Sony a1 vs Sony RX100 IV

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Sony a1 versus Sony RX100 IV, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the a1 (50MP) and RX100 IV (20MP) and the a1 (Full frame) and RX100 IV (1") come with different sensor sizes.

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The a1 was unveiled 5 years after the RX100 IV which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the a1 grades vs the RX100 IV in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha a1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV. The full galleries are provided at Sony a1 Gallery and Sony RX100 IV Gallery.

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony a1 features physical dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Compare the Sony a1 versus Sony RX100 IV in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the a1 versus the RX100 IV.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the a1 and RX100 IV is 61 and 89 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions just by checking a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the a1 and RX100 IV.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The a1 with its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony a1 will give more detail having an extra 30MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern a1 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.