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Sony A9 vs Sony RX100

Portability
65
Imaging
73
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Released April 2017
  • Successor is Sony A9 II
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2012
  • New Model is Sony RX100 II
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Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Sony A9 vs Sony RX100, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A9 (24MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is relatively well matched but the A9 (Full frame) and RX100 (1") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The A9 was unveiled 4 years later than the RX100 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the A9 scores versus the RX100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony RX100

 A9 RX100 
AnnouncedApril 2017August 2012Fresher by 57 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k1229kClearer screen (+211k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony A9

 RX100 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony RX100

 A9 RX100 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony A9 has outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) and the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Examine the Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the A9 compared to the RX100.

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the A9 and RX100 is 65 and 91 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by looking at technical specs. The graphic below should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A9 and RX100.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The A9 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony A9 will resolve greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The fresher A9 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 Portrait photography details
83
manual focus
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW files
64
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A9
Street photography with Sony RX100
79
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
environment proof
great ISO range (51,200)
79
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (240g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography details
Sony RX100 Sports photography details
86
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
features tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
comes with phase detect AF
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
comes with tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A9
Travel photography with Sony RX100
73
better than average battery pack (650 per charge)
environment proof
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus by touch
good MP (24MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
79
lighter than competitors (240g)
MP count decent (20MP)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography information
Sony RX100 Landscape photography information
85
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great ISO range (51,200)
supports RAW files
environment proof
better than average battery pack (650 shots)
2 card slots
74
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging details
Sony RX100 Vlogging details
36
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
38
really wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (240g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no mic socket
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Sony A9 vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony RX100
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha A9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Pro Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Released 2017-04-19 2012-08-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1"
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 51200 25600
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 693 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-100mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture - f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,440 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 20.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 673 gr (1.48 lb) 240 gr (0.53 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 92 66
DXO Color Depth score 24.9 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score 13.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 3517 390
Other
Battery life 650 pictures 330 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FZ100 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Dual One
Cost at launch $4,498 $448