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Sony A900 vs Sony QX30

Portability
54
Imaging
66
Features
62
Overall
64
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Sony A900
(Full Review)
  • 25MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 895g - 156 x 117 x 82mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Newer Model is Sony A99
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
Photography Glossary

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Sony A900 and Sony QX30, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Lens-style and they are both built by Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the A900 (25MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the A900 (Full frame) and QX30 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The A900 was announced 6 years prior to the QX30 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A900 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the A900 matches up against the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony A900 over the Sony QX30

 A900 QX30 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display sizing3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution922k0kClearer display (+922k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A900

 QX30 A900 
LaunchedSeptember 2014October 2008More recent by 71 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony A900 and Sony QX30

 A900 QX30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony A900 has got outside measurements of 156mm x 117mm x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") along with a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has proportions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Sony A900 and Sony QX30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the A900 and the QX30.

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the A900 and QX30 is 54 and 91 respectively.

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor measurements only by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the A900 and QX30.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The A900 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony A900 will provide extra detail with its extra 5MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The older A900 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A900 Portrait photography factors
Sony QX30 Portrait photography factors
71
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
no liveview
38
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A900 as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no moving screen
62
image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A900 Sports photography factors
Sony QX30 Sports photography factors
70
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (25MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview
max fps very slow (5.0 frames/s)
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A900 Travel photography advice
Sony QX30 Travel photography advice
54
weather proofing
sensor resolution is excellent (25MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
65
offers touch to focus
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A900 Landscape photography features
Sony QX30 Landscape photography features
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is excellent (25 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
no liveview
lack of Timelapse recording
39
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A900 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony A900 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A900 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A900Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Type Advanced DSLR Lens-style
Launched 2008-10-22 2014-09-03
Body design Mid-size SLR Lens-style
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 25MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 6048 x 4032 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Number of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches -
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.74x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless None
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 895g (1.97 lbs) 193g (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 156 x 117 x 82mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 3.2") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1431 not tested
Other
Battery life 880 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32 microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots Dual One
Retail pricing $2,736 $348