Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R II→Sony RX100 VA
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7R II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the RX100 VA
-
Burst rate24fps with AF/AE tracking vs 5fps
-
Generation3 years newer (2018 vs 2015)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 42MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | A7R II | RX100 VA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.0 | ||
| Street | +1.8 | ||
| Travel | +1.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.8 | ||
| Filmmaking | -1.6 | ||
| Documentary | -1.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -2.2 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +0.8 | ||
| Food | -1.5 | ||
| Macro | -2.1 | ||
| Architecture | -2.0 | ||
| Astrophotography | -3.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R II | RX100 VA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £420 used | £434 used | |
| Released | 2015 | 2018 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 42.4MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R | 20.1MP 1-inch CMOS | |
| Resolution | 42MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (S35 or full-frame), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (XAVC S), 1080p HFR up to 960fps, S-Log2 | |
| Autofocus | 399 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect AF points, face detection | 315-point phase-detect + 25-point contrast hybrid AF, Eye AF | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 4.5 stops (first A7R with IBIS) | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 5fps | 24fps with AF/AE tracking | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~290 shots (CIPA) | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 625g (with battery and card) | 299g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | Pop-up OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" LCD, 1.23M dots, tilts 180° up | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / Memory Stick slot |
Compare side-by-side
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