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Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A100
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
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Sony A580 and Sony HX30V, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Sony. The image resolution of the A580 (16MP) and the HX30V (18MP) is fairly comparable but the A580 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizes.

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The A580 was introduced 9 months before the HX30V and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the A580 scores versus the HX30V for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sony HX30V

 A580 HX30V 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A580

 HX30V A580 
IntroducedFebruary 2012May 2011More modern by 9 months

Common features in the Sony A580 and Sony HX30V

 A580 HX30V 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Display resolution922k922kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Sony A580 offers outer dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check out the Sony A580 and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the A580 compared to the HX30V.

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A580 and HX30V is 64 and 90 respectively.

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by seeing specs. The picture below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A580 and HX30V.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A580 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony HX30V will provide extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged A580 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A580
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
74
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
45
manual focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
features face detect focus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A580 Street photography information
Sony HX30V Street photography information
75
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony A580 Sports photography features
Sony HX30V Sports photography features
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery pack (1,050 shots)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
61
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (254 grams)
MP count decent (18MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
74
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
has double storage slots
lack of Timelapse recording
50
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A580 Vlogging information
Sony HX30V Vlogging information
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone port
display isn't selfie friendly
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
Photography Glossary

Sony A580 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A580 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-05-26 2012-02-28
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4912 x 3264 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 15 9
Cross type focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 922k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 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
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 599 grams (1.32 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
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 Overall rating 80 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1121 not tested
Other
Battery life 1050 shots 320 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Two 1
Pricing at release $848 $420