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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
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
  • Launched February 2012
  • Older Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Sony NEX-7 versus Sony HX30V, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the NEX-7 (24MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the NEX-7 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The NEX-7 was manufactured 2 months prior to the HX30V so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the NEX-7 grades vs the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Sony HX30V

 NEX-7 HX30V 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony NEX-7

 HX30V NEX-7 
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-7 and Sony HX30V

 NEX-7 HX30V 
LaunchedDecember 2011February 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Sony NEX-7 enjoys outer measurements of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

See the Sony NEX-7 versus Sony HX30V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the NEX-7 compared to the HX30V.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the NEX-7 and HX30V is 84 and 90 respectively.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the contrast between sensor sizing merely by checking a spec sheet. The graphic below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the NEX-7 and HX30V.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The NEX-7 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony NEX-7 will give greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively.

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Portrait photography info
Sony HX30V Portrait photography info
77
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
45
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-7 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
76
tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (254g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Sports photography info
Sony HX30V Sports photography info
61
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (430 per charge)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
49
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-7 Travel photography details
Sony HX30V Travel photography details
70
good battery pack (430 shots)
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-7 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (430 shots)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
50
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony NEX-7
Vlogging with Sony HX30V
35
offers face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic port
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
34
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Sony NEX-7 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-7 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha NEX-7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-12-13 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip 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 area 366.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 6000 x 4000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 16000 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.73x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 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 data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 400 grams (0.88 lbs) 254 grams (0.56 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 81 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 1016 not tested
Other
Battery life 430 photographs 320 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NPFW50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $699 $420