Canon 6D vs Sony RX10 IV

The Canon EOS 6D and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2012 and September 2017. The 6D is a DSLR, while the RX10 IV is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (6D) and an one-inch (RX10 IV) sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 6D		Sony RX10 IV
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-600mm f/2.4-4.0
20 MP, Full Frame Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
1080/30p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 102,400)		ISO 100-12,800 (64 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1440k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
4.5 shutter flaps per second		24 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
1090 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
145 x 111 x 71 mm, 770 g		133 x 94 x 145 mm, 1095 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 6D and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 6D and the Sony RX10 IV are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX10 IV is notably smaller (22 percent) than the Canon 6D. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX10 IV has a lens built in, whereas the 6D is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 6D and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 6D gets 1090 shots out of its LP-E6 battery, while the RX10 IV can take 400 images on a single charge of its NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the RX10 IV can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life 1	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch 2	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon 6D	5.7 in	4.4 in	2.8 in	27.2 oz	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
	Sony RX10 IV	5.2 in	3.7 in	5.7 in	38.6 oz	400	Y	Sep 2017	1,699
	Canon 6D Mark II	5.7 in	4.4 in	3.0 in	27.0 oz	1200	Y	Jun 2017	1,999
	Canon 1D X Mark II	6.2 in	6.6 in	3.3 in	54.0 oz	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999
	Canon 5DS	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	32.8 oz	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699
	Canon 7D II	5.9 in	4.4 in	3.1 in	32.1 oz	670	Y	Sep 2014	1,799
	Canon 70D	5.5 in	4.1 in	3.1 in	26.6 oz	920	Y	Jul 2013	1,199
	Canon 5D Mark III	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	33.5 oz	950	Y	Mar 2012	3,499
	Canon 1D X	6.2 in	6.6 in	3.3 in	54.7 oz	1120	Y	Oct 2011	6,799
	Canon 5D Mark II	6.0 in	4.5 in	3.0 in	30.0 oz	850	Y	Sep 2008	3,499
	Nikon D610	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.2 in	30.0 oz	900	Y	Oct 2013	1,999
	Nikon D600	5.6 in	4.4 in	3.2 in	30.0 oz	900	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
	Sony RX100 VI	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.7 in	10.6 oz	240	n	Jun 2018	1,199
	Sony RX10 III	5.2 in	3.7 in	5.0 in	37.1 oz	420	Y	Mar 2016	1,499
	Sony RX100 V	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	220	n	Oct 2016	999
	Sony RX10 II	5.1 in	3.5 in	4.0 in	28.7 oz	400	Y	Jun 2015	1,299
	Sony RX10	5.1 in	3.5 in	4.0 in	28.7 oz	420	Y	Oct 2013	1,299
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement.

Camera Model
Canon 6D
Sony RX10 IV
Canon 6D Mark II
Canon 1D X Mark II
Canon 5DS
Canon 7D II
Canon 70D
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 1D X
Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D610
Nikon D600
Sony RX100 VI
Sony RX10 III
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX10 II
Sony RX10

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The RX10 IV was launched at a lower price than the 6D, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 6D features a full frame sensor and the Sony RX10 IV an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX10 IV is 87 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Even though the 6D has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 20 megapixels. This implies that the 6D has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 6.57μm versus 2.41μm for the RX10 IV), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the RX10 IV is much more recent (by 4 years and 11 months) than the 6D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The RX10 IV has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 6D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 64-25600.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
	Sony RX10 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon 6D Mark II	Full Frame	26.0	6240	4160	1080/60p	24.4	11.9	2862	85
	Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207	88
	Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
	Canon 7D II	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	11.8	1082	70
	Canon 70D	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	22.5	11.6	926	68
	Canon 5D Mark III	Full Frame	22.1	5760	3840	1080/30p	24.0	11.7	2293	81
	Canon 1D X	Full Frame	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	23.8	11.8	2786	82
	Canon 5D Mark II	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	1080/30p	23.7	11.9	1815	79
	Nikon D610	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.4	2925	94
	Nikon D600	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/30p	25.1	14.2	2980	94
	Sony RX100 VI	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony RX10 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.1	12.6	472	70
	Sony RX100 V	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	586	70
	Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
	Sony RX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.9	12.6	474	69

Camera Model
Canon 6D
Sony RX10 IV
Canon 6D Mark II
Canon 1D X Mark II
Canon 5DS
Canon 7D II
Canon 70D
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 1D X
Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D610
Nikon D600
Sony RX100 VI
Sony RX10 III
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX10 II
Sony RX10

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the RX10 IV provides a better video resolution than the 6D. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the RX10 IV has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), while the 6D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the RX10 IV offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 6D (97%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. On the other hand, the viewfinder of the 6D has a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.70x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 6D, the Sony RX10 IV, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
	Sony RX10 IV	2359	Y	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y
	Canon 6D Mark II	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.5	n	n
	Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2	1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0	n	n
	Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
	Canon 7D II	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	Y	n
	Canon 70D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
	Canon 5D Mark III	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	n	n
	Canon 1D X	optical	Y	3.2	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	14.0	n	n
	Canon 5D Mark II	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.9	n	n
	Nikon D610	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
	Nikon D600	optical	Y	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	Y	n
	Sony RX100 VI	2359	n	3.0	1229	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX10 III	2359	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	14.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 V	2359	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX10	1440	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0	Y	Y

Camera Model
Canon 6D
Sony RX10 IV
Canon 6D Mark II
Canon 1D X Mark II
Canon 5DS
Canon 7D II
Canon 70D
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 1D X
Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D610
Nikon D600
Sony RX100 VI
Sony RX10 III
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX10 II
Sony RX10

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The RX10 IV has a touchscreen, while the 6D has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the RX10 IV is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The 6D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the RX10 IV uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 6D and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Sony RX10 IV	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon 6D Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
	Canon 5DS	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
	Canon 7D II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
	Canon 70D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Canon 5D Mark III	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon 1D X	Y	mono	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon 5D Mark II	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D610	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D600	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Sony RX100 VI	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony RX10 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 V	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX10	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

Camera Model
Canon 6D
Sony RX10 IV
Canon 6D Mark II
Canon 1D X Mark II
Canon 5DS
Canon 7D II
Canon 70D
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 1D X
Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D610
Nikon D600
Sony RX100 VI
Sony RX10 III
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX10 II
Sony RX10

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the 6D has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The RX10 IV is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the 6D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 6D was succeeded by the Canon 6D Mark II. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Canon 6D better than the Sony RX10 IV or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 6D:

• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.70x).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1090 versus 400) on a single battery charge.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2012).

Reasons to prefer the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV:

• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 97%).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1440k vs 1040k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (24 vs 4.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 6D requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (133x94mm vs 145x111mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 11 months of technical progress since the 6D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the RX10 IV is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 6D and the Sony RX10 IV place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 6D or the RX10 IV. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon 6D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
	Sony RX10 IV	+	84/100	4.5/5	..	5/5	Sep 2017	1,699
	Canon 6D Mark II	+	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4/5	Jun 2017	1,999
	Canon 1D X Mark II	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999
	Canon 5DS	+	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699
	Canon 7D II	+	84/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	1,799
	Canon 70D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2013	1,199
	Canon 5D Mark III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2012	3,499
	Canon 1D X	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2011	6,799
	Canon 5D Mark II	91/100	79/100	4/5	5/5	..	Sep 2008	3,499
	Nikon D610	+ +	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,999
	Nikon D600	+ +	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
	Sony RX100 VI	+ +	83/100	4/5	..	4.5/5	Jun 2018	1,199
	Sony RX10 III	+	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2016	1,499
	Sony RX100 V	+ +	83/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	999
	Sony RX10 II	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	1,299
	Sony RX10	+	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,299
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Camera Model
Canon 6D
Sony RX10 IV
Canon 6D Mark II
Canon 1D X Mark II
Canon 5DS
Canon 7D II
Canon 70D
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 1D X
Canon 5D Mark II
Nikon D610
Nikon D600
Sony RX100 VI
Sony RX10 III
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX10 II
Sony RX10

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

Specifications: Canon 6D vs Sony RX10 IV

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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