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Sony RX1R vs Sony A57

Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
58
Overall
65
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony RX1R
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Successor is Sony RX1R II
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A55
  • Renewed by Sony A58
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Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Overview

The following is a thorough assessment of the Sony RX1R and Sony A57, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the RX1R (24MP) and A57 (16MP) and the RX1R (Full frame) and A57 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The RX1R was launched 10 months after the A57 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony RX1R being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a short introduction of how the RX1R grades against the A57 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony RX1R over the Sony A57

 RX1R A57 
RevealedJune 2013September 2012Newer by 10 months
Screen resolution1229k921kSharper screen (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony RX1R

 A57 RX1R 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony RX1R and Sony A57

 RX1R A57 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Sony RX1R comes with exterior measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs) and the Sony A57 has specifications of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

See the Sony RX1R and Sony A57 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the RX1R vs the A57.

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the RX1R and A57 is 79 and 64 respectively.

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's tough to see the contrast in sensor dimensions only by researching technical specs. The picture underneath might offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the RX1R and A57.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The RX1R due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Sony RX1R will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots much more aggressively. The more modern RX1R is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony RX1R as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
82
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/4,000s)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony RX1R Street photography info
Sony A57 Street photography info
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
great ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482 grams)
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony RX1R Sports photography highlights
Sony A57 Sports photography highlights
53
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides tracking autofocus
focal length is fixed (35mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony RX1R Travel photography information
Sony A57 Travel photography information
62
MP count decent (24MP)
has built in flash
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (270 shots)
heavier than competition in class (482g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
67
good resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Sony RX1R Landscape photography information
Sony A57 Landscape photography information
66
manual focus
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (35mm)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
72
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony RX1R Vlogging info
Sony A57 Vlogging info
34
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic support
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (482g)
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic port
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Sony RX1R vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony RX1R and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1RSony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R Sony SLT-A57
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2013-06-26 2012-09-13
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.8 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 855.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 16000
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 25 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 35mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/2.0 -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,229k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology Xtra FineTFT LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic and Optical (optional) 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 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 5.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/4000 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 482g (1.06 lb) 618g (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 91 75
DXO Color Depth rating 25.0 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.6 13.0
DXO Low light rating 2537 785
Other
Battery life 270 photos 550 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
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 Single Single
Retail cost $2,798 $1,000