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Sony A7 vs Sony QX30

Portability
78
Imaging
69
Features
80
Overall
73
Sony Alpha A7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7 II
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Sony A7 vs Sony QX30, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Lens-style and they are both created by Sony. The sensor resolution of the A7 (24MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is relatively comparable but the A7 (Full frame) and QX30 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The A7 was revealed 7 months prior to the QX30 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the A7 scores against the QX30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sony QX30

 A7 QX30 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution1230k0kSharper screen (+1230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A7

 QX30 A7 
LaunchedSeptember 2014January 2014More modern by 7 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony A7 and Sony QX30

 A7 QX30 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony A7 has outer dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs) and the Sony QX30 has measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the A7 vs the QX30.

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A7 and QX30 is 78 and 91 respectively.

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The picture below should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the A7 and QX30.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A7 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony A7 will show more detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots more aggressively. The more aged A7 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7 Portrait photography features
Sony QX30 Portrait photography features
81
manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
38
good MP (20MP)
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A7 Street photography features
Sony QX30 Street photography features
79
screen tilts
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
lighter than competitors in class (474g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
62
image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7 Sports photography highlights
Sony QX30 Sports photography highlights
65
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (5.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (340 CIPA)
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (200 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7 Travel photography highlights
Sony QX30 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than competitors in class (474g)
weather proofing
decent megapixels (24MP)
not so great battery life (340 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
provides touch focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A7 Landscape photography advice
Sony QX30 Landscape photography advice
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
weather proofing
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (340 per charge)
39
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small ( inches)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A7 Vlogging factors
Sony QX30 Vlogging factors
35
features face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic port
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
35
quite wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Sony A7 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha A7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Pro Mirrorless Lens-style
Released 2014-01-22 2014-09-03
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X Bionz X
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 area 855.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6000 x 4000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 50 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 117 -
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens support Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Available lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches -
Resolution of display 1,230 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash None
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 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 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 474g (1.04 lbs) 193g (0.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photos 200 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Retail price $798 $348