Sony RX100 vs Sony A77

Let's take a closer look at the Sony RX100 versus Sony A77, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both created by Sony. The image resolution of the RX100 (20MP) and the A77 (24MP) is fairly comparable but the RX100 (1") and A77 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The RX100 was revealed 11 months later than the A77 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A77 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the RX100 scores vs the A77 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 and Sony SLT-A77. The full galleries are provided at Sony RX100 Gallery and Sony A77 Gallery.

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony RX100 offers physical dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs) and the Sony A77 has measurements of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") and a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Contrast the Sony RX100 versus Sony A77 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the RX100 vs the A77.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the RX100 and A77 is 91 and 59 respectively.

Generally, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph here will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the RX100 and A77.

As you can see, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The RX100 with its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony A77 will provide extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer RX100 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.