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Sony A9 vs Sony H20

Portability
65
Imaging
74
Features
93
Overall
81
Sony Alpha A9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Key Specs

Sony A9
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 673g - 127 x 96 x 63mm
  • Revealed April 2017
  • Newer Model is Sony A9 II
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Launched May 2009
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Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Sony A9 versus Sony H20, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are built by Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the A9 (24MP) and H20 (10MP) and the A9 (Full frame) and H20 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The A9 was launched 8 years later than the H20 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony A9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the A9 grades against the H20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony A9 over the Sony H20

 A9 H20 
LaunchedApril 2017May 2009Fresher by 97 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1440k230kCrisper display (+1210k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Sony A9

 H20 A9 

Common features in the Sony A9 and Sony H20

 A9 H20 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A9 provides outer measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") and a weight of 673 grams (1.48 lbs) whilst the Sony H20 has specifications of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Compare the Sony A9 versus Sony H20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the A9 and the H20.

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A9 and H20 is 65 and 87 respectively.

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A9 and H20.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The A9 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Sony A9 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The younger A9 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A9 Portrait photography info
Sony H20 Portrait photography info
84
has manual focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
27
has manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A9 as a Street photography camera
Sony H20 as a Street photography camera
79
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
weather proof
above average ISO range (51,200)
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than average in class (250g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A9 Sports photography factors
Sony H20 Sports photography factors
87
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high max frames per second (20.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (650 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A9 Travel photography advice
Sony H20 Travel photography advice
74
great battery power (650 per charge)
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (24MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
very long reach (380mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than average in class (250 grams)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A9 Landscape photography advice
Sony H20 Landscape photography advice
86
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
weather proof
great battery power (650 per charge)
two card slots
36
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A9 Vlogging features
Sony H20 Vlogging features
37
touch screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic port
heavier than average in class (250g)
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Sony A9 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A9 and Sony H20
 Sony Alpha A9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2017-04-19 2009-05-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 847.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 51200 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 204800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 693 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 38-380mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-4.4
Macro focusing distance - 2cm
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,440k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 3,686k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/2000s
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/32000s -
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 7.10 m
Flash settings Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 673g (1.48 lb) 250g (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 63mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.5") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 92 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3517 not tested
Other
Battery life 650 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FZ100 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 secs + continuous) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots (UHS-II compatible) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Dual 1
Price at launch $4,498 $249