Sony RX100 II vs Sony A55

In this article, we are analyzing the Sony RX100 II vs Sony A55, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are built by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the RX100 II (20MP) and A55 (16MP) and the RX100 II (1") and A55 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The RX100 II was announced 2 years later than the A55 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the RX100 II scores vs the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II & Sony SLT-A55. The whole galleries are provided at Sony RX100 II Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and volume. The Sony RX100 II has got external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 38mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 281 grams (0.62 lbs) while the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Sony RX100 II vs Sony A55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the RX100 II and the A55.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RX100 II and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The graphic below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the RX100 II and A55.

As you can tell, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RX100 II using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony RX100 II will result in greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer RX100 II is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.