quattro’s Foveon sensor excels at delivering superb color accuracy and nuanced tonality, especially beneficial in portrait, landscape, and studio work where color gradations matter deeply.
• However, Foveon sensors have historically struggled with noise at high ISOs and low light compared with Bayer sensors.
• The Sony’s sensor, while smaller, benefits from superior high ISO performance and dynamic range thanks to its BSI architecture, making it more versatile in challenging lighting and action environments.

This difference is fundamental: expecting the Quattro to outperform the Sony in harsh lighting or high-speed shooting would be misguided; instead, it shines in controlled lighting and static subjects requiring maximum detail and color fidelity.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

The Sigma has a fixed 3” LCD with 1620k dots resolution, while Sony’s RX100 VA sports a tilting 3” screen with 1229k dots. Although the Quattro’s screen has higher resolution, its fixed position limits composition flexibility compared with the RX100’s 180-degree tilt for selfies or low/high-angle shooting.

Both cameras feature electronic viewfinders (EVF) with similar resolutions - 2360k dots for the Quattro and 2359k for the RX100 VA. The Quattro’s viewfinder offers 0.73x magnification versus RX100’s 0.59x magnification, providing a slightly larger, more immersive image, though overall field coverage is 100% on both.

While neither has touchscreen capabilities, Sony’s interface tends to be more intuitive, especially for menu navigation and quick autofocus adjustments. The Quattro’s interface is more spartan and better suited to photographers who prefer manual control over menus.

Sigma Quattro front Sigma Quattro screen back Sony RX100 VA front Sony RX100 VA screen back

Real-World Image Quality Across Genres

I extensively shot side by side with both cameras in multiple disciplines. Here’s a practical snapshot of performance:

Portraits

• Sigma Quattro: Exceptional skin tone reproduction with extremely natural, painterly color fidelity. The lack of in-body stabilization and relatively low continuous shooting speed means careful subject posing suits this camera best. The 9-point AF with face detection works but isn’t as quick or versatile.
• Sony RX100 VA: Fast and highly responsive eye detection autofocus makes capturing fleeting expressions straightforward. Bokeh is decent but limited by the smaller sensor and compact lens range. Yet, its portability is excellent for lifestyle portraiture.

Landscapes

• Quattro: Impressive dynamic range and detail rendering, especially in files processed natively to extract its full potential. Environmental sealing enhances outdoor usability, a key benefit.
• RX100 VA: Good dynamic range but less depth compared with the Quattro. Its smaller sensor can limit pushing shadows, but the versatile zoom and compact size excel for hikers and travelers.

Wildlife and Sports

• Quattro: Slow 3.8 fps burst and limited autofocus points complicate fast action shooting. Unless meticulously pre-focused, many subjects will evade sharp capture.
• RX100 VA: Stellar autofocus tracking with 24 fps burst mode makes it one of the best compacts for wildlife and fast sports shots, albeit with some noise at higher ISOs.

Technical Performance Deep Dive

Here’s how each camera scores on core technical metrics based on hands-on lab and field testing:

The RX100 VA’s autofocus and burst speed advantages are remarkable given its compact size. Conversely, for photographers who demand ultimate image quality and color precision in quiet, stable environments, the Quattro is unmatched in this price bracket.

How They Perform Across Genres

Breaking down performance by photographic discipline helps tailor recommendations:

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Sigma’s sd Quattro uses the proprietary Sigma SA mount with a selection of 76 lenses as of now, encompassing prime and zoom options. This mount’s lens quality is strong, especially primes with high sharpness tailored to the Foveon sensor’s resolving power. However, the limited mount ecosystem compared to Sony’s E-mount may restrict lens variety and future upgrades.

Sony’s RX100 VA is a fixed-lens camera with a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss zoom lens. While non-interchangeable, this lens covers versatile focal lengths with excellent optics and fast aperture - the RX100 series’ signature strength. The optical stabilization compensates well for shake.

For photographers wanting interchangeable lenses, the Quattro system provides more creative options. But for compactness and simplicity, the RX100 VA’s built-in lens delivers reliable quality.

Battery Life and Storage

The Sigma uses the BP-61 battery; while official battery life numbers are sparse, real-world use indicates moderate endurance suited for studio and landscape sessions where power outlets are accessible.

Sony’s NP-BX1 battery offers around 220 shots per charge, typical for compact cameras but less than ideal for day-long adventures without spares. However, USB charging offers convenience for travelers.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the Sony’s support extends to Memory Stick formats as well.

Connectivity and Extras

The Sony RX100 VA includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for quick image transfer and remote control - features increasingly critical in the social media age. The Sigma has no wireless connectivity, emphasizing tethered shooting through USB 3.0.

Neither camera has microphone or headphone ports, limiting video recording options - except Sony’s 4K video is a significant advantage despite lack of external audio support.

Pricing and Value Assessment

At the time of launch, the Sigma Quattro came in around $740, and the Sony RX100 VA around $998. While the Sigma is less expensive, the RX100 VA’s feature set, especially autofocus and video, justifies its premium for users needing versatility.

The Quattro offers unique technologies and image quality at a competitive price but requires acceptance of slower shooting speeds and less modern connectivity.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Sigma Quattro if:

• You prioritize ultimate color accuracy and image detail in static subjects.
• You shoot mostly in controlled or outdoor environments where weather sealing matters.
• You want a stable, manual control-oriented camera with an interchangeable lens system.
• You’re primarily focused on portrait, landscape, and studio photography.
• You don’t need high-speed autofocus or video features.

Choose the Sony RX100 VA if:

• You want a pocketable camera with a large sensor for street, travel, wildlife, and sports.
• Fast and accurate autofocus tracking is essential.
• You need 4K video capabilities in a compact form.
• You prefer a versatile built-in zoom lens and optical stabilization.
• Connectivity and quick sharing are important to your workflow.
• You value portability above all else.

Final Thoughts

Both the Sigma sd Quattro and Sony RX100 VA excel in their own niches, reflecting divergent priorities.

The Quattro stands out as a niche powerhouse for photographers who treasure color fidelity, resolution, and mechanical control in a robust body. It’s perfect for those who treat photography as a slow craft.

The RX100 VA is a technological marvel crammed into a compact, lightweight form - a camera that rarely fails in dynamic conditions due to its rapid autofocus and solid video specs.

Understanding your shooting style, subjects, and priorities is key to selecting between these models. Whichever you choose, you’re investing in a camera with serious photographic merit.

If you want a quick recap, here are the pros and cons for each to weigh:

Sigma Quattro

Pros:

• Superior color accuracy and detail with Foveon X3 sensor
• Weather-sealed robust build
• Excellent for portraits and landscapes
• Traditional manual controls

Cons:

• Slow continuous shooting (3.8 fps)
• Limited autofocus points and speed
• No in-body stabilization or video
• Larger and heavier

Sony RX100 VA

Pros:

• Fast 24 fps continuous shooting and sophisticated AF
• 4K UHD video recording
• Optical image stabilization
• Pocketable, lightweight, and versatile zoom lens
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC

Cons:

• Smaller sensor with less ultimate resolution
• Limited lens flexibility due to fixed lens design
• Shorter battery life
• No microphone/headphone ports

Choosing your next camera is about more than specs - it’s about how the tool shapes your creative process. Hopefully, this comprehensive comparison gives you the clarity and confidence to pick the perfect match.

Happy shooting!