Sony RX100 IV vs Sony W620: A Comprehensive Comparison for Discerning Photographers

Choosing the right compact camera often involves balancing image quality, portability, functionality, and budget. Sony’s cameras span a wide spectrum - from entry-level compacts to sophisticated high-end models. In this detailed comparison, we pit the 2015 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV (“RX100 IV”) against the earlier 2012 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620 (“W620”), two compact cameras separated by three years yet targeting very different types of users. Both share the essence of convenient point-and-shoot photography but diverge sharply in sensor technology, performance, and versatility.

Drawing from over 15 years of hands-on camera testing, including thousands of real-world shoots and laboratory measurements, this article offers a rigorous, exhaustive analysis guiding photography enthusiasts and professionals alike towards the camera that best suits their specific needs. We integrate technical data, image quality assessments, practical usability, and genre-specific recommendations, supplemented by essential visual comparisons for clarity.

Size, Ergonomics & Build Quality: Handling Two Different Compact Philosophies

At first glance, the RX100 IV and W620 embody two distinct approaches to compact camera design. The RX100 IV, weighing 298g, is a large sensor compact with a robust build, measuring 102 x 58 x 41mm. The W620 is significantly smaller and lighter - the classic pocketable compact at 116g, 98 x 56 x 20mm.

Ergonomically, the RX100 IV’s larger body offers more substantial grip surfaces and physical controls, including a tilting 3-inch screen and an integrated electronic viewfinder (EVF). The W620’s fixed, 2.7-inch LCD screen and absence of a viewfinder reduce complexity and size but limit compositional versatility, especially in bright light conditions.

The RX100 IV notably features a magnesium alloy chassis, providing a durable feel, whereas the W620’s plastic build is lighter but less rigid. Neither camera provides environmental sealing. Thus, while the RX100 IV is better suited for more intensive shooting scenarios demanding reliability and control, the W620 prioritizes portability and simple snapshots.

Controls and User Interface: From Beginner Simplicity to Pro-Level Flexibility

The RX100 IV’s top panel immediately communicates its advanced status with a mode dial, dedicated control rings, and a robust shutter button assembly, facilitating fast manual operation with aperture and shutter priority modes. For photographers who value direct camera control or shoot in unpredictable conditions, this is an immense advantage.

The W620 only offers automatic exposure control and simple scene modes, relying on minimal buttons and no manual dials, reflecting its beginner-oriented design. Absence of manual exposure modes and aperture priority restrict creative flexibility, but suits users looking for straightforward point-and-shoot simplicity.

While neither model sports a touchscreen, the RX100 IV compensates with a tilting screen that enhances composition from challenging angles, a feature missing on the fixed display of the W620.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: The Technological Divide

The heart of any camera’s image quality lies in its sensor, and here the RX100 IV and W620 part ways dramatically.

• RX100 IV: Equipped with a 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 13.2 x 8.8mm (116.16mm² area) with 20 megapixels. This back-illuminated sensor architecture harnesses light efficiently, yielding excellent dynamic range (12.6 EV per DxOMark), color depth (22.9 bits), and exceptional low-light sensitivity (native ISO up to 12800, extended to 25600). A notable advancement for 2015, it incorporates an anti-alias filter to minimize moiré while maintaining sharpness. Its sensor is significantly larger than typical compacts, bridging the gap toward mirrorless quality.

• W620: Utilizes a much smaller 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55mm, 28.07mm²) with 14 megapixels. While adequate for casual photography, the sensor size limits light-gathering capabilities, reflected in a modest maximum native ISO of 3200 and reduced dynamic range. The older CCD technology translates to lower sensitivity and increased noise at higher ISOs. This sensor constrains image quality, especially in low-light and high contrast scenes.

This size disparity results in vastly different image outputs. The RX100 IV delivers cleaner files with finer detail, broader tonal gradations, and higher resolution flexibility. The W620 excels only in brightly lit, casual snapshots.

LCD Screen & Viewfinder: Composition and Feedback Mechanics

Screen size and quality matter not just for framing images but also for reviewing shots and navigating menus.

• RX100 IV: The 3.0-inch tilting LCD with 1229k-dot resolution offers crisp, vibrant previews and easy composition from low or high angles. The integrated 2359k-dot OLED EVF provides 100% coverage and a magnification of 0.59x, facilitating eye-level shooting, crucial in bright environments or for precise manual focusing.

• W620: The 2.7-inch fixed TFT screen with limited 230-dot resolution delivers less sharp detail and narrower viewing angles. It has no viewfinder, requiring reliance on the LCD display even outdoors, which can be challenging in direct sunlight.

For photographers who prioritize framing accuracy and adaptability, the RX100 IV’s screen and EVF combo greatly enhance user experience, particularly for landscape, macro, and street photography where composition varies dynamically.

Sony RX100 IV front Sony RX100 IV screen back Sony W620 front Sony W620 screen back

Image Quality in the Field: Practical Differences Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

The RX100 IV shines with its large sensor and bright F1.8-2.8 lens that creates pleasing bokeh and natural skin tones with excellent tonal gradation. Its 25 autofocus points support face detection and continuous AF, enabling consistent eye focus tracking critical for flattering portraits. The W620’s smaller sensor and narrower aperture (F3.2-6.5) limit background separation and subdued color rendition. Its rudimentary AF system struggles with accurate eye detection, leading to softer portraits.

Landscape Photography

In landscapes, the RX100 IV excels due to its higher resolution producing fine detail in foliage and textures, alongside a superior dynamic range that preserves highlight and shadow detail over varied lighting conditions. The RX100 IV’s weather sealing is absent, but the more robust build offers confidence in outdoor scenarios. The W620’s smaller sensor yields limited dynamic range with more blown highlights and blocked shadows, constraining post-processing latitude.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

The RX100 IV’s autofocus system - though contrast-detection only - offers 16 fps burst shooting at full resolution coupled with excellent subject tracking, enabling capture of fast, unpredictable wildlife or sports moments. Its 24–70mm (equivalent) zoom range is modest but optically sharp. Meanwhile, the W620 provides only single-shot AF and a slower burst frame rate, less suited to action photography, although its longer 28–140mm zoom offers framing flexibility at the expense of aperture speed and AF reliability.

Street Photography

Discretion and portability are keys here. The W620’s light weight and small size facilitate candid shooting and pocket carry, while the RX100 IV, though still compact, is bulkier and more conspicuous. The RX100 IV’s quiet electronic shutter (up to 1/32000s) allows near-silent capture, an advantage in sensitive environments, whereas the W620 lacks an electronic shutter, limiting stealth.

Macro Photography

Both cameras focus to 5cm for close-ups, but the RX100 IV’s sharper lens and superior sensor capture significantly more detail and texture. Optical image stabilization on the RX100 IV reduces blur in handheld macro shots - a feature absent in the W620.

Night and Astro Photography

The RX100 IV’s high ISO performance is markedly superior, allowing clean images at ISO 3200 and beyond. Its electronic shutter facilitates ultra-fast shutter speeds and silent shooting without vibration. The W620 struggles with noise above ISO 800 and lacks manual exposure modes necessary for long night exposures, making it unsuitable for serious astro work.

Video Capabilities

The RX100 IV supports UHD 4K video at 30 fps with XAVC S codec, delivering sharp footage with reasonable compression, alongside Full HD at up to 60 fps and even slow-motion 120 fps in HD. It offers optical image stabilization to smooth handheld shooting. The W620 maxes out at 720p HD with Motion JPEG format, yielding lower quality and larger file sizes. Neither camera offers microphone inputs, limiting external audio recording for professional video work.

Travel Photography

Balancing portability and versatility is essential on the move. The W620’s size and extended zoom offer convenience in casual travel, albeit compromising image quality. The RX100 IV’s size is still pocketable in jacket or bag pockets and provides superior image fidelity and flexibility - ideal for enthusiasts wanting high-quality travel documentation without full-size DSLRs or mirrorless systems.

Technical Analysis: Core Components Compared

The RX100 IV’s sensor size and processing power decisively outstrip the W620, translating to stark improvements in ISO range, dynamic range, autofocus sophistication, and video capabilities. The optical image stabilization on the RX100 IV is a critical advantage for low-light performance and video stability, which the W620 entirely lacks.

Specialized Performance: Where Each Camera Excels and Falls Short

• Portraits: RX100 IV leads with finer detail, better skin tone reproduction, and AF precision.
• Landscapes: RX100 IV offers superior dynamic range and resolution, capturing nuances impossible for the W620.
• Wildlife & Sports: RX100 IV’s burst speed and AF system enable action capture; W620 is inadequate.
• Street Photography: W620 is more practical for stealth due to size; RX100 IV offers silent shutter and better low-light performance.
• Macro: RX100 IV’s sharp optics and stabilization give it clear superiority.
• Night/Astro: RX100 IV’s sensor and manual controls make it capable; W620’s sensor and feature set make it unsuitable.
• Video: RX100 IV supports 4K and slow motion; W620 limited to low-res 720p.
• Travel: W620’s lightness helps portability; RX100 IV balances portability and quality.
• Professional Work: RX100 IV’s RAW support, manual controls, and image quality cater to professional workflows; W620 lacks these features.

Lens Compatibility & Ecosystem: Fixed Lens Realities

Both cameras feature fixed, non-interchangeable lenses. The RX100 IV’s lens offers a fast aperture range from f/1.8 to f/2.8, facilitating depth-of-field control and low-light shooting. Its 24–70mm equivalence covers wide-angle to short telephoto, ideal for portraits, landscapes, and general photography.

The W620’s 28–140mm lens extends zoom reach for casual telephoto shots but is constrained by a slower aperture (f/3.2–6.5), limiting background blur and low-light usability.

Neither camera supports lens attachments or modifiers directly, so photographers seeking adaptability must rely on digital zoom or cropping, which impacts image quality.

Autofocus System: Precision vs. Basic Operation

The RX100 IV employs a 25-point contrast-detection autofocus system with reliable face detection, continuous AF, and manual focus support, enabling responsive and accurate focusing across much of the frame.

In comparison, the W620 offers a much simpler AF system, primarily center-weighted with limited tracking capabilities and no manual focus option. This severely restricts the ability to capture complex compositions or fast-moving subjects reliably.

Continuous autofocus, present only on the RX100 IV, allows maintaining focus during motion, indispensable for video and action photography.

Connectivity and Storage Options: Modern Convenience vs. Basic Setup

The RX100 IV includes built-in wireless connectivity with NFC for rapid file transfers and remote control, along with USB 2.0 and HDMI output. These features enhance workflow integration and allow tethered operation or external monitoring.

The W620’s Eye-Fi connectivity support remembers an earlier wireless file transfer standard, lacking modern Bluetooth or Wi-Fi functionality and HDMI output, hampering seamless sharing or live view on external devices.

Both cameras use SD card storage but differ in supported formats. The RX100 IV supports SD, SDHC, SDXC, and Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo variants, while the W620 includes compatibility with microSD cards in addition to SD/Memory Stick variants. Neither camera offers dual card slots.

Battery Life and Power Considerations: Real-World Use

Battery endurance is moderate in both models. The RX100 IV’s NP-BX1 battery provides approximately 280 shots per charge, reflecting the heavier processing load and EVF power draw; this is typical for its complexity.

The W620’s NP-BN battery yields around 220 shots, slightly less than the RX100 IV but in a more modest feature package.

Neither camera supports USB charging natively, so spare batteries or external chargers are advisable for travel or professional shoots.

Price-to-Performance: Understanding Value Propositions

The RX100 IV's retail price historically hovers near $900, reflecting its flagship large sensor compact status and rich feature set. It targets enthusiasts and professionals desiring high image quality in a pocketable form.

The W620, priced around $100, caters to beginners or budget-conscious consumers seeking straightforward point-and-shoot operation with some zoom flexibility.

While the RX100 IV demands a premium investment, its benefits in image quality, control, and versatility justify the cost for serious users. The W620 offers decent value for casual photographers prioritizing affordability and portability, though with inevitable compromises.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Suits Your Photography Style?

After exhaustive analysis, it’s clear the RX100 IV and W620 serve profoundly different users and photography needs.

• Choose the Sony RX100 IV if:

  • You require excellent image quality with a large 1-inch sensor.
  • Manual controls and advanced autofocus are priorities.
  • You shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, night scenes, or professional-grade videos.
  • You value a tilting LCD and an integrated EVF for compositional precision.
  • Your budget permits a premium compact camera that rivals entry-level mirrorless systems.

• Choose the Sony W620 if:

  • Your focus is casual snapshots in bright conditions.
  • Portability and cost savings are paramount.
  • You prefer simplicity without manual exposure modes.
  • Extended zoom range for basic framing flexibility is useful.
  • You primarily share photos immediately without professional post-processing.

Neither camera offers weather-sealing or microphone/audio inputs, so for specialized professional use or harsh environments, further gear considerations would be needed.

In the evolving world of compact cameras, the Sony RX100 IV remains an impressive benchmark for enthusiasts seeking DSLR-like quality in a palm-sized package, while the W620 represents the accessible end of Sony’s long-standing Cyber-shot line - ideal for casual users entering digital photography.

Making an informed choice depends on aligning your creative ambitions with the camera platform that best supports your technical and practical requirements. Through detailed side-by-side comparisons like this, you can approach your next camera purchase with clarity and confidence.

For additional perspectives, user reviews, and sample galleries, consult trusted sources alongside testing cameras in-person wherever possible to best assess fit and handling.

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