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Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
88
Imaging
46
Features
58
Overall
50
Nikon Coolpix A900 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Nikon A900
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-840mm (F3.4-6.9) lens
  • 289g - 113 x 67 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Refreshed by Nikon A1000
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX50V
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Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's look more closely at the Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the A900 (20MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is very well matched and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A900 was announced 4 years later than the HX30V and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the A900 grades vs the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon A900 over the Sony HX30V

 A900 HX30V 
ReleasedFebruary 2016February 2012Fresher by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Nikon A900

 HX30V A900 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon A900 and Sony HX30V

 A900 HX30V 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon A900 enjoys physical measurements of 113mm x 67mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the A900 compared to the HX30V.

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A900 and HX30V is 88 and 90 respectively.

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing simply by checking specifications. The graphic underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A900 and HX30V.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon A900 to give you more detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The newer A900 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon A900 Portrait photography information
Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
40
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
45
focusing manually
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detect focusing
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon A900 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (289 grams)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon A900 Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
56
excellent zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
comes with tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon A900 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
74
lighter than competition (289 grams)
has bluetooth
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (840mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.4)
69
lighter than average (254g)
MP count good (18MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon A900 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX30V Landscape photography highlights
49
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
50
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon A900
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
34
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (289g)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (254 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
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Nikon A900 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon A900 and Sony HX30V
 Nikon Coolpix A900Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix A900 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2016-02-23 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3888 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-840mm (35.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-6.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 7.10 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 289g (0.64 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 113 x 67 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 320 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $400 $420