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Sony RX1 vs Sony W690

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Key Specs

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
  • Revealed February 2013
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2012
Photography Glossary

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Sony RX1 vs Sony W690, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the RX1 (24MP) and W690 (16MP) and the RX1 (Full frame) and W690 (1/2.3") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The RX1 was unveiled 12 months later than the W690 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the RX1 matches up vs the W690 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony W690

 RX1 W690 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013February 2012Fresher by 12 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution1229k230kCrisper screen (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony RX1

 W690 RX1 

Common features in the Sony RX1 and Sony W690

 RX1 W690 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry your camera often, you should take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony RX1 provides external dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Sony W690 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the RX1 versus the W690.

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the RX1 and W690 is 79 and 95 respectively.

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX1 and W690.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The RX1 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony RX1 will offer more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more modern RX1 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W690 as a Portrait photography camera
82
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000 seconds)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
34
MP count decent (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1 Street photography factors
Sony W690 Street photography factors
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
above average high ISO (25,600)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony RX1
Sports photography with Sony W690
53
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1 Travel photography features
Sony W690 Travel photography features
62
good megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
fast max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (270 CIPA)
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
68
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1 Landscape photography factors
Sony W690 Landscape photography factors
65
you can focus manually
fast max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
terrible battery power (270 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
43
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony RX1
Vlogging with Sony W690
34
fast max aperture (f2.0)
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482g)
31
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Sony RX1 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1 and Sony W690
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Type Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-02-19 2012-02-28
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 852.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35mm (1x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-22.0 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,229 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Xtra FineTFT LCD ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic and Optical (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/4000 seconds -
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 482 gr (1.06 lb) 142 gr (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 93 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2534 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 pictures 220 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $2,798 $297