Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V
78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74


90 Imaging
41 Features
50 Overall
44
Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs
(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
(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- Superseded the Sony HX10V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

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.

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.

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha A7 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. The entire galleries are provided at Sony A7 Gallery & Sony HX20V Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sony HX20V
A7 | HX20V | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | January 2014 | ![]() | July 2012 | More recent by 19 months |
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 1230k | ![]() | 922k | Crisper 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 sizing | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony HX20V Specifications
Sony Alpha A7 | Sony 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 |