Compare · 2 products compared
Nikon ZRvsSony RX100 VII: Which Should You Buy?
Both the Nikon ZR and the Sony RX100 VII shoot 20 fps bursts, support log profiles, and charge over USB. The ZR is a full-frame interchangeable-lens body built for video, while the Sony is a pocket-sized camera with a fixed lens and a real electronic viewfinder. Size versus image quality decides this one.
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- MOST WINS
NikonBest for Video shooters and low-light stills who want full-frame quality and internal raw
9of 15 specs better - Sony
Best for Travelers and casual shooters who need a pocket camera with a viewfinder
6of 15 specs better
Biggest differences
Weight
Sony RX100 VII leads
2.09×
lower is better
- Nikon ZR630 g
- Sony RX100 VII302 g
Native ISO maximum
Nikon ZR leads
4×
higher is better
- Nikon ZR51,200 ISO
- Sony RX100 VII12,800 ISO
4K max frame rate
Nikon ZR leads
4×
higher is better
- Nikon ZR119.88 fps
- Sony RX100 VII30 fps
Rear screen resolution
Nikon ZR leads
3.34×
higher is better
- Nikon ZR3.07 M dots
- Sony RX100 VII0.92 M dots
Where each one wins
Nikon ZR
- Effective pixels
- Sensor format
- Native ISO maximum
- Max video resolution
- 4K max frame rate
- Raw video recording
- Screen size
- Screen articulation
- Rear screen resolution
Sony RX100 VII
- Sensor type
- Viewfinder resolution
- Weight
- Width
- Height
- Depth
What both have
- Aspect ratios3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9
- Continuous shooting (electronic)20 fps
- Log profile support✓
- USB charging & power delivery✓
- Minimum operating temperature0 °C
- HDMI port typeMicro
Every spec
Red marks the better value in each row.
| Spec | Nikon ZR | Sony RX100 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Release date | Not published | Not published |
| Launch price | Not published | Not published |
| Lens mount | Nikon Z | Fixed lens |
| High resolution pixel-shift mode | Yes | Not published |
| Sensor & Image | ||
| Effective pixels | 24.5 MP | 20.1 MP |
| Sensor format | Full-frame | 1-inch |
| Native ISO maximum | 51,200 ISO | 12,800 ISO |
| In-body image stabilization | Not published | 4 stops1 |
| Sensor readout speed | Not published | Not published |
| Sensor type | CMOS | Stacked CMOS |
| Aspect ratios | 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9 | 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:92 |
| Lens & Autofocus | ||
| Continuous shooting (mechanical) | Not published | 10 fps3 |
| Continuous shooting (electronic) | 20 fps | 20 fps4 |
| Max mechanical shutter speed | Not published | 2,000 1/s |
| Pre-burst capture duration | 0 s | Not published |
| AF subject detection | Human, animal, bird, car, train, airplane, motorcycle | Human, animal5 |
| Video | ||
| Max video resolution | 6K | 4K |
| 4K max frame rate | 119.88 fps | 30 fps |
| Video codecs | HEVC, ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes RAW, N-RAW | H.2646 |
| 4K max frame rate (full width) | Not published | 30 fps |
| Raw video recording | Internal | None7 |
| Video bit depth | 10 bit | Not published |
| Log profile support | Yes | Yes8 |
| Video dynamic range (log) | 15 stops | Not published |
| Viewfinder & Screen | ||
| Viewfinder resolution | 0 M dots | 2.36 M dots |
| Viewfinder magnification | Not published | 0.59 x |
| Screen size | 4 in | 3 in |
| Screen articulation | Fully articulated | Tilting9 |
| Rear screen resolution | 3.07 M dots | 0.92 M dots |
| Handling & Power | ||
| Battery life | Not published | 260 shots10 |
| Memory card slots | 2 slots | Not published |
| Weather sealing | Dust and drip resistant | Not published |
| Weight | 630 g | 302 g |
| Width | 134 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Height | 80.5 mm | 58.1 mm |
| Depth | 49 mm | 42.8 mm |
| USB charging & power delivery | Yes | Yes11 |
| Minimum operating temperature | 0 °C | 0 °C |
| Headphone port | Yes | Not published |
| HDMI port type | Micro | Micro |
Notes on 11 values — test conditions and caveats
- 1Sony RX100 VII, In-body image stabilization: Sony rates the optical (lens-shift) SteadyShot at 4.0 stops at the 200 mm telephoto end, not a body-only CIPA figure.
- 2Sony RX100 VII, Aspect ratios: 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1 sizes are in-camera crop modes over the native 3:2 sensor area.
- 3Sony RX100 VII, Continuous shooting (mechanical): The 'Hi' burst setting is electronic-shutter only; 10 fps ('Mid') is the fastest mechanical-shutter continuous rate.
- 4Sony RX100 VII, Continuous shooting (electronic): Blackout-free 20 fps continuous includes AF/AE tracking; the separate 'Single Burst' mode takes 7 shots at up to 90 fps.
- 5Sony RX100 VII, AF subject detection: Maker names only human and animal recognition (Eye AF / Real-time Tracking); no bird or vehicle categories are listed.
- 6Sony RX100 VII, Video codecs: Both XAVC S and AVCHD recording use MPEG-4 AVC/H.264; there is no HEVC/H.265 option.
- 7Sony RX100 VII, Raw video recording: Sony's movie-format list contains only XAVC S (H.264) and AVCHD; no raw video output is offered.
- 8Sony RX100 VII, Log profile support: S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG log gammas are selectable via Picture Profile presets PP1–PP10.
- 9Sony RX100 VII, Screen articulation: Screen tilts up about 180° for selfies and down about 90°; it does not swing outward like a fully articulated display.
- 10Sony RX100 VII, Battery life: 260 shots assume default monitor settings; Sony also lists 310 shots when 'Auto Monitor Off' is set to 2 s.
- 11Sony RX100 VII, USB charging & power delivery: In-body USB charging and power supply work over the Multi/Micro-USB (USB 2.0) terminal — not USB-C.
Sensor and low light
The Nikon ZR's full-frame 24.5 MP sensor is roughly four times the area of the Sony RX100 VII's 1-inch chip, and its native ISO ceiling reaches 51,200 against the Sony's 12,800. That gap shows up indoors and after dark, where the ZR holds color and shadow detail that the Sony smears away.
The Sony counters with a stacked CMOS design, which generally reads out faster and reduces rolling shutter in motion. But the ZR's sensor advantage is the bigger everyday difference, especially for anyone shooting available light.
Video
The ZR records 6K and hits 119.88 fps at 4K, with internal ProRes RAW, N-RAW and 10-bit depth. The Sony tops out at 4K 30 fps in H.264 with no raw option. For anyone cutting footage, that is a different class of camera.
The Sony's log support via S-Log2 and S-Log3 keeps it usable for grading, and its small size makes it easy to mount anywhere. But if resolution, frame rate or raw workflow matters, the ZR is the only real choice here.
Viewfinder, screen and handling
The Sony has a 2.36 M-dot electronic viewfinder and a tilting screen; the ZR has no viewfinder and relies on a 4-inch, 3.07 M-dot fully articulated display. That screen is bigger and brighter than the Sony's 3-inch panel, and it flips out for framing at odd angles.
Shooting in bright sun without a viewfinder is the ZR's real cost. The Sony's EVF and 302 g body make it a camera you can carry and frame anywhere, while the ZR's 630 g and 134 mm width demand a bag and a deliberate shoot.
Battery and size
The Sony is rated at 260 shots and packs into a jacket pocket at roughly half the weight and two-thirds the width of the ZR. The ZR's battery life is not published, but a full-frame body doing 6K video will not run long on a small cell.
Both charge over USB. If the camera lives in a pocket and comes out for travel, family or street shots, the Sony wins on pure carryability. The ZR is a tool you plan around.
Autofocus and speed
The ZR detects humans, animals, birds, cars, trains, airplanes and motorcycles; the Sony lists only human and animal recognition. For wildlife or motorsport, the ZR recognizes subjects the Sony simply does not.
Both hit 20 fps electronically, and the Sony adds a 10 fps mechanical burst plus a 90 fps Single Burst mode. The Sony is the faster stills camera on paper; the ZR is the smarter one.
Which is best for sports?
The Sony's blackout-free 20 fps with AF/AE tracking and its 90 fps Single Burst mode make it a genuine action camera for its size. The ZR's subject detection covers more sport types and its larger sensor gives cleaner high-ISO frames under stadium lights.
For sideline reach in a small bag, the Sony wins. For tracking a specific subject across a field with clean files, the ZR's detection list and sensor are the stronger combination.
The Verdict
Buy the Nikon ZR if you shoot video seriously, need full-frame low-light quality, or want internal raw and 6K. Buy the Sony RX100 VII if you want a camera that fits in a pocket, has a viewfinder, and still shoots fast bursts. The ZR is the better imaging tool; the Sony is the better everyday carry.
Where to buy
Nikon ZR
Best for Video shooters and low-light stills who want full-frame quality and internal raw
Sony RX100 VII
Best for Travelers and casual shooters who need a pocket camera with a viewfinder
FAQ
Does the Nikon ZR have a viewfinder?
No. The ZR has no electronic viewfinder and relies on its 4-inch rear screen, while the Sony RX100 VII includes a 2.36 M-dot EVF.
Can the Sony RX100 VII record raw video?
No. Its movie formats are limited to XAVC S and AVCHD, both H.264, with no raw option. The Nikon ZR records ProRes RAW and N-RAW internally.
Which camera is better in low light?
The Nikon ZR. Its full-frame sensor and 51,200 native ISO ceiling far exceed the Sony's 1-inch sensor and 12,800 ISO limit.
Is the Sony RX100 VII weather sealed?
Not published. The Nikon ZR is listed as dust and drip resistant, so it is the safer choice in bad conditions.
How many memory card slots does each have?
The Nikon ZR has 2 slots. The Sony RX100 VII's slot count is not published in the available specifications.
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