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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released July 2018
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Newer Model is Sony A57
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Sony RX100 VA versus Sony A55, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are sold by Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the RX100 VA (20MP) and A55 (16MP) and the RX100 VA (1") and A55 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The RX100 VA was revealed 8 years later than the A55 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the RX100 VA scores against the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony A55

 RX100 VA A55 
AnnouncedJuly 2018August 2010More recent by 96 months
Screen resolution1229k921kCrisper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony RX100 VA

 A55 RX100 VA 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Sony RX100 VA and Sony A55

 RX100 VA A55 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony RX100 VA enjoys outer dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Compare the Sony RX100 VA versus Sony A55 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the RX100 VA vs the A55.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 VA and A55 is 89 and 67 respectively.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by checking out specs. The graphic here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the RX100 VA and A55.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The RX100 VA with its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sony RX100 VA will produce extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The more recent RX100 VA will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography highlights
Sony A55 Portrait photography highlights
66
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
offers face detect focusing
supports RAW files
no external flash support
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Street photography information
Sony A55 Street photography information
86
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
70
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
bad battery pack (220 shots)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
not so great battery power (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony RX100 VA
Travel photography with Sony A55
76
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
62
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
66
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse recording
67
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
not so great battery power (380 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VA as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
81
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
lack of mic port
78
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VA and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) Sony SLT-A55
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2018-07-13 2010-08-24
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 315 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-70mm (2.9x) -
Maximum aperture f/1.8-2.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,229 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/32000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 24.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.20 m (at Auto ISO) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 299 gr (0.66 lbs) 500 gr (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 All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life 220 images 380 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $998 $800