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Sony RX100 vs Sony A57

Portability
91
Imaging
50
Features
68
Overall
57
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 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
  • Launched August 2012
  • Successor is Sony RX100 II
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
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Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 Overview

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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony A57

 RX100 A57 
Display resolution1229k921kClearer display (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony RX100

 A57 RX100 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony RX100 and Sony A57

 RX100 A57 
AnnouncedAugust 2012September 2012Same generation
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display sizing
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 size comparison

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

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

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.

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX100 Portrait photography information
Sony A57 Portrait photography information
64
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
74
has manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony RX100 Street photography advice
Sony A57 Street photography advice
79
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (240 grams)
good ISO range (25,600)
fixed screen
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX100 Sports photography highlights
Sony A57 Sports photography highlights
65
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX100 Travel photography details
Sony A57 Travel photography details
79
lighter than average in class (240 grams)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
67
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX100 Landscape photography advice
Sony A57 Landscape photography advice
74
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
72
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A57 as a Vlogging camera
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (240g)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic jack
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone jack
Photography Glossary

Sony RX100 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX100 and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Sony SLT-A57
Class Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-08-28 2012-09-13
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type 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 20 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
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) -
Max aperture f/1.8-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,229k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech WhiteMagic TFT LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 240 grams (0.53 lbs) 618 grams (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 75
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 13.0
DXO Low light rating 390 785
Other
Battery life 330 shots 550 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording 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
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $448 $1,000