Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55
89 Imaging
51 Features
77 Overall
61
67 Imaging
56 Features
80 Overall
65
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 20MP - 1" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 125 - 12800
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
- 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
- Announced May 2014
- Old Model is Sony RX100 II
- New Model is Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
- Introduced August 2010
- Successor is Sony A57
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Overview
Following is a detailed review of the Sony RX100 III versus Sony A55, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the RX100 III (20MP) and A55 (16MP) and the RX100 III (1") and A55 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe RX100 III was manufactured 3 years after the A55 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the RX100 III scores vs the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are available at Sony RX100 III Gallery and Sony A55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Sony A55
RX100 III | A55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | May 2014 | August 2010 | More modern by 46 months | |
Screen resolution | 1229k | 921k | Sharper screen (+308k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony RX100 III
A55 | RX100 III | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fully Articulated | Tilting | Fully Articulating screen |
Common features in the Sony RX100 III and Sony A55
RX100 III | A55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | More accurate focusing | |||
Screen dimensions | 3" | 3" | Equal screen sizing | |
Selfie screen | Both are selfie friendly | |||
Touch screen | Neither offers Touch screen |
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison
For those who are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Sony RX100 III offers external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs) and the Sony A55 has sizing of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).
Check the Sony RX100 III versus Sony A55 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the RX100 III compared to the A55.
Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the RX100 III and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison
Generally, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by going through technical specs. The pic below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the RX100 III and A55.
As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The RX100 III featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony RX100 III will provide extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The more recent RX100 III provides an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Sony RX100 III vs Sony A55 Specifications
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III | Sony SLT-A55 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Sony | Sony |
Model | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III | Sony SLT-A55 |
Type | Large Sensor Compact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Announced | 2014-05-15 | 2010-08-24 |
Physical type | Large Sensor Compact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Bionz X | Bionz |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 13.2 x 8.8mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 116.2mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 20 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 5472 x 3648 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 12800 |
Max enhanced ISO | - | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 125 | 100 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Number of focus points | 25 | 15 |
Cross focus points | - | 3 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens focal range | 24-70mm (2.9x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/1.8-2.8 | - |
Macro focus range | 5cm | - |
Number of lenses | - | 143 |
Crop factor | 2.7 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Fully Articulated |
Display size | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 1,229k dots | 921k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | 1,440k dots | 1,150k dots |
Viewfinder coverage | 100 percent | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.59x | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 30 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 10.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | - | 10.00 m (@ ISO 100) |
Flash settings | - | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | 1/2000 secs | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 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, XAVC S | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Mic port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 290 grams (0.64 lbs) | 500 grams (1.10 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") | 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | 67 | 73 |
DXO Color Depth score | 22.4 | 23.0 |
DXO Dynamic range score | 12.3 | 12.4 |
DXO Low light score | 495 | 816 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 320 photos | 380 photos |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | NP-BX1 | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | With downloadable app | |
Type of storage | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at release | $748 | $800 |