Nokia Lumia 1020 vs Sony DSC RX-100 II: Which one is a better alternative for the DSLR?

One is a phone that comes with what many claim to be the greatest sensor ever seen in celltown. Another arguably one of the best point and shoot cameras made in recent years, backed up with wireless connectivity to boot. Neither comes cheap (Rs 40,000 plus when we last checked).

But is either of them good enough to steer you away from that Holy Grail of most photographers – the trusty DSLR, which can be purchased for less? We compare the virtues and vices of two of the smartest cameras to have hit the Indian market in recent times – the Sony DSC-RX 100 II and the Nokia Lumia 1020 – and see if either poses a threat to the venerable DSLR. Why these two and not others? Well, because they are the most high-profile of a very formidable group.

Looks
If appearances count in your book – and we know that in many they do – the RX-100 II is easily the better looking of the two devices. It is actually smaller in length than the Lumia 1020 – 10 cm to about 14 cm in the case of the Lumia – and exudes a look of subtle class. The Lumia 1020 looks pretty much like a Lumia 925, minus the metal and plus a slight hump on the back (that sensor can take up space, you know). Mind you, the front of the Lumia 1020 sports a brilliant 4.5-inch AMOLED display that makes the 3.0-inch LCD on the RX-100 II look pretty ordinary. But yes, plonk both on a table and I wager more people will ogle at the RX-100 II.
DSLR worry factor: Not much really. Not too many people buy DSLRs for their looks.

Portability
And we think it is here that the DSLR lobby should start getting just a bit worried. For, unlike any DSLR we know, both the RX-100 II and the Lumia 1020 are eminently pocketable. Yes, the RX-100 II is a bit on the heavier side, at about 280 grammes, but that is still almost half the weight of most DSLRs. The Lumia 1020 is virtually a flyweight when it comes to heavy duty cameras – it is a  mere 158 grammes heavy.

DSLR worry factor: A lot. Both devices are more portable and easier to carry.

Hardware
Time to delve into the innards of both devices, and well, on paper the Lumia 1020 might seem to be better endowed thanks to its dual core processor, 32 GB onboard storage and 2GB RAM, but get into ‘pure camera’ territory and the RX-100 II pulls ahead. It has a 1.0-type sensor with 20.2 effective megapixels, which might be lower in megapixel count than the monster 41.0-megapixel sensor seen on the Lumia 1020, but is significantly larger in size (the Lumia 1020 has an image sensor of 1/1.5 inch size). The RX-100 II also comes with a proper 3.6X optical zoom which compares very favourably with a 3X lossless zoom on the Lumia 1020. Both come with Xenon flashes – with the RX-100 II having one of the pop-up variety. Both devices come with connectivity options – the Lumia 1020 is a phone so has 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC, while the
DSLR worry factor: Again, not really much. Neither device comes with the option of attachable lenses, so a DSLR continues to have greater flexibility in terms of hardware.

Ease of use
When it comes to simplicity of use, the RX-100 II is a whole lot easier to use than the Lumia 1020 – there is no camera mode to access through any special button, and the camera itself works faster. Also, the touch controls on the Lumia 1020 are more difficult to handle than the dial-based ones on the RX-100 ii, although Sony has kept the back a bit minimal so you might have to delve into the menu for more intense adjustments. The Nokia Camera app on the Lumia 1020 however has the advantage to letting you see the impact any change you make to the camera’s settings has on the image itself even before you shoot it, which is kind of cool. That said, the RX-100 II in general is much faster when it comes to processing images and has a proper burst mode.
DSLR worry factor: Not much, to be honest. The RX-100 II is more compact but the heft of the DSLR actually makes it easier to hold still.

Image quality
And here we come to the crux of the battle. We are going to be blunt here: in terms of detail and colour, the RX-100 II pretty much surges ahead of the Lumia 1020, which is saying something because the Lumia 1020 takes some excellent pictures (especially when it comes to landscapes). But the RX-100 II simply has more shooting modes, and its smart auto is streets ahead of the basic auto on the Lumia 1020. Yes, the Lumia 1020 is more likely to give you a poster sized image if needed, but if that is not a prerequisite, the fact is that the RX-100 II is exceptional when it comes to image quality.

DSLR worry factor: A fair bit here. The RX-100 II matches the quality of most DSLRs and sometimes trumps them in low light conditions. The Lumia 1020 does not get quite that close but is close enough to make DSLR owners pause to think.

Versatility
And it is here that the Lumia 1020 actually comes roaring into contention. The RX-100 II might have Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity as well as the odd onscreen editing tool, but it remains a camera first. The Lumia 1020, on the other hand, is a blend of a computer and a phone, topped off with a very good camera. The net result is that while the RX-100 II can take better pictures most of the time, the Lumia 1020 beats it flat when it comes to sharing pictures online and editing them on the device itself, and also geo-tagging from the device itself. Mind you, we are not too impressed with the fact that one can only share 5.0-megapixel pictures from the Lumia 1020, and not the full resolution 34.0- and 38.0-megapixel shots, for which one needs to connect the phone to the camera. Also, the Lumia 1020 can act as a media player, e-mail and browsing device, something which is well beyond the RX-100 II’s territory.

DSLR worry factor: For those who like sharing images online – and there is a massive number of them around these days – this would be massive. Most DSLRs come with very limited connectivity and editing images on them is a strict no-no.

Value for money
When we last checked, the RX-100 II put us back by Rs 42,990 while the Lumia 1020 was available for about Rs 47,000. That is both very much on the expensive side, but given the kind of image quality being served up, which in both cases is reasonably close to the DSLR mark (especially when we look at the RX-100 II) will not shock photography purists. The fact that the Lumia 1020 actually adds a whole lot more to the photography bundle might even make some think it is good value for money.

DSLR worry factor: Ironically not very high. There are many who would say that one can get a DSLR and add on a decent lens for the price at which one get either of these two worthies.

So, where does that leave us?
At the end of it all, what becomes clear is that while the RX-100 II is an excellent option for those wanting to have DSLR-like image quality without wanting the bulk or the heft of a conventional DSLR, even if it means giving up on the ablity to swap lenses. The Nokia Lumia 1020 meanwhile can contend for being the best blend of a phone, computer and camera in the tech world today as it can don many hats and all of them fit.

But should you be investing in them rather than a DSLR?
Well, that really depends. In my book, the DSLR remains a prime option for those who want to have the flexibility of changing lenses and cannot compromise on image quality. If  you find a DSLR too heavy to carry around but want similar image quality, the RX-100 II is a good option. And well, if you are fed up of carrying multiple gadgets and are in a Tolkien-like mood, searching for one gadget that does everything, the Lumia 1020 is your best option.