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Sony RX1R vs Sony A55

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed June 2013
  • New Model is Sony RX1R II
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Successor is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Sony RX1R and Sony A55, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are built by Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the RX1R (24MP) and A55 (16MP) and the RX1R (Full frame) and A55 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The RX1R was brought out 2 years after the A55 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the RX1R grades versus the A55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A55

 RX1R A55 
IntroducedJune 2013August 2010More modern by 35 months
Screen resolution1229k921kClearer screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony RX1R

 A55 RX1R 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony RX1R and Sony A55

 RX1R A55 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Sony RX1R offers outer dimensions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Look at the Sony RX1R and Sony A55 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the RX1R and the A55.

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the RX1R and A55 is 79 and 67 respectively.

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The image below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the RX1R and A55.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The RX1R because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony RX1R will provide you with extra detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more modern RX1R provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1R Portrait photography information
Sony A55 Portrait photography information
82
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000s)
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
73
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1R Street photography highlights
Sony A55 Street photography highlights
66
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
great high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482g)
77
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX1R Sports photography information
Sony A55 Sports photography information
53
MP count good (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
fixed focal length (35mm)
max frames per second low (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (270 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1R as a Travel photography camera
Sony A55 as a Travel photography camera
62
MP count good (24MP)
has built in flash
great max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery pack (270 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
62
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery life (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony RX1R
Landscape photography with Sony A55
66
you can focus manually
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (270 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
67
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (380 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1R as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
34
great max aperture (f2.0)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone support
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (482 grams)
78
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with external microphone support
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Sony RX1R vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1R and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1RSony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R Sony SLT-A55
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-06-26 2010-08-24
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 855.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 25 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 35mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0 -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,229k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Xtra FineTFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic and Optical (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/4000 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 482 gr (1.06 lb) 500 gr (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 91 73
DXO Color Depth score 25.0 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 13.6 12.4
DXO Low light score 2537 816
Other
Battery life 270 photographs 380 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $2,798 $800