A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Sony RX1 vs A7

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 and the Sony Alpha A7 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2012 and October 2013. The RX1 is a fixed lens compact, while the A7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

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

Headline Specifications
Sony RX1
versus
Sony A7
Sony RX1   Sony A7
Fixed lens compact camera Mirrorless system camera
35mm f/2.0 Sony E mount lenses
24 MP – Full Frame sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 102,400) ISO 100-25,600 (50 - 51,200)
Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)
3.0" LCD – 1229k dots 3.0" LCD – 1230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
5 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
270 shots per battery charge340 shots per battery charge
113 x 65 x 70 mm, 482 g 127 x 94 x 48 mm, 474 g
logo
Check RX1 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check A7 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 and the Sony Alpha A7? 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.

ad

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Sony RX1 and the Sony A7 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Sony RX1 vs Sony A7
Compare RX1 versus A7 top
Comparison RX1 or A7 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A7 is considerably larger (63 percent) than the Sony RX1. It is noteworthy in this context that the A7 is splash and dust-proof, while the RX1 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX1 has a lens built in, whereas the A7 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 A7 and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the RX1 gets 270 shots out of its Sony NP-BX1 battery, while the A7 can take 340 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-FW50 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony RX1 113 mm 65 mm 70 mm 482 g 270 n Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A7 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 474 g 340 Y Oct 2013 1,699ebay.com
3.
 
Leica X Vario 133 mm 73 mm 95 mm 680 g 450 n Jun 2013 2,850ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 799ebay.com
5.
 
Sony RX1R II 113 mm 65 mm 72 mm 507 g 220 n Oct 2015 3,299ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A7 II 127 mm 96 mm 60 mm 599 g 350 Y Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A7S 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 489 g 380 Y Apr 2014 2,499ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A7R 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 465 g 340 Y Oct 2013 2,299ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A3000 128 mm 91 mm 85 mm 411 g 470 n Aug 2013 329ebay.com
10.
 
Sony RX1R 113 mm 65 mm 70 mm 482 g 270 n Jun 2013 2,799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 749ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 240 g 330 n Jun 2012 649ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-7 120 mm 67 mm 43 mm 400 g 430 n Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant 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. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Sony RX1 and Sony A7 sensor measures

Even though the A7 has a slightly larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels. This implies that the A7 has a lower pixel density and marginally larger individual pixels (with a pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 5.96μm for the RX1), which gives it a potential advantage in terms of light gathering capacity. In addition, the A7 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 1 month) than the RX1, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The A7 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 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 Alpha A7 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-51200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

RX1 versus A7 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Sony RX1 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.114.3253493
2.
 
Sony A7 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.814.2224890
3.
 
Leica X Vario APS-C 16.1 4928 32721080/30p23.412.7132078
4.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
5.
 
Sony RX1R II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53041080/60p25.813.9320497
6.
 
Sony A7 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.913.6244990
7.
 
Sony A7S Full Frame 12.0 4240 28321080/60p23.913.2370287
8.
 
Sony A7R Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.614.1274695
9.
 
Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.8106878
10.
 
Sony RX1R Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p25.013.6253791
11.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
12.
 
Sony RX100 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.612.439066
13.
 
Sony NEX-7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.113.4101681
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

ad

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the A7 has an electronic viewfinder (2400k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the RX1 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the RX1 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the FDA-EV1MK. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Sony RX1, the Sony A7, and comparable cameras.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Sony RX1optional n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
2.
 
Sony A72400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
3.
 
Leica X Variooptional n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/2000s 5.0/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Sony RX1R II2360 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 5.0/s n n
6.
 
Sony A7 II2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
7.
 
Sony A7S2400 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
8.
 
Sony A7R2400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 4.0/s n n
9.
 
Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
10.
 
Sony RX1Roptional n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony RX100none n3.0 / 1229 fixed n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony NEX-72359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The RX1 has one, while the A7 does not. While the built-in flash of the RX1 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the RX1 and the A7 write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A7 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the RX1 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

ad

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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 and Sony Alpha A7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Sony RX1Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Sony A7Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
3.
 
Leica X VarioYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
4.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
5.
 
Sony RX1R IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Sony A7 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
7.
 
Sony A7SYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
8.
 
Sony A7RYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
9.
 
Sony A3000Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Sony RX1RYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony RX100-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
13.
 
Sony NEX-7Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
padding

It is notable that the A7 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the RX1 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the RX1 and the A7 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The RX1 was replaced by the Sony RX1R, while the A7 was followed by the Sony A7 II. Further information on the features and operation of the RX1 and A7 can be found, respectively, in the Sony RX1 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony A7 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Sony RX1 better than the Sony A7 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1:

  • Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the A7 requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (113x65mm vs 127x94mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2012).


Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A7:

  • 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.
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (340 versus 270) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 1 month) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the A7 is the clear winner of the contest (12 : 4 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

RX1 04:12 A7

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony RX1 and the Sony A7 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Prime Lens Compact Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the RX1 or the A7 perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Sony RX15/5....79/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2012 2,799ebay.com
2.
 
Sony A75/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 1,699ebay.com
3.
 
Leica X Vario3/5......4/54/5 Jun 2013 2,850ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 799ebay.com
5.
 
Sony RX1R II5/5....82/100..4.5/5 Oct 2015 3,299ebay.com
6.
 
Sony A7 II5/5+4/582/1004.5/55/5 Nov 2014 1,999ebay.com
7.
 
Sony A7S4/5....86/1004.5/55/5 Apr 2014 2,499ebay.com
8.
 
Sony A7R5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2013 2,299ebay.com
9.
 
Sony A30003/5+....4/54/5 Aug 2013 329ebay.com
10.
 
Sony RX1R5/5......4/54.5/5 Jun 2013 2,799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 749ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX1005/5+ +..78/1004/55/5 Jun 2012 649ebay.com
13.
 
Sony NEX-75/5+ +..81/1004.5/55/5 Aug 2011 1,349ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

logo
Check RX1 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check A7 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Sony RX1 vs Sony A7

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Sony RX1 Sony A7
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens 35mm f/2.0 Sony E mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2012 October 2013
    Launch Price USD 2,799 USD 1,699
    Sensor Specs Sony RX1 Sony A7
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.8 x 23.8 mm 35.8 x 23.9 mm
    Sensor Area 852.04 mm2 855.62 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43 mm 43 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.96 μm 5.97 μm
    Pixel Density 2.82 MP/cm2 2.80 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 102,400 ISO 50 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor BIONZ X BIONZ X
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 93 90
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.1 24.8
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.3 14.2
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 2534 2248
    Screen Specs Sony RX1 Sony A7
    Viewfinder Type Viewfinder optional Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2400k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1229k dots 1230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Sony RX1 Sony A7
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium MS or SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Sony RX1 Sony A7
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Sony RX1 Sony A7
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Sony NP-BX1 Sony NP-FW50
    Battery Life (CIPA)270 shots per charge340 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 113 x 65 x 70 mm
    (4.4 x 2.6 x 2.8 in)
    127 x 94 x 48 mm
    (5.0 x 3.7 x 1.9 in)
    Camera Weight 482 g (17.0 oz) 474 g (16.7 oz)
    logo
    Check RX1 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check A7 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Sony RX1 vs Sony A7