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Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
78
Imaging
70
Features
80
Overall
74
Sony Alpha A7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Updated by Sony A7 II
Sony HX20V
(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
  • Revealed July 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX10V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX30V
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Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Sony A7 and Sony HX20V, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the A7 (24MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the A7 (Full frame) and HX20V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The A7 was manufactured 19 months later than the HX20V making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before going in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the A7 grades vs the HX20V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sony HX20V

 A7 HX20V 
RevealedJanuary 2014July 2012More recent by 19 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k922kCrisper display (+308k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony A7

 HX20V A7 

Common features in the Sony A7 and Sony HX20V

 A7 HX20V 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Sony A7 comes with outer measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A7 and Sony HX20V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the A7 compared to the HX20V.

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A7 and HX20V is 78 and 90 respectively.

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by researching specs. The graphic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the A7 and HX20V.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A7 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony A7 will provide you with greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern A7 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A7
Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
82
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
44
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
includes face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A7 Street photography information
Sony HX20V Street photography information
79
screen tilts up and down
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
lighter than others (474 grams)
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A7
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
66
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (340 CIPA)
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7 Travel photography advice
Sony HX20V Travel photography advice
69
lighter than others (474g)
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (340 per charge)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than competition (254g)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
75
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (340 shots)
50
manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 Vlogging details
Sony HX20V Vlogging details
35
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
lighter than others (474 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external microphone socket
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Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7 and Sony HX20V
 Sony Alpha A7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-01-22 2012-07-20
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.8 x 23.9mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 855.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 50 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 117 9
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech Xtra Fine LCD XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 474 gr (1.04 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 90 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 2248 not tested
Other
Battery life 340 shots 320 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $798 $397