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Sony A900 vs Sony RX1

Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Replacement is Sony A99
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Released February 2013
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Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Below is a in depth comparison of the Sony A900 and Sony RX1, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are produced by Sony. The image resolution of the A900 (25MP) and the RX1 (24MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (Full frame).

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The A900 was announced 5 years prior to the RX1 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a short view of how the A900 scores against the RX1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Sony RX1

 A900 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony A900

 RX1 A900 
ReleasedFebruary 2013October 2008More recent by 52 months
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony A900 and Sony RX1

 A900 RX1 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and size. The Sony A900 comes with outer dimensions of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") and a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) while the Sony RX1 has specifications of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Check out the Sony A900 and Sony RX1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the A900 vs the RX1.

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A900 and RX1 is 54 and 79 respectively.

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by checking specifications. The photograph here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the A900 and RX1.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony A900 to give you greater detail with its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older A900 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A900 Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
great MP (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
82
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000s)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A900 Street photography highlights
Sony RX1 Street photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
66
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW files
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A900 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Sports photography camera
70
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
max frames per second low (5.0 frames per second)
53
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (270 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A900 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
54
environment sealing
great MP (25MP)
doesn't have Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
62
good megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
fast max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery (270 shots)
heavier than competition (482g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A900 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great MP (25MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
has double storage slots
doesn't have liveview
doesn't have Timelapse function
65
you can focus manually
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
low battery (270 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A900
Vlogging with Sony RX1
9
can't record video
34
fast max aperture (f2.0)
comes with face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Sony A900 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A900 and Sony RX1
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Type Advanced DSLR Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2008-10-22 2013-02-19
Physical type Mid-size SLR Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 25 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6048 x 4032 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 35mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.0-22.0
Amount of lenses 143 -
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 922k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Xtra Fine color LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/250s 1/4000s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 895 grams (1.97 lb) 482 grams (1.06 lb)
Physical dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 93
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 25.1
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 14.3
DXO Low light score 1431 2534
Other
Battery life 880 images 270 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32 SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Two Single
Price at launch $2,736 $2,798