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Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Comparison

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Sony RX100

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

Sony RX100
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Sony RX100 II

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

Sony RX100 II
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Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing RX100 and RX100 II, two Large Sensor Compact cameras by Sony. Both Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II cameras have 20.0MP 1-inch sensors. Sony RX100 was introduced to market in August 2012 and Sony RX100 II was launched in June 2013. There is only 10 months difference between RX100 and RX100 II so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

RX100 and RX100 II 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 and Sony RX100 II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony RX100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-08-28
  • 20MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240g. 102 x 58 x 36 mm

Sony RX100 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-27
  • 20MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 12800 ( expands to 100-25600)
  • 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 281g. 102 x 58 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Compare

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

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

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Max ISO
25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
Weight
240 g vs 281 g 41 g lighter
Color Depth
22.6 vs 22.5 higher color depth


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Battery Life
350 shots vs 330 shots 20 more frames with a single charge
Low Light ISO
483 vs 390 better High ISO performance

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
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
LCD Screen Resolution
1.229k dots vs 1.229k dots High resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Timelapse Recording
With Optional App vs With Optional App creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 1.80 Fast lenses at wide
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
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
Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 and Sony RX100 II side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony RX100 has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 36 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.41″) and weighs 240 g (0.53 lb / 8.47 oz) (including batteries). Sony RX100 II has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 38 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.51″) and weighs 281 g (0.62 lb / 9.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II. Sony RX100 has the same height and width with Sony RX100 II. On the other hand, with a thickness of 36mm, it is 2mm thinner.

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

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

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II.
Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX100 is significantly lighter (41g ) than the Sony RX100 II which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

RX100
RX100 II
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II 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 and Sony RX100 II's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Sony RX100 II features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Sony RX100 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to RX100 II.
Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II: Sensor Comparison

Both Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II 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 and RX100 II sensor size comparison.

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II Cameras


Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II 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

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It 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. Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that RX100 II has a better overall score of 67, 1 points higher compared to RX100's score of 66.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Sony RX100 66 22.6 bits 12.4 Evs 390 ISO
Sony RX100 II 67 22.5 bits 12.4 Evs 483 ISO
Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II Lens Specs Comparison

Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II features 28-100 mm F1.8-4.9 3.6x zoom lenses so they have the same focal range and light collecting ability.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm and have the same max aperture of f1.80 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 100mm and have the same max aperture of f4.90 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100
RX100 II
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100
RX100 II
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100
RX100 II
Fastest - Leica Q
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

RX100
RX100 II
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony RX100 and Sony RX100 II 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 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX100 II 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
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony RX100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony RX100 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Optional External Viewfinder
Read the details

Sony RX100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
25 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Sony RX100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony RX100 II for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
240g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
281g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Sony RX100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX100 II for Landscape Photography

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

Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II: 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 and Sony RX100 II, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 and Sony RX100 II scores compare:

Sony RX100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #42 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #384 out of 1225 in all Cameras
Sony RX100 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #33 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #261 out of 1225 in all Cameras

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

Sony RX100
Sony RX100
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Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100 II
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Sony RX100 II vs Sony RX100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2012-08-28 2013-06-27
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS 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 25,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 160 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 100 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 25 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-100 mm (3.6x) 28-100 mm (3.6x)
Max Aperture F1.8-4.9 F1.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 5cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3" 3
Resolution 1,229k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range n/a 15.00 m (ISO Auto (W))
Max Flash Sync 1/2000s 1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 240g 281g
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm 102 x 58 x 38mm
Battery Life 330 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 66 67
DxO Color Depth 22.6 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range 12.4 12.4
DxO Low Light ISO 390 483
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