Sony RX100 vs Sony A57

Lets look a little more in depth at the Sony RX100 and Sony A57, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both manufactured by Sony. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the RX100 (20MP) and A57 (16MP) and the RX100 (1") and A57 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The RX100 was released around the same time to the A57 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a quick overview of how the RX100 grades versus the A57 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 and Sony SLT-A57. The complete galleries are available at Sony RX100 Gallery and Sony A57 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony RX100 provides physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Sony RX100 and Sony A57 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the RX100 versus the A57.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the RX100 and A57 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Generally, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor measurements just by researching technical specs. The photograph here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the RX100 and A57.

As you have seen, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The RX100 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony RX100 will provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a good deal more aggressively.