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Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99

Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced June 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Later Model is Sony RX100 V
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A900
  • New Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Sony RX100 IV versus Sony A99, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. The sensor resolution of the RX100 IV (20MP) and the A99 (24MP) is pretty similar but the RX100 IV (1") and A99 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The RX100 IV was launched 2 years after the A99 which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the RX100 IV grades vs the A99 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony A99

 RX100 IV A99 
ReleasedJune 2015December 2012Newer by 31 months

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony RX100 IV

 A99 RX100 IV 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Sony RX100 IV and Sony A99

 RX100 IV A99 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution1229k1229kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony RX100 IV provides external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check the Sony RX100 IV versus Sony A99 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the RX100 IV and the A99.

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RX100 IV and A99 is 89 and 57 respectively.

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The pic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the RX100 IV and A99.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The RX100 IV because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A99 will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent RX100 IV is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 Portrait photography advice
65
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
81
manual focus
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony RX100 IV
Street photography with Sony A99
85
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (298g)
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 IV as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
68
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (16.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
offers tracking focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
terrible battery (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
86
lighter than average (298g)
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
60
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography advice
Sony A99 Landscape photography advice
74
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
74
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
environment proofing
two card slots
terrible battery (500 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 IV as a Vlogging camera
Sony A99 as a Vlogging camera
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average (298g)
doesn't have microphone socket
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
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Sony RX100 IV vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 IV and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IVSony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV Sony SLT-A99
Class Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2015-06-10 2012-12-12
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Full frame
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 25 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-70mm (2.9x) -
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.8 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,229k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 16.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 298g (0.66 lbs) 812g (1.79 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 70 89
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 14.0
DXO Low light rating 562 1555
Other
Battery life 280 pictures 500 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Storage type SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Launch pricing $898 $1,998