Sony RX100 M4 and M1: Technical Data Comparison

Technical Data | References

On this page, I compare the technical data of Sony RX100 M1 and Sonx RX100 M4. Please note that technical data are just one side of the coin, the way you use a camera and its possibilities are the other side...

 

Technical Data

Below I present selected technical data for the Sony RX100 M1 and M4 that I collected from various sources. I cannot guarantee that this data is correct.

Data Sony RX100 M1 Sony RX100 M4 Comment
Lens Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* 10.4-37.1 mm (28-100 mm equiv.) f/1.8-f/4.9

7 elements in 6 groups (including AA lens)

Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* 8.8-25.7 mm (24-70 mm equiv.) f/1.8-f/2.8

10 elements in 9 groups (including AA lens)

  
Zoom Optical Zoom: 3.6 x, Clear (Image) Zoom: 7.2 x

Digital Zoom: 20 MP approx. 14 x / 10 MP approx. 20 x / 5 MP approx. 28 x / VGA approx. 54 x

 Optical Zoom: 2.9 x

Clear (Image) Zoom: 20 MP approx. 5.8 x / 10 MP approx. 8.2 x / 5 MP approx. 11 x / VGA approx. 44 x

Digital Zoom: up to 11 x

Two types of digital zoom: Clear (Image) Zoom (higher quality, lower range), and Digital Zoom (lower quality, wider range)
Filter diameter None None M1: Use the Sony filter adapter VFA-49R1 (or from other manufacturers) to attach filters and close-up lenses
M4: Use the Lensmate filter adapter to attach filters and close-up lenses (the Sony filter adapter VFA-49R1 is not compatible)
Sensor Exmor CMOS Sensor, size 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm); effective/total pixels (total pixels): 20.2/20.9 Megapixels; aspect ratio 3:2 EXMOR RS CMOS Sensor, size 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm); effective/total pixels (total pixels): 20.1 / 21 Megapixels; aspect ratio 3:2 M1: Not back-lit as in the successor models
M4: backlit sensor
Max. pixels 5472 × 3648 (20 Megapixels, 3:2 format) 5472 × 3648 (20 Megapixels, 3:2 format)  
Aperture range From 1.8 to 11 in 1/3 EV increments From 1.8 to 11 in 1/3 EV increments Maximum aperture depends on focal length.
ISO Range Auto (ISO125-6400, selectable with upper / lower limit), 125 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 (Extendable to ISO 80 / 100), Multi-Frame NR: Auto (ISO125-25600) Auto (ISO125-12800, selectable with upper / lower limit), 125 / 160 / 200 / 250 / 320 / 400 / 500 / 640 / 800 / 1000 / 1250 / 1600 / 2000 / 2500 / 3200 / 4000 / 5000 / 6400 / 8000 / 10000 / 12800 (Extendable to ISO 80 / 100)

Multi-Frame NR: Auto (ISO125-12800), 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 / 25600

The Sony RX100 M1 and M4 can be used up to ISO 800-1600 without much image degradation.
Autofocus system Contrast detect auto focus system (sensor) Contrast detection AF (sensor)  
Focus modes Single-shot AF, Continuous AF, DMF, Manual Focus Single-shot AF, Continuous AF, DMF, Manual Focus  
Distance setting range iAuto: AF (W: Approx. 5cm (0.16') to infinity, T: Approx. 55 cm (1.80') to infinity) /
Program Auto: AF (W: Approx. 5cm (0.16') to infinity, T: Approx. 55 cm (1.80') to infinity)		 iAuto: AF (W: Approx. 5cm (0.17 ft.) to Infinity, T: Approx. 30cm (0.99 ft.) to Infinity)
Program Auto: AF (W: Approx. 5cm (0.17 ft.) to Infinity, T: Approx. 30cm (0.99 ft.) to Infinity)		 Macro is practically usable only at the wide end.
Smallest object field W: Approx. 75 x 57 mm (according to own tests - do not take this too seriously) or 80 x 53 mm

3.83 x 2.55 inches (97 x 65 millimeters) at maximum wide angle (Imaging Resource) > 0.136 = 1:7.35
W: Approx. 100 x 66 cm (according to own tests - do not take this too seriously)

M1: Magnification: 0.175 = 1:5.7 or 0.165 = 1:6 (no close-up lens)
M4: Magnification: 0.136 = 1:7.35 (no close-up lens)
Focus metering methods Multi-point (25 points), center, flexible spot Wide (25 points), center, flexible spot, expand flexible spot, lock-on AF AF lock can be simulated by using the AF/MF Control Toggle function
Exposure modes Auto advanced (Superior automatic), Auto (Intelligent automatic), Program Auto, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual, Memory Recall, Tele Zoom Hi Speed, 3D Sweep Panorama, Sweep Panorama, Anti Motion Blur, Picture Effect, Scene selection Auto advanced (Superior automatic), Auto (Intelligent automatic), Program Auto, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual, Memory Recall, Tele Zoom Hi Speed, 3D Sweep Panorama, Sweep Panorama, Anti Motion Blur, Picture Effect, Scene selection We use only the P and A modes (and rarely Panorama)
Exposure metering Multi pattern, center-weighted, spot Multi pattern, center-weighted, spot AE lock is available (toggle)
Exposure compensation ±3 EV in 1/3 EV increments ±3 EV in 1/3 EV increments  
Automatic bracketing 3 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV steps Exposure bracketing: 3/5/9 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1.0 steps and 3/5 frames at 2.0/3.0 steps (both single or continous); White balance bracketing; DRO bracketing Bracketing vastly expanded for M4.
Continuous picture
series		 Approx. 10 fps Speed Priority Continuous Shooting: approx. 16 fps, Continuous Shooting: approx. 5.5 fps M1: Only a few images at this speed. M4 is better
Shooting modes Auto advanced (Superior automatic), Auto (Intelligent automatic), Program Auto, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual, Memory Recall, Panorama, Video Intelligent Auto/Superior Auto; Program Auto; Aperture Priority; Shutter Speed Priority; Manual Exposure; MR(Memory Recall) 1,2,3; Movie Mode (Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual Exposure); HFR Mode (Program Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Manual Exposure); Panorama; Scene Selection We use only the P and A modes (and rarely Panorama and Video)
Shutter speed range iAuto (4"-1/2000) / Program Auto (1"-1/2000) / Manual (Bulb, 30"-1/2000) / Aperture Priority (8"-1/2000) / Shutter Priority (30"-1/2000) iAuto (4"-1/2000) / Program Auto (1"-1/2000) / Manual (Bulb, 30"-1/2000) / Aperture Priority (8"-1/2000) / Shutter Priority (30"-1/2000)  
Self timer delay time/Interval timer 2 s or 10 s, further modes / None 10 s / 5 s / 2 s / 3 or 5 consecutive shots with 10 s 5 s or 2 s delay selectable/Bracketing shots with 10 s 5 s or 2 s delay selectable  
Picture Effect(s) Toy Camera, Pop Color, Posterization, Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Color, High Contrast Monochrome, Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolor, Illustration Toy Camera, Pop Colour, Posterisation, Retro Photo, Soft High-key, Partial Colour, High Contrast Mono., Soft Focus, HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Watercolour, Illustration (all for still photos) We never use picture effects.
Scene Mode(s) Portrait, Anti Motion Blur, Sports Action, Pet, Gourmet, Macro, Landscape, Sunset, Night Scene, Hand-held Twilight, Night Portrait, Fireworks, High Sensitivity Portrait; Sports Action; Macro; Landscape; Sunset; Night Scene; Handheld Twilight; Night Portrait; Anti Motion Blur; Pet Mode; Gourmet; Fireworks; High Sensitivity We never use scene modes.
       
LCD monitor WhiteMagic TFT LCD / Xtra fine, 7.5 cm (3" type), 1,228,800 dots 7.5 cm (3.0 type) (4:3) / 1,228,800 dots / Xtra Fine / TFT LCD
Adjustable angle: Up: approx. 180 degrees, down: approx. 45 degrees

M1: Not tiltable
M4: tiltable

Electronic viewfinder None 0.39-type electronic viewfinder (OLED) / 2,359,296 dots / 0.59 x magnification There is no hot shoe.
Optical viewfinder None None There is no hot shoe.
Video resolution/
frame rate		 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 4K, 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)

 
Video recording format AVCHD, MP4 XAVC S, AVCHD, MP4  
       
Dimensions 10.16 x 5.81 x 3.59 cm / 4" x 2 3/8" x 1 7/16" (W x H x D) 101.6 x 58.1 x 41.0 mm / 4 x 2.29 x 1.61 in (W x H x D)

M1: See page Size Comparisons.
M4: See page Size Comparisons.
Weight Approx. 213 g (7.5 US oz.), with accessories approx. 240 g (8.5 US oz.) Approx. 271 g (9.56 US oz.), with accessories approx. 298 g (10.51 US oz.)  
Connections USB, HDMI®, Micro USB, Micro HDMI®, PAL Video out Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0), Micro HDMI, Multi / Micro USB Terminal, NFC  
Power supply Lithium-ion battery NP-BX1, capacity 1240 mAh, approx. 330 pictures Lithium-ion battery NP-BX1, capacity 1240 mAh, approx. 280 pictures (LCD screen) Battery is loaded in the camera (USB charger); a separate charger is available as an option (see page M1: Our Equipment, M4: My Equipment).
Storage media

SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo

SD/SDHC/SDXC (also micro versions of these), Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo/Micro and more

 

For further data (for example, flash modes and data, white balance settings, file formats and sizes), please consult the instruction manuals or see the technical data online (see references)

 

References

 

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12.10.2017