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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55

Portability
88
Imaging
54
Features
75
Overall
62
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony RX100 VI
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 301g - 102 x 58 x 43mm
  • Launched June 2018
  • Old Model is Sony RX100 V
  • New Model is Sony RX100 VII
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Announced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both built by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the RX100 VI (20MP) and A55 (16MP) and the RX100 VI (1") and A55 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor sizing.

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The RX100 VI was launched 7 years after the A55 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX100 VI being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the RX100 VI grades against the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VI over the Sony A55

 RX100 VI A55 
AnnouncedJune 2018August 2010Newer by 95 months
Display resolution1229k921kCrisper display (+308k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony RX100 VI

 A55 RX100 VI 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Common features in the Sony RX100 VI and Sony A55

 RX100 VI A55 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Sony RX100 VI comes with exterior dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") along with a weight of 301 grams (0.66 lbs) and the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the RX100 VI versus the A55.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 VI and A55 is 88 and 67 respectively.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specifications. The picture underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 VI and A55.

To sum up, both cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The RX100 VI featuring a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony RX100 VI will give you more detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The younger RX100 VI is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Portrait photography factors
Sony A55 Portrait photography factors
66
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Street photography advice
Sony A55 Street photography advice
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
includes touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (301 grams)
77
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Sports photography highlights
Sony A55 Sports photography highlights
70
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
max fps high (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
has phase detect AF
bad battery power (240 per charge)
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Travel photography features
Sony A55 Travel photography features
77
lighter than competitors in class (301g)
connects via bluetooth
includes touch focus
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
bad battery power (240 shots)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Landscape photography highlights
Sony A55 Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
bad battery power (240 shots)
67
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (380 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 VI Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
77
fairly wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
good video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (301g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have microphone port
78
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone jack
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Sony RX100 VI vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 VI and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VISony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI Sony SLT-A55
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2018-06-05 2010-08-24
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 315 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-200mm (8.3x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.5 -
Macro focus range 8cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,229 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.59x 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 24.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.90 m (at Auto ISO) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 data 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 301g (0.66 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 43mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 pictures 380 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
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
Retail price $1,198 $800