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Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released August 2009
  • New Model is Sony A560
Sony HX30V
(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 February 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we are looking at the Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A500 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the A500 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The A500 was revealed 3 years before the HX30V and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the A500 scores vs the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Sony HX30V

 A500 HX30V 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A500

 HX30V A500 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2009More recent by 30 months
Display resolution922k230kClearer display (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony A500 and Sony HX30V

 A500 HX30V 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A500 offers outside dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the A500 vs the HX30V.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A500 and HX30V is 63 and 90 respectively.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading a spec sheet. The photograph here might give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A500 and HX30V.

As you can see, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A500 having a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX30V will deliver extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The older A500 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A500 Portrait photography features
Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
45
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A500 Street photography information
Sony HX30V Street photography information
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A500 Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
MP count low (12MP)
low battery life (520 shots)
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A500 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
43
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
low battery life (520 per charge)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
69
lighter than competition (254g)
megapixel count good (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A500 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX30V Landscape photography advice
60
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
low battery life (520 shots)
no Timelapse mode
50
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A500
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
9
no video shooting
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone socket
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Sony A500 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A500 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-27 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4272 x 2848 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus range - 1cm
Available lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 7.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 630g (1.39 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 520 pictures 320 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail cost $638 $420