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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65

Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Released November 2011
  • Newer Model is Sony A68
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Overview

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are sold by Sony. The resolution of the RX100 VA (20MP) and the A65 (24MP) is pretty well matched but the RX100 VA (1") and A65 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The RX100 VA was manufactured 6 years later than the A65 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A65 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the RX100 VA scores versus the A65 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony A65

 RX100 VA A65 
ReleasedJuly 2018November 2011More recent by 82 months
Screen resolution1229k921kClearer screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Sony RX100 VA

 A65 RX100 VA 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Sony RX100 VA and Sony A65

 RX100 VA A65 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX100 VA enjoys physical dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) whilst the Sony A65 has dimensions of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

See the Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the RX100 VA against the A65.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the RX100 VA and A65 is 89 and 64 respectively.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 VA and A65.

As you have seen, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The RX100 VA featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony A65 will resolve greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots far more aggressively. The newer RX100 VA should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony RX100 VA
Portrait photography with Sony A65
66
focusing manually
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony RX100 VA
Street photography with Sony A65
86
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than average (299g)
77
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Sports photography highlights
Sony A65 Sports photography highlights
70
silent shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
includes tracking autofocus
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (220 shots)
81
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Travel photography details
Sony A65 Travel photography details
76
lighter than average (299 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
68
good megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography information
Sony A65 Landscape photography information
66
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
terrible battery (220 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
75
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VA Vlogging highlights
Sony A65 Vlogging highlights
81
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average (299 grams)
lack of external mic jack
78
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic port
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Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VA and Sony A65
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) Sony SLT-A65
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-07-13 2011-11-15
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
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 12800
Max boosted ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 315 15
Cross type focus points - 3
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 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,229k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 24.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.20 m (at Auto ISO) 10.00 m
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
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000s 1/160s
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 299 grams (0.66 lb) 622 grams (1.37 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 717
Other
Battery life 220 photographs 560 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
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
Pricing at launch $998 $700