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Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500

Portability
78
Imaging
76
Features
65
Overall
71
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Sony RX1R II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 507g - 113 x 65 x 72mm
  • Released October 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX1R
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Sony WX350
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Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the RX1R II (42MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the RX1R II (Full frame) and WX500 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The RX1R II was manufactured 7 months later than the WX500 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony RX1R II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the RX1R II grades vs the WX500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1R II over the Sony WX500

 RX1R II WX500 
ReleasedOctober 2015April 2015More recent by 7 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display resolution1229k921kCrisper display (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony RX1R II

 WX500 RX1R II 

Common features in the Sony RX1R II and Sony WX500

 RX1R II WX500 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Sony RX1R II offers exterior measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 507 grams (1.12 lbs) while the Sony WX500 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the RX1R II vs the WX500.

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RX1R II and WX500 is 78 and 91 respectively.

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out technical specs. The graphic below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the RX1R II and WX500.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The RX1R II featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony RX1R II will provide more detail due to its extra 24MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more modern RX1R II should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony RX1R II
Portrait photography with Sony WX500
85
you can focus manually
above average flash sync (1/4,000s)
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has face detect focus
saves RAW formats
39
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has face detection focus
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony RX1R II
Street photography with Sony WX500
73
tilting screen
sensor size is big (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (507g)
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony RX1R II
Sports photography with Sony WX500
63
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
has tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (220 shots)
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1R II Travel photography factors
Sony WX500 Travel photography factors
59
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery (220 per charge)
more heavy than others (507g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
71
better than average battery (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1R II as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
68
you can focus manually
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count fantastic (42MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (220 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
49
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
better than average battery (360 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1R II Vlogging information
Sony WX500 Vlogging information
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
has face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (507 grams)
35
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
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Sony RX1R II vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1R II and Sony WX500
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R IISony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-10-13 2015-04-14
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ X Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 42 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 7952 x 5304 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO 102400 -
Minimum native ISO 50 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35mm (1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 14cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Off, auto, fill flash, slow sync, rear sync, wireless Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/4000 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 507 gr (1.12 pounds) 236 gr (0.52 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 65 x 72mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 97 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 25.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 3204 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 360 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2,5, 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $3,300 $348