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Sony RX100 vs Sony A33

Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
 
Sony SLT-A33 front
Portability
67
Imaging
54
Features
80
Overall
64

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Key Specs

Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 II
Sony A33
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A35
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Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Sony RX100 versus Sony A33, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the RX100 (20MP) and A33 (14MP) and the RX100 (1") and A33 (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The RX100 was announced 2 years after the A33 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A33 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the RX100 matches up vs the A33 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony A33

 RX100 A33 
IntroducedAugust 2012August 2010Newer by 25 months
Screen resolution1229k921kSharper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A33 over the Sony RX100

 A33 RX100 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony RX100 and Sony A33

 RX100 A33 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony RX100 has got physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) whilst the Sony A33 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Sony RX100 versus Sony A33 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the RX100 and the A33.

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the RX100 and A33 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the RX100 and A33.

Clearly, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The RX100 with its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Sony RX100 will produce extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent RX100 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A33 Portrait photography highlights
64
has manual focus
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
72
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony RX100
Street photography with Sony A33
79
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than others (240 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
76
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 Sports photography highlights
Sony A33 Sports photography highlights
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
provides tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
not so great battery pack (340 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 Travel photography info
Sony A33 Travel photography info
79
lighter than others (240g)
MP count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
61
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (340 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 Landscape photography details
Sony A33 Landscape photography details
74
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
67
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (340 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A33 as a Vlogging camera
38
really wide (28mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (240 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external mic support
77
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic port
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Sony RX100 vs Sony A33 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 and Sony A33
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100Sony SLT-A33
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Sony SLT-A33
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-08-28 2010-08-24
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-100mm (3.6x) -
Largest aperture f/1.8-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology WhiteMagic TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240 gr (0.53 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.6
DXO Low light rating 390 591
Other
Battery life 330 shots 340 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $448 $230