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Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced June 2015
  • Superseded the Sony RX100 III
  • Renewed by Sony RX100 V
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Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Following is a extensive analysis of the Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 IV, both Large Sensor Compact digital cameras and they are both designed by Sony. The resolution of the RX100 (20MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is very similar and both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1").

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The RX100 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the RX100 IV which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Large Sensor Compact).

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the RX100 matches up versus the RX100 IV with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony RX100 IV

 RX100 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony RX100

 RX100 IV RX100 
IntroducedJune 2015August 2012More modern by 33 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 IV

 RX100 RX100 IV 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display size3"3"Same display size
Display resolution1229k1229kSame display resolution
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX100 offers outer dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) while the Sony RX100 IV has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Check the Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the RX100 compared to the RX100 IV.

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the RX100 and RX100 IV is 91 and 89 respectively.

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading specs. The picture below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the RX100 and RX100 IV.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact MP and you can expect similar quality of files although you have to take the launch date of the products into consideration. The more aged RX100 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 Portrait photography info
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography info
64
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
65
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
offers face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 Street photography details
Sony RX100 IV Street photography details
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than average in class (240 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 Sports photography information
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography information
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
68
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (16.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
offers tracking autofocus
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 Travel photography features
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography features
79
lighter than average in class (240g)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
86
lighter than competition (298 grams)
megapixel count good (20MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
74
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
74
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 Vlogging factors
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging factors
38
quite wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (240 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of external mic support
81
quite wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition (298 grams)
no external microphone socket
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Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 IV
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-08-28 2015-06-10
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1" 1"
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5472 x 3648 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-100mm (3.6x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/1.8-4.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 2.7 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,229 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech WhiteMagic TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 16.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 240g (0.53 pounds) 298g (0.66 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 70
DXO Color Depth score 22.6 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 12.6
DXO Low light score 390 562
Other
Battery life 330 shots 280 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $448 $898