Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VII Comparison

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Sony RX100 V

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Sony RX100 VII

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VII Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing RX100 V and RX100 VII, two Large Sensor Compact cameras by Sony. Sony RX100 V was introduced to market in October 2016 and Sony RX100 VII was launched in July 2019. As you can see, RX100 V is 3 years older than RX100 VII. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

RX100 V and RX100 VII are members of Sony's RX100 series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Sony RX100 Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Sony RX100 VII	2019	20.0MP - 1-inch	20.0 fps	102 x 58 x 43mm	302g
Sony RX100 VA	2018	20.0MP - 1-inch	24.0 fps	102 x 58 x 41mm	299g
Sony RX100 VI	2018	20.0MP - 1-inch	24.0 fps	102 x 58 x 43mm	301g
Sony RX100 V	2016	20.0MP - 1-inch	24.0 fps	102 x 58 x 41mm	299g
Sony RX100 IV	2015	20.0MP - 1-inch	16.0 fps	102 x 58 x 41mm	298g

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony RX100 V Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-10-06

20MP - 1-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80-25600)

24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Tilting Screen

2359k dot Electronic viewfinder

24.0fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

960fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

299g. 102 x 58 x 41 mm

Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV Compare

Sony RX100 VII Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2019-07-25

20MP - 1-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800

24-200 mm F2.8-4.5 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Tilting Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

20.0fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution

960fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

302g. 102 x 58 x 43 mm

Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI Compare

Sony RX100 V was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VI vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

LCD Screen Resolution	1.229k dots vs 921k dots	33% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	24.0fps vs 20.0fps	4 fps faster
Weight	299 g vs 302 g	3 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 2.80	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	2.80 vs 4.50	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	10.2m vs 5.9m	4.3m longer range
Color Depth	22.8 vs 21.8	higher color depth
Low Light ISO	586 vs 418	better High ISO performance
Built-in ND Filter	3.0-stops vs No	Use larger aperture under strong light

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V

Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
Battery Life	260 shots vs 220 shots	40 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs With optional app	creative shooting
Focal Length - Tele	200mm vs 70mm	130 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	8.3x vs 2.9x	more flexible focal coverage
Bluetooth	Yes vs No	Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
UHS Card Support	UHS-I vs none	Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Animal Eye AF Tracking	Yes vs No	Easily lock and track focus on animals
Eye Tracking Focus	Yes vs No	Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen	Tilting vs Tilting	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic)	Better framing and control
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	20 MP vs 20 MP	Bigger prints and more details
Continuous Shooting	24.0fps vs 20.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD	Yes vs Yes	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection	Yes vs Yes	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level	Yes vs Yes	Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Webcam Function	Yes vs Yes	Use your camera as a Webcam

Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VII: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony RX100 V has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 41 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.61″) and weighs 299 g (0.66 lb / 10.55 oz) (including batteries). Sony RX100 VII has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 43 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.69″) and weighs 302 g (0.67 lb / 10.65 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII. Sony RX100 V has the same height and width with Sony RX100 VII. On the other hand, with a thickness of 41mm, it is 2mm thinner.

Comparison image of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII.

Comparison image of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII.

Top View Comparison image of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX100 V is 3g lighter than the Sony RX100 VII but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 V

RX100 VII

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100 V

RX100 VII

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels.

Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VII: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII have 1-inch sized 20.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the RX100 V and RX100 VII sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII Cameras

Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, RX100 V has scored 70, 7 points higher than RX100 VII.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Sony RX100 V	70	22.8 bits	12.4 Evs	586 ISO
Sony RX100 VII	63	21.8 bits	12.4 Evs	418 ISO

Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VII Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX100 V features a 24-70 mm F1.8-2.8 2.9x zoom lens whereas Sony RX100 VII features a 24-200 mm F2.8-4.5 8.3x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Sony RX100 V is faster than Sony RX100 VII at this focal length. On the tele end, Sony RX100 VII has 130mm longer telezoom reach than the Sony RX100 V. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Sony RX100 V is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100 V

RX100 VII

Widest - Canon G1 X II

Average

Telezoom

Large sensor compact Cameras

RX100 V

RX100 VII

Longest - Panasonic ZS200

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Large sensor compact Cameras

RX100 V

RX100 VII

Fastest - Leica Q

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Large sensor compact Cameras

RX100 V

RX100 VII

Fastest - Panasonic LX10

Average

What types of Photography are Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony RX100 V for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 VII for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony RX100 V for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony RX100 VII for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Sony RX100 V for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 VII for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 24.0fps
315 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
70 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Wireless Connection
200 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots
Read the details

Sony RX100 V for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony RX100 VII for Daily Photography

GOOD

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
299g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Body Thickness 41mm
2.9X Optical Zoom
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
8.3X Optical Zoom
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
302g
Body Thickness 43mm
Read the details

Sony RX100 V for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 VII for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony RX100 V vs Sony RX100 VII: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony RX100 V and Sony RX100 VII scores compare:

Sony RX100 V

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #26 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #242 out of 1229 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 VII

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #10 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #179 out of 1229 in all Cameras

Sony RX100 VII has a higher Overall Score than the Sony RX100 V and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Sony RX100 VII vs Sony RX100 V Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Brand	Sony	Sony
Announced	2016-10-06	2019-07-25
Body Type	Large sensor compact	Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1-inch	1-inch
Dimensions	13.2 x 8.8 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	116.16mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	20 megapixels	20 megapixels
Max Resolution	5472 x 3648	5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	25600 ISO	-
Min Native Light sensitivity	125 ISO	125 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity	80 ISO	64 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	315	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-70 mm (2.9x)	24-200 mm (8.3x)
Max Aperture	F1.8-2.8	F2.8-4.5
Macro Focus Range	5cm	8cm
Screen
Type	Tilting	Tilting
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	1,229k dots	921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	2,359k dots	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.59x	0.59x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2000s
Max Electronic Shutter	1/32000s	1/32000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	10.20 m (at Auto ISO)	5.90 m (at Auto ISO)
Max Flash Sync	1/2000s	1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	24.0 fps	20.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2160
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	299g	302g
Dimensions	102 x 58 x 41mm	102 x 58 x 43mm
Battery Life	220 shots	260 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording	With Downloadable App
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	70	63
DxO Color Depth	22.8	21.8
DxO Dynamic Range	12.4	12.4
DxO Low Light ISO	586	418
	Report a correction	Report a correction