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Sony RX1 vs Sony A55

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 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 A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Updated by Sony A57
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Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Sony RX1 and Sony A55, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both produced by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the RX1 (24MP) and A55 (16MP) and the RX1 (Full frame) and A55 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The RX1 was manufactured 2 years after the A55 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the RX1 matches up vs the A55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony A55

 RX1 A55 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2010Newer by 31 months
Display resolution1229k921kCrisper display (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony RX1

 A55 RX1 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony RX1 and Sony A55

 RX1 A55 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX1 enjoys outside measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) while the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Sony RX1 and Sony A55 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 have attached at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the RX1 versus the A55.

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the RX1 and A55 is 79 and 67 respectively.

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by viewing technical specs. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RX1 and A55.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The RX1 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX1 will result in more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more recent RX1 is going to have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony RX1
Portrait photography with Sony A55
82
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1 Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
66
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
great high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
heavier than average (482g)
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX1 Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
53
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
can't change focal length (35mm)
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery power (270 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1 Travel photography information
Sony A55 Travel photography information
62
MP count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery power (270 shots)
heavier than average (482g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
62
resolution is good (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1 Landscape photography details
Sony A55 Landscape photography details
65
you can focus manually
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
low battery power (270 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse function
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files
not so great battery pack (380 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
heavier than average (482g)
78
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic port
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Sony RX1 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 Sony SLT-A55
Class Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-02-19 2010-08-24
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 852.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-22.0 -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,229 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology Xtra FineTFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic and Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes 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
Max flash sync 1/4000s 1/160s
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 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 482g (1.06 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
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 score 93 73
DXO Color Depth score 25.1 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 14.3 12.4
DXO Low light score 2534 816
Other
Battery life 270 pictures 380 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $2,798 $800