Sony A560 vs Sony HX7V

Here, we are looking at the Sony A560 vs Sony HX7V, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Sony. The resolution of the A560 (14MP) and the HX7V (16MP) is very similar but the A560 (APS-C) and HX7V (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The A560 was brought out 10 months earlier than the HX7V so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A560 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX7V being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the A560 matches up against the HX7V in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX7V. The entire galleries are viewable at Sony A560 Gallery & Sony HX7V Gallery.

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony A560 features exterior dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) and the Sony HX7V has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A560 vs Sony HX7V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the A560 and the HX7V.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A560 and HX7V is 64 and 92 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by reading a spec sheet. The graphic below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A560 and HX7V.

Clearly, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A560 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sony HX7V will offer more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The older A560 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.