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Sony RX1 vs Sony A33

Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Key Specs

Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A35
Photography Glossary

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Sony RX1 versus Sony A33, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are built by Sony. There is a large difference among the image resolutions of the RX1 (24MP) and A33 (14MP) and the RX1 (Full frame) and A33 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The RX1 was announced 2 years later than the A33 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the RX1 grades versus the A33 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony A33

 RX1 A33 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2010Fresher by 31 months
Screen resolution1229k921kClearer screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Sony RX1

 A33 RX1 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony RX1 and Sony A33

 RX1 A33 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Sony RX1 has outer dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") along with a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Sony A33 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Contrast the Sony RX1 versus Sony A33 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the RX1 vs the A33.

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the RX1 and A33 is 79 and 67 respectively.

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by seeing specifications. The graphic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX1 and A33.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The RX1 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX1 will produce extra detail with its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent RX1 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1 Portrait photography information
Sony A33 Portrait photography information
81
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/4,000 seconds)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
72
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1 Street photography features
Sony A33 Street photography features
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
76
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX1 Sports photography factors
Sony A33 Sports photography factors
53
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (270 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
low battery life (340 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A33 as a Travel photography camera
62
good MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery life (270 CIPA)
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
display is not selfie friendly
61
good MP (14MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (340 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1 Landscape photography factors
Sony A33 Landscape photography factors
64
has manual focus
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery life (270 shots)
lack of Timelapse function
67
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (340 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony RX1
Vlogging with Sony A33
34
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
77
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic socket
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Sony RX1 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1 and Sony A33
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 Sony SLT-A33
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-02-19 2010-08-24
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 852.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 35mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-22.0 -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,229k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology Xtra FineTFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic and Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/4000s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 482g (1.06 lb) 500g (1.10 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 93 70
DXO Color Depth rating 25.1 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.3 12.6
DXO Low light rating 2534 591
Other
Battery life 270 images 340 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $2,798 $230