Clicky

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 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 WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Superseded the Sony WX350
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Following is a in-depth analysis of the Sony RX1 and Sony WX500, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the RX1 (24MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the RX1 (Full frame) and WX500 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The RX1 was announced 3 years earlier than the WX500 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the RX1 scores versus the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony WX500

 RX1 WX500 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display resolution1229k921kCrisper display (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony RX1

 WX500 RX1 
LaunchedApril 2015February 2013More modern by 26 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Sony RX1 and Sony WX500

 RX1 WX500 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX1 comes with physical dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Sony RX1 and Sony WX500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the RX1 compared to the WX500.

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the RX1 and WX500 is 79 and 91 respectively.

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to see the contrast between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX1 and WX500.

As you can see, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The RX1 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony RX1 will give more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged RX1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
Sony WX500 Portrait photography details
82
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/4,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
39
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
provides face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Sony RX1 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
66
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (482 grams)
69
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236g)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Sony RX1 Sports photography features
Sony WX500 Sports photography features
53
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
low frames per second (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (360 per charge)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony RX1 Travel photography information
Sony WX500 Travel photography information
62
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
fast max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (482g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
71
good battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236g)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX500 Landscape photography advice
65
focusing manually
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
good battery life (360 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse function
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX500 as a Vlogging camera
34
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (482 grams)
35
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone jack
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sony RX1 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1 and Sony WX500
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-02-19 2015-04-14
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 852.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35mm (1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.0-22.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Xtra FineTFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic and Optical (optional) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/4000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 482 grams (1.06 lbs) 236 grams (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 360 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $2,798 $348