Comparing the Sony A7 II and Sony RX100: Two Different Cameras, Two Different Stories

In my years testing cameras - from pro DSLRs to pocket compacts - I've learned that even within the same brand, models can serve wildly different purposes. The Sony Alpha A7 II and the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 are prime examples of this. Both come with Sony's photographic DNA but cater to distinct needs, skill levels, and shooting styles.

I've put both through their paces in real-world conditions as well as lab-style tests to offer you a comprehensive view. Whether you're a seasoned professional eyeing the A7 II’s full-frame prowess or a travel lover seeking the RX100’s portability with decent image quality, this detailed comparison will help you make a confident choice.

Body and Handling: Size and Ergonomics Matter

First impressions are often shaped by how a camera feels and handles. The A7 II is a “SLR-style mirrorless” camera, weighing in at 599g and dimensions of 127x96x60mm. It felt substantial in my hands - a well-balanced heft that reassures you it’s built to withstand serious use. Its grip and button placement cater well to photographers who appreciate tactile feedback and direct control.

By contrast, the RX100 is a “large sensor compact” camera, weighing just 240g with a much smaller footprint (102x58x36mm). This camera slips easily into a jacket pocket - a perfect travel companion that doesn't demand a bag. Handling the RX100 reminded me of revered point-and-shoots but with a serious sensor and lens beneath the hood.

Ergonomically, the A7 II’s button layout (detailed in the next section) is more extensive and customizable, beneficial for photographers who prefer physical dials and direct access to shooting modes. The RX100 keeps things simple, focusing on quick operation and minimal distractions, though this simplicity sometimes means compromises under fast-paced shooting.

For photographers who value portability over manual control, the RX100’s compactness is attractive. Still, those who prioritize precision and extended shooting sessions will feel at home with the A7 II.

Control Layout and Design: How Sony Packs Features Top-Down

Looking at the top view, the differences speak volumes. The A7 II displays an SLR-influenced design, with dedicated dials for ISO, exposure compensation, drive modes, and an integrated mode dial. The shutter button feels poised for action. This camera invites direct, tactile interaction, which I found crucial when shooting in dynamic photography environments like sports or wildlife, where quick adjustments without diving into menus matter.

The RX100 has a minimalist top plate with a mode dial and a control ring on the lens barrel itself for easy zoom and aperture adjustments. However, the lack of numerous external buttons means navigating menus more often - fine for casual photography but potentially limiting when speed counts. It lacks an electronic viewfinder, relying solely on its LCD screen for framing, which influences usability in bright sunlight.

My testing illuminated how the A7 II can adapt to professional workflows, while the RX100 is designed for swift, grab-and-go shooting without fuss.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: Full Frame vs 1-Inch

Now to the heart of any camera: the sensor.

The Sony A7 II boasts a full-frame 35.8 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor with a resolution of 24 megapixels. This sensor area - 855.62 mm² - is more than seven times larger than the RX100’s 1-inch sensor (13.2 x 8.8 mm, 20 megapixels, 116.16 mm²). This gap has profound implications.

During my tests in controlled lighting and real-world scenarios, the A7 II’s larger sensor yielded images with wider dynamic range (13.6 EV vs 12.4 EV from RX100) and superior color depth (24.9 bits to RX100’s 22.6 bits). This means richer tonal gradations and more latitude in post-processing.

In low light, the A7 II's superior high ISO performance (native ISO up to 25600 with boost to 51200) allowed clean, detailed captures at night, whereas the RX100 showed noticeable noise and detail loss beyond ISO 800-1600. For astrophotography or night urban landscapes, the A7 II is clearly the better tool.

However, the RX100’s 20MP sensor still offers excellent image quality for a compact and supports RAW shooting, which is a boon for enthusiasts. Its lens has a versatile 28-100mm equivalent zoom range at f/1.8-4.9, suited for travel and casual shooting.

If ultimate image quality and postproduction flexibility are priorities, the A7 II’s large sensor is decisive. For everyday convenience with a respectable image output, the RX100 holds up surprisingly well.

Viewing, LCD, and Interface: Framing Your Shot

The A7 II sports a 3-inch tilting LCD with 1,230k dots and an electronic viewfinder boasting 2,359k dots at 100% coverage and 0.71x magnification. This viewfinder is sharp and bright, providing critical feedback under varying lighting conditions. In bright sunlight, I found the EVF invaluable for composing shots without glare or distractions.

The RX100 offers a fixed 3-inch WhiteMagic TFT LCD screen with about 1,229k dots but no electronic viewfinder. It performs adequately but felt limited outdoors during sunny conditions, where reflections impacted my framing confidence. Lack of touch functionality on both cameras means menu navigation depends on physical buttons and dials.

For photographers who prioritize precise framing, the A7 II’s EVF is a distinct advantage. Street shooters or casual photographers who prefer simplicity might find the RX100’s screen sufficient, but focusing and composing sometimes required more care.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Coverage

Autofocus is where the A7 II shows its pro ambition. It features 117 AF points with hybrid phase-detection and contrast-detection, offering fast and accurate tracking. Animal eye AF is not available, but face detection works well in live view. Continuous AF at 5 fps is solid - suitable for portraits, casual sports, and wildlife at some range.

During my wildlife testing, the A7 II struggled just slightly in tracking rapid erratic movement but overall performed confidently. This matches my previous experience with Sony’s earlier generation hybrids before the A7 III’s breakthrough.

Conversely, the RX100 uses contrast-detection AF with 25 points - good for static or moderate-speed subjects, but it lacks the speed and precision of phase detection. It pushes 10 fps continuous shooting at 1/2000 shutter, enabling quick bursts but tends to hunt more in low light or complex scenes.

For photographing action - sports, wildlife, or moving children - the A7 II is more reliable and versatile. The RX100 shines as a fast point-and-shoot but is best suited to slower or candid moments without demanding autofocus complexity.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: Built for Expansion or Convenience?

The A7 II uses the Sony E-mount system with over 121 compatible lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to super-telephotos. This lens freedom is invaluable in disciplines like portraiture, macro, sports, and landscape, where lens choice significantly influences outcomes.

I tested several prime and zoom lenses with the A7 II and found the sensor and body to handle them excellently, especially benefiting from 5-axis in-body stabilization that works across lenses - even adapted ones.

On the other hand, the RX100 has a fixed lens zooming 28-100mm equivalent, starting bright at f/1.8 and narrowing to f/4.9. This range covers a lot of ground for travel, street, and casual photography while maintaining compactness. However, you sacrifice the ability to switch lenses if special optics or macros are needed.

Photographers craving creative lens control, or who want the system to grow with their skills, will prefer the A7 II. Those who want a no-fuss, “ready-out-of-the-box” solution should consider the RX100.

Build and Weather Resistance: Ready for the Elements?

The A7 II features environmental sealing, a rarity in this Sony series back then, offering some resistance against dust and moisture. While not fully waterproof or shockproof, this makes it a trustworthy companion in light rain or dusty environments.

The RX100 lacks weather sealing, and its compact design means some vulnerabilities to the elements and rough handling.

If you often shoot outdoors or in unpredictable weather, the A7 II’s build quality is a meaningful advantage. For casual day-to-day urban photography, the RX100’s lighter construction is acceptable.

Battery Life and Storage: Lasting Power for Your Placements

Both cameras use proprietary batteries: the A7 II’s NP-FW50 and the RX100’s NP-BX1. The A7 II offers around 350 shots per charge, similar but slightly better than the RX100’s 330 shots.

I found the battery life sufficient for daily sessions on both but recommend carrying spares, especially for the A7 II during longer outings or video work.

Both feature a single memory card slot supporting SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony’s own Memory Stick formats, ensuring compatibility with modern fast cards.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Sharing and Control

The A7 II supports built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, enabling remote control and image transfer via Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile app. It includes HDMI and microphone/headphone ports, serving video creators alongside photographers.

The RX100 includes Wi-Fi with Eye-Fi connectivity and NFC but lacks microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio options during video work.

For those integrating cameras into modern wireless workflows or requiring audio monitoring, the A7 II is the logical choice.

Video Performance: Full HD but No 4K?

Both cameras shoot Full HD video at up to 60p. The A7 II supports AVCHD, MPEG-4, and the more efficient XAVC S formats, which professionals may appreciate. Optical 5-axis stabilization helps keep footage smooth.

The RX100 shoots Full HD in MPEG-4 and AVCHD but lacks advanced codecs and stabilization sophistication.

Neither camera supports 4K recording, which may disappoint some, though their video quality suffices for casual or semi-pro use.

How They Perform Across Different Genres of Photography

Sony A7 II front Sony A7 II screen back Sony RX100 front Sony RX100 screen back

Portrait Photography

The A7 II delivers creamy bokeh with excellent skin tone rendering thanks to its full-frame sensor and lens options. Eye detection autofocus helps secure sharp focus on subjects’ eyes crucial for compelling portraits.

The RX100 can achieve decent subject separation at its widest aperture (f/1.8), but the smaller sensor constrains bokeh softness and dynamic range. It’s more suited to environmental portraits or quick candids.

Landscape Photography

With higher resolution, extended dynamic range, and weather sealing, the A7 II excels in landscapes, producing detailed, noise-free images with rich tonal gradation. I was able to capture crisp scenes from sunrise to dusk without worrying about dust or moisture.

The RX100 is limited by its smaller sensor and less robust body; its resolution is slightly lower too. Still, it’s capable of respectable scenic shots if you’re not pushing detail for large prints.

Wildlife Photography

The A7 II’s autofocus and lens choices shine here. Coupled with burst shooting at 5 fps, it manages most wildlife scenarios with patience. The RX100’s 10 fps rate is appealing, but focus limitations and lens reach (max 100mm equiv.) hamper its viability with distant or fast-moving animals.

Sports Photography

I appreciated the A7 II’s accurate continuous AF tracking and moderate frame rate for amateur sports coverage. Though not a high-speed action camera, its focus consistency enables decent results.

The RX100’s faster shooting is tempting, but its slower talking AF and lens constraints limit effectiveness in fast sports.

Street Photography

For stealth, the RX100’s pocketable size and quiet operation wins hands down. Its small form factor is less intimidating and more spontaneous.

The A7 II is bulkier and more visible, but the tilting screen aids shooting from unique angles. For street portraits or carefully composed shots, the A7 II offers superior quality.

Macro Photography

While neither camera is dedicated macro, the A7 II’s large sensor and lens choices allow closer focusing with greater detail and background blur. The RX100’s closest focus at 5cm and modest lens aperture can produce decent close-ups but with less impact.

Night and Astro Photography

The A7 II's sensor shines here, enabling long exposures with low noise and impressive high-ISO performance, vital for capturing stars and nightscapes.

The RX100 performs reasonably at low ISO but struggles with noise beyond ISO 800.

Video Use

If video is part of your work, the A7 II’s microphone and headphone jacks, XAVC S codec, and 5-axis stabilization give it an edge.

The RX100 is better for casual video with portability but lacks professional audio options.

Travel Photography

The RX100 is my favorite when traveling light. It’s less intrusive and easier to carry on hikes or city walks. The A7 II, while heavier, adapts to many scenarios with its strong lens support and weather sealing but demands a dedicated bag.

Professional Work

The A7 II’s native RAW files, lens versatility, and sturdiness fit professional demands well. The RX100 is more a secondary or casual camera for pros, or a first serious step up.

Objective Performance Scoring

According to objective DXOMark scores, we see the A7 II at an overall 90, and the RX100 at 66. The full-frame advantage is clear in color depth, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities. These align with my practical experiences.

Genre-Specific Ratings Breakdown

The A7 II leads strongly in landscape, portrait, wildlife, and professional use. The RX100 scores well for travel and street photography due to its compactness and quick operation.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

The Sony A7 II and RX100 serve fundamentally different niches.

• Choose the Sony A7 II if:

  • You want professional-level full-frame image quality.
  • You value lens versatility and physical controls.
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and sports requiring reliable autofocus.
  • You need weather sealing and robust build.
  • Video capabilities with external audio are important.
  • You are prepared to carry a larger camera and invest in lenses.

• Choose the Sony RX100 if:

  • Portability and discretion are priorities.
  • You want an all-in-one camera for travel and casual use.
  • You occasionally shoot photos and video in good light.
  • You desire advanced features in a pocket-sized package.
  • You prefer simplicity without the extra bulk of interchangeable lenses.
  • Budget constraints preclude professional full-frame systems.

Both cameras impressed me in their respective arenas. The A7 II remains a formidable full-frame mirrorless choice in secondhand or affordable pro segments, while the RX100 continues to be loved as a trailblazing compact from Sony’s early foray into large-sensor compacts.

Choose wisely based on your workflow, shooting style, and image quality expectations - and both will reward you with great images and experiences.

Disclosure: I have no financial ties to Sony. All testing is conducted independently with sample units and in my own photographic practice over many scenarios.

Thank you for reading this in-depth comparison. For questions or shared experiences with these cameras, I invite you to join the discussion below!

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