Upgrade Guide
Sony A7R→Sony RX100
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the A7R. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the RX100
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Burst rate10fps (focus fixed at the first frame) vs 4fps
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
-
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 | RX100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.5 | ||
| Street | +0.6 | ||
| Travel | +0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.2 | ||
| Documentary | -1.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -2.4 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +0.3 | ||
| Food | -2.0 | ||
| Macro | -2.1 | ||
| Architecture | -2.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | A7R | RX100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £74 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2012 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) | 20.2MP 1-inch CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 1080p/60p | Full HD 1080p/60 | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) | 25-point contrast-detect AF with face detection | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | Optical SteadyShot (in the lens), no IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 10fps (focus fixed at the first frame) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~340 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 465g (with battery and card) | 240g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification | No viewfinder | |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots (no touch) | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-100mm f/1.8-4.9 | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD / Memory Stick slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See A7R and RX100 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the RX100 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the A7R
Related buying guides
Camera family history