The Sony Alpha A7R and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in October 2013 and October 2016. The A7R is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the RX100 V is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (A7R) and an one-inch (RX100 V) sensor. The A7R has a resolution of 36.2 megapixels, whereas the RX100 V provides 20 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.
An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A7R and the Sony RX100 V is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures 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 RX100 V is considerably smaller (50 percent) than the Sony A7R. It is worth mentioning in this context that the A7R is splash and dust resistant, while the RX100 V does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.
The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX100 V has a lens built in, whereas the A7R 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 A7R and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.
Concerning battery life, the A7R gets 340 shots out of its NP-FW50 battery, while the RX100 V can take 220 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.
Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera's release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer's line-up and the competition. The RX100 V was launched at a lower price than the A7R, 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A7R features a full frame sensor and the Sony RX100 V an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX100 V 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.
With 36.2MP, the A7R offers a higher resolution than the RX100 V (20MP), but the A7R nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.88μm versus 2.41μm for the RX100 V) due to its larger sensor. However, the RX100 V is a somewhat more recent model (by 2 years and 11 months) than the A7R, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the A7R has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.
The Sony Alpha A7R has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 50-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600..
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"). Of the two cameras under review, the A7R provides substantially higher image quality than the RX100 V, with an overall score that is 25 points higher. This advantage is based on 2.8 bits higher color depth, 1.7 EV in additional dynamic range, and 2.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the RX100 V provides a better video resolution than the A7R. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the A7R is limited to 1080/60p.
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A7R offers a slightly higher resolution than the one in the RX100 V (2400k vs 2359k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Sony A7R, the Sony RX100 V, and comparable cameras.
One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The RX100 V has one, while the A7R does not. While the built-in flash of the RX100 V is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.
The RX100 V has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the A7R does not have a selfie-screen.
Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A7R and the RX100 V write their files to 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.
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 Alpha A7R and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
It is notable that the A7R has a hotshoe, while the RX100 V does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.
The RX100 V is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the A7R has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A7R was succeeded by the Sony A7R II. Further information on the two cameras, as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Sony website.
So what is the bottom line? Is the Sony A7R better than the Sony RX100 V or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.
Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.71x vs 0.22x).
Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (24 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the A7R necessitates an extra lens.
More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 127x94mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the A7R).
More modern: Reflects 2 years and 11 months of technical progress since the A7R launch.
If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A7R emerges as the winner of the contest (15 : 12 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.
Do the specifications of the Sony A7R and the Sony RX100 V place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings.
In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the A7R and the RX100 V in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.