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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VA
(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
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced July 2018
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Overview

Here is a in depth assessment of the Sony RX100 VA and Sony S950, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are designed by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the RX100 VA (20MP) and S950 (10MP) and the RX100 VA (1") and S950 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The RX100 VA was manufactured 9 years later than the S950 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony S950 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a short summation of how the RX100 VA scores vs the S950 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony S950

 RX100 VA S950 
LaunchedJuly 2018February 2009Fresher by 115 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kClearer display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony RX100 VA

 S950 RX100 VA 

Common features in the Sony RX100 VA and Sony S950

 RX100 VA S950 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Sony RX100 VA comes with external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Sony S950 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Sony RX100 VA and Sony S950 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the RX100 VA against the S950.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 VA and S950 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing technical specs. The photograph here will give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the RX100 VA and S950.

As you have seen, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The RX100 VA featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 VA will render more detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher RX100 VA will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography factors
Sony S950 Portrait photography factors
66
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
26
focusing manually
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Street photography info
Sony S950 Street photography info
86
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than average in class (299 grams)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony RX100 VA
Sports photography with Sony S950
70
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 fps)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony RX100 VA
Travel photography with Sony S950
76
lighter than average in class (299 grams)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
50
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography advice
Sony S950 Landscape photography advice
66
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
31
focusing manually
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Vlogging factors
Sony S950 Vlogging factors
81
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average in class (299 grams)
doesn't have external microphone socket
9
no video
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VA and Sony S950
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2018-07-13 2009-02-17
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW pictures
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 315 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-70mm (2.9x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,229k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting rate 24.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.20 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM -
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 299 grams (0.66 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 220 images -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $998 $130