Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A77

Here is a comprehensive review of the Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A77, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the RX100 VA (20MP) and the A77 (24MP) is pretty close but the RX100 VA (1") and A77 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizing.

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The RX100 VA was manufactured 6 years later than the A77 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the RX100 VA grades vs the A77 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) & Sony SLT-A77. The entire galleries are provided at Sony RX100 VA Gallery & Sony A77 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX100 VA enjoys exterior dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") with a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony A77 has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") having a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Compare the Sony RX100 VA vs Sony A77 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view scale comparison of the RX100 VA vs the A77.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the RX100 VA and A77 is 89 and 59 respectively.

Generally, it's hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic below might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 VA and A77.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The RX100 VA featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A77 will result in more detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern RX100 VA provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.