After a bit of research for a compact camera that’s easy to carry around and ready for anything interesting one might come across. After looking at different compact models including Panasonic Lumix S9, Fujifilm X100v, I narrowed it down to the Sony RX100 VII and Sony A6400. The Sony RX100 VII came out on top—striking a great balance between flexibility and portability when compared to the Sony A6400.
As the owner of an interchangeable lens camera already, the A6400 wouldn’t have changed how often I take a camera out. Even with a pancake lens, it would still be too bulky, and the types of shots possible would be limited due to the fixed nature of pancake lenses.
The RX100 VII, on the other hand, fits in your pocket, has all the features needed to compose any shot, a decent focal range, and an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.5.
Below is a feature-by-feature comparison…
| Feature | Sony RX100 VII | Sony A6400 |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Compact (fixed lens) | Mirrorless (interchangeable lenses) |
| Sensor | 1″ Exmor RS CMOS, 20.1MP | APS-C Exmor CMOS, 24.2MP |
| ISO Range | 125–12,800 (expandable to 80–25,600) | 100–32,000 (expandable to 102,400) |
| Lens | Built-in 24–200mm eq., f/2.8–4.5 | E-mount (no lens included) |
| Autofocus Points | 357 phase-detect AF points | 425 phase-detect AF points |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 20 fps | Up to 11 fps |
| Image Stabilization | Optical SteadyShot (lens-based) | Lens-dependent (no IBIS) |
| Viewfinder | Pop-up OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | Built-in OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| LCD Screen | 3.0″ tilt touchscreen, 921k dots | 3.0″ tilt touchscreen, 922k dots |
| Video | 4K@30p, FHD@120p, S&Q up to 1000 fps | 4K@30p, FHD@120p |
| Mic Input | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | No | No |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC | Wi-Fi, NFC |
| Battery Life | ~260 shots | ~410 shots |
| Dimensions (mm) | 102 x 58 x 43 | 120 x 67 x 50 |
| Weight | 302g | 403g |
| Weather Sealing | No | Yes |
| Flash | Built-in | External only (hot shoe) |
| Max Shutter Speed | 1/32,000s (electronic) | 1/4,000s |
| Launch Price | ~$1,298 | ~$998 |
| Amazon Link | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |