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Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30

Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62
Sony Alpha a5000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-3N
  • Successor is Sony a5100
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
  • Released September 2014
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Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Sony a5000 versus Sony QX30, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Lens-style and both are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the a5000 (20MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the a5000 (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The a5000 was released 7 months before the QX30 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the a5000 grades versus the QX30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Sony QX30

 a5000 QX30 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution461k0kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony a5000

 QX30 a5000 
ReleasedSeptember 2014January 2014More modern by 7 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony a5000 and Sony QX30

 a5000 QX30 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony a5000 has got external measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) while the Sony QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony a5000 versus Sony QX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the a5000 and the QX30.

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the a5000 and QX30 is 89 and 91 respectively.

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes just by looking at technical specs. The picture here might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the a5000 and QX30.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have the same MP but different sensor sizes. The a5000 contains the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged a5000 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony a5000
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
70
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
external flash not possible
38
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony a5000 as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
78
has a tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony a5000 Sports photography factors
Sony QX30 Sports photography factors
59
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (420 per charge)
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony a5000 Travel photography advice
Sony QX30 Travel photography advice
78
good battery life (420 per charge)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is not selfie friendly
65
provides focus via touch
MP count decent (20MP)
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse function
bad battery life (200 CIPA)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony a5000 Landscape photography features
Sony QX30 Landscape photography features
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (420 shots)
lack of image stabilization
39
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small ( inches)
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
bad battery life (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony a5000 as a Vlogging camera
Sony QX30 as a Vlogging camera
32
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic socket
35
rather wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
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Sony a5000 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony a5000 and Sony QX30
 Sony Alpha a5000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha a5000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Lens-style
Announced 2014-01-07 2014-09-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.2 x 15.4mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 357.3mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5456 x 3632 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 16000 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.3
Total lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" -
Resolution of screen 461k dot 0k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction None
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 269g (0.59 lb) 193g (0.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.0 not tested
DXO Low light score 1089 not tested
Other
Battery life 420 photographs 200 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FW50 NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $448 $348