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Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • Later Model is Sony A390
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Sony A380 versus Sony HX30V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are manufactured by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the A380 (14MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the A380 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The A380 was revealed 3 years earlier than the HX30V and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the A380 grades against the HX30V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Sony HX30V

 A380 HX30V 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A380

 HX30V A380 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2009More recent by 30 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A380 and Sony HX30V

 A380 HX30V 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A380 has external measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Look at the Sony A380 versus Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the A380 against the HX30V.

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A380 and HX30V is 68 and 90 respectively.

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements only by reading through specifications. The graphic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A380 and HX30V.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The A380 having a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony HX30V will give greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older A380 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A380
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
72
has manual focus
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
45
manual focus
megapixel count decent (18MP)
offers face detect autofocus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony A380
Street photography with Sony HX30V
77
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A380
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery power (500 per charge)
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A380 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
54
good MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery power (500 CIPA)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A380 Landscape photography information
Sony HX30V Landscape photography information
61
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7")
not so great battery power (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
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Sony A380 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A380 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A380Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-24 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3056 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance - 1cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.49x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 10.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 519 grams (1.14 pounds) 254 grams (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 614 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 pictures 320 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $899 $420