Sony RX1R II vs Sony W800: The Ultimate Compact Camera Showdown for Every Photographer

When comparing cameras spanning vastly different categories, the challenge lies not just in raw specs but in fully understanding what each model is designed to do - and where it truly excels or falls short. Today, we dive into two Sony compacts that reflect opposite ends of the spectrum: the professional-grade Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II, a large-sensor compact renowned among experts for exceptional image quality, and the ultra-budget Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800, a basic point-and-shoot aimed at casual users who crave simplicity and portability.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras - from DSLRs to smartphone hybrids - I’ll bring you evidence-based, hands-on insights that help you decide which camera might fit your photographic ambitions and budget, rather than just dazzled by numbers on a spec sheet. We will dissect everything from sensor technology and autofocus capabilities through ergonomics and imaging performance, across the full gamut of photography genres. This isn’t about finding the “better” camera universally, but rather the right camera for you.

Size and Ergonomics: Handling Extremes in Compact Design

First impressions matter, and when you pick up the RX1R II versus the W800, the disparity in physical presence couldn’t be more obvious. The RX1R II is a large sensor compact built for serious photographers who want DSLR-quality images in a pocketable form; meanwhile, the W800 is stripped down to basics with a tiny body that fits unobtrusively in the hand - or a jacket pocket.

The RX1R II’s robust magnesium alloy body weighs 507g with dimensions around 113x65x72mm, offering solid heft and a premium grip that integrates a tilting 3-inch LCD and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder. Its controls feel precise and thoughtfully laid out, which you’ll appreciate during long shoots where intuitive handling speeds workflow.

In stark contrast, the W800 tips the scales at a mere 125g and measures a slender 97x55x21mm, sporting a fixed lens and no viewfinder. It’s a true grab-and-go camera optimized for snapshots and travel without hassle. However, the smaller size also means compromises: the W800’s plastic build and cramped controls feel flimsier, and the fixed, non-tilting 2.7-inch LCD with low resolution (230k dots) limits usability in bright light or complex shooting scenarios.

Ergonomically, the RX1R II excels for sustained use and manual operation - its buttons are well separated, the dials offer tactile feedback, and the electronic viewfinder gives you vital framing stability in tough conditions. By contrast, the W800 is all about face-value simplicity and convenience: no bells, no whistles, but it’s easy enough to use for quick family shots or casual travel snaps.

Design and Control Layout: Pro Features vs Basic Functionality

A more detailed top-down look shows the RX1R II’s thoughtful control architecture designed to facilitate advanced shooting modes, whereas the W800 opts for a barebones interface.

Sony places an emphasis on tactile control for the RX1R II, with dedicated dials for exposure compensation, shutter speed, and aperture priority mode, plus customizable function buttons. This makes changing settings on the fly intuitive without scrolling through menus - a hallmark of cameras built for speed and flexibility in complex environments.

The W800, however, removes manual shooting altogether, offering only fully automatic modes plus basic scene selections. Its top features a simple shutter and zoom control lacking any dials or switches for fine adjustments. For absolute beginners, this might be a relief, but advanced users will find this limiting.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The most significant difference is in the sensor tech - a factor that drives ultimate image quality and creative potential.

The RX1R II boasts a 42.4MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor (35.9x24mm) without an anti-aliasing filter, specifically engineered to resolve razor-sharp detail and exceptional dynamic range with excellent low-light sensitivity. This sensor routinely scores near the very top on DxOMark, hitting a stellar overall score of 97, impressive color depth of 25.8 stops, and up to 13.9 stops of dynamic range.

Furthermore, its ISO sensitivity range spans from ISO 50 to a boosted 102,400, making it remarkably versatile for everything from bright daylight landscapes to dim indoor photography and night scenes. The absence of an anti-aliasing filter means images have very high resolution and micro-contrast - ideal for large prints and cropping.

By contrast, the W800 packs a modest 20-megapixel 1/2.3” CCD sensor (6.17x4.55mm), which is typical of entry-level compact cameras aimed at casual consumers. While 20MP sounds respectable, the tiny sensor size severely limits image quality - especially in terms of noise at higher ISOs, depth of field control, and overall dynamic range. Its maximum ISO of 3200 pales in comparison to the RX1R II’s performance envelope.

In practical shooting, the RX1R II produces images that are virtually unparalleled in the compact camera category - rich skin tones, subtle gradations in sky and foliage, and excellent separation of subjects thanks to the fixed fast 35mm f/2 lens. The W800 excels only under bright, well-lit conditions, delivering acceptable quality at small print or web resolutions but struggles with noise, color accuracy, and lack of creative control.

Display and Viewfinder Experience: Framing Your Shot

A camera’s LCD and viewfinder are crucial for framing and reviewing images, especially when working in varied lighting or requiring precision.

The RX1R II’s tiltable 3-inch, 1.23 million-dot LCD offers excellent clarity - vital for checking focus, exposure, and detail, particularly when shooting at unconventional angles. More importantly, the electronic viewfinder boasts a 2.35 million-dot OLED panel with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification, rivaling mirrorless shooters. This EVF proves indispensable for bright light shooting or when you want absolute framing precision.

On the other hand, the W800 uses a fixed 2.7-inch 230k-dot TFT LCD with no viewfinder at all, which can hamper framing in bright daylight due to glare and low resolution. The absence of any tilting or touchscreen functionality means the display can feel limiting and less responsive to fast-changing environments or creative angles.

For users who rely on precise composition and manual focus confirmation, the RX1R II’s dual display system is a clear advantage.

Autofocus System: Precision vs Simplicity

Autofocus capabilities can make or break a camera’s usability, especially in fast-moving or challenging scenarios.

The RX1R II incorporates a hybrid autofocus system with 25 phase-detection points and contrast detection, with face detection and tracking features integrated to assist in maintaining sharp focus on subjects. While its AF is not as blazing fast as Sony's more recent mirrorless lineups, it is nonetheless effective and reliable for portraits, landscapes, and general use.

The W800 offers only a simple contrast-detection AF system with unspecified focus points and basic center-weighted focus area. No manual focus is available, and its AF struggles in low light or complex scenes, often hunting or locking later than more advanced systems.

If you shoot portraits or wildlife and require responsive locking on the eye or moving subjects, the RX1R II’s autofocus system is far more capable.

Lens and Optical Performance: Fixed Prime vs Zoom Simplicity

One major design distinction is lens choice: the RX1R II sports a fixed 35mm f/2.0 Carl Zeiss Sonnar prime lens, unapologetically built for image quality. Its ultra-sharp optics deliver exceptional corner-to-corner sharpness, lovely bokeh for subject isolation, and excellent flare resistance. This focal length is a classic walk-around lens favored by street photographers and environmental portraitists alike.

Conversely, the W800’s 26-130mm (5x optical zoom) lens with an aperture range of f/3.2-6.4 offers versatile framing options for snapshots - from wide-angle group shots to moderate telephoto close-ups. The optical stabilization helps reduce blur but the overall image quality reflects the budget design: softness toward the telephoto end, chromatic aberration under challenging lighting, and muted background blur due to small sensor sizes.

This means the RX1R II crafts superior portraits and artistic imagery with creamy subject separation, while the W800 favors convenience and flexibility for casual shooters who want zoom without fuss.

Real-World Photography Performance Across Genres

Let’s now break down use cases across popular photography disciplines to see how each camera performs in practical scenarios.

Portrait Photography

The RX1R II shines through its full-frame sensor and fast f/2 lens, rendering skin tones with nuance and controlling background blur beautifully. Eye detection AF (though no animal detection) improves focus on human subjects, making it ideal for environmental portraits or artistic headshots.

In contrast, the W800’s small sensor and zoom lens produce flatter images with limited bokeh and noisier skin tones under indoor lighting. Autofocus is basic and slower, making portrait work less satisfying beyond casual snapshots.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters will appreciate the RX1R II’s outstanding dynamic range (close to 14 stops) and high resolution (42MP), facilitating large prints and detailed capture of skies and foliage. The ability to shoot at ISO 50 also preserves highlight detail. Although this camera lacks weather sealing, its build quality still feels rugged enough for controlled outdoor use.

The W800’s sensor cannot rival this; limited dynamic range and smaller resolution result in less detailed, less colorful landscapes. Moreover, its plastic body and no weather resistance make it less suitable in adverse conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither compact is a true wildlife or sports specialist given their limited continuous shooting speeds (RX1R II at 5 fps, W800 at 1 fps) and focusing systems, but the RX1R II’s faster AF and better lens sharpness can capture static wildlife or slow action better.

The W800 is challenged to keep pace with moving subjects and has limited telephoto reach compared to interchangeable-lens systems.

Sony RX1R II front Sony RX1R II screen back Sony W800 front Sony W800 screen back

Reviewing side-by-side images, the RX1R II’s superior detail, color rendition, and bokeh are immediately apparent - especially in portrait and low-light environments. The W800’s shots suffice for web sharing and snapshots but lack punch and fidelity.

Street Photography

The RX1R II’s quiet shutter, compact yet substantial body, and prime lens make it a stealthy option for street shooters who want full-frame quality without DSLR bulk. It excels where discretion and fast focus on faces are required.

Conversely, the W800’s tiny stature lends it to casual street shooting, but its slow autofocus and lack of viewfinder can hinder responsiveness and composition, particularly in lower light.

Macro Photography

Though not a dedicated macro camera, the RX1R II comes close with a minimum focus distance of 14 cm giving decent close-up framing, and with manual focus, you can finesse focus stacks creatively. Its lack of image stabilization is a drawback, but the sensor’s resolution can accommodate cropping.

The W800 does not offer macro focus modes, nor does it have an especially close minimum focus distance; so macro work is limited to basic flower or object shots under good lighting.

Night and Astrophotography

Here the RX1R II’s full-frame sensor shines with excellent low-light sensitivity (native ISO up to 25600, boost to 102400), minimal noise, and long exposure support up to 30s. Its silent shutter option reduces vibration, which is helpful for long exposures of stars or nightscapes.

The W800, with a max shutter speed of only 1.5s and ISO max 3200, struggles in dark conditions and cannot be recommended for serious night photography.

Video Capabilities: Professional Quality vs Casual Clips

For videographers, the RX1R II offers Full HD 1080p recording up to 60p, with multiple frame data rates and codec options (XAVC S, AVCHD) that deliver professional-grade footage in terms of bitrate and color fidelity. It also has a microphone input for audio capture, although no headphone jack for monitoring. No 4K video or in-body stabilization is a downside but typical for its 2015 release.

The W800 records only up to 720p at 30fps in AVI MPEG4 format, with no external audio input or advanced features. Video quality is basic, suitable for family memories but not for higher-level production.

Travel and Portability: Versatility and Battery Life in the Field

Though much smaller and lighter, the W800’s plastic build and simple menu structure make it an effortless travel companion for first-time users or those prioritizing minimal gear.

The RX1R II, although heavier, bridges travel and professional needs with its pocketable form, wide robustness, excellent battery life (approx. 220 shots per charge), and wide compatibility with SD and Memory Stick cards. Its wireless connectivity (built-in Wi-Fi and NFC) also eases file sharing compared to the W800, which lacks wireless altogether.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

The RX1R II is a clear contender for professionals and enthusiasts requiring uncompromising quality in a compact form. Full RAW support, wide ISO range, reliable manual controls, and support for high-end lenses (although fixed) make it suitable for demanding workflow integration.

In contrast, the W800 only saves JPEG files, offers limited exposure control, and cannot accommodate advanced workflows.

Price-to-Performance: Evaluating Value Across Budgets

Here comes the scientific reality check: the RX1R II commands a steep price tag near $3300, reflecting its high-end sensor and build. If you need top-tier image quality, manual operation, and professional reliability in a compact camera, this is an investment that pays off.

Meanwhile, the W800 sits near $90 - a fraction of the cost. It offers simplicity and basic shooting for users with minimal expectations and tight budgets, making it an unbeatable choice for beginners or casual snapshooters who want no fuss.

Our expert scoring synthesis confirms the RX1R II outperforms the W800 in almost every measurable aspect: image quality, autofocus, build, and video capabilities, while the W800 excels in portability and ease of use.

Final Takeaway: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

• Choose the Sony RX1R II if:

  • You are a serious enthusiast or professional seeking pro-level image quality in a compact form
  • You want a full-frame sensor with a superb fixed lens ideal for portraits, landscapes, and street photography
  • Your workflow involves RAW files and detailed post-processing
  • You desire manual controls and a high-resolution EVF
  • Budget is less of a constraint than image quality and handling

• Choose the Sony W800 if:

  • You are a casual user or beginner wanting an affordable, ultra-simple point-and-shoot
  • You prioritize portability, ease of use, and basic snapshot functionality
  • Budget is tight and you don’t require manual controls or high image quality
  • Your photography is mostly daylight travel photos, family events, or quick shots with minimal post-processing

My Personal Verdict

Having spent hours comparing the two, I’m genuinely impressed by how well the RX1R II holds up even today as a niche masterpiece of compact camera design. It’s a testament to Sony’s engineering that such a small package can produce DSLR-grade images with superb sharpness and tone. However, it’s a luxury tool best suited for those who understand and can wield its capabilities.

The W800, by contrast, is exactly what it aims to be - a budget-friendly, entry-level compact camera that delivers reasonable results without complexity. It has clear limitations but offers solid value for casual users who simply want a no-nonsense digital camera.

Ultimately, your choice depends on whether you prioritize uncompromising image quality and professional control, or convenience and affordability. Both cameras serve distinct purposes well, and understanding your photographic goals will guide you confidently to one or the other.

Whether you’re hunting for a high-end compact or a beginner travel camera, I hope this detailed comparison equips you with the insight to make the best choice for your photographic journey. Happy shooting!