Sony a5100 vs Sony HX20V

On this page, we are analyzing the Sony a5100 and Sony HX20V, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the a5100 (24MP) and HX20V (18MP) and the a5100 (APS-C) and HX20V (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The a5100 was revealed 2 years later than the HX20V and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the a5100 scores vs the HX20V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha a5100 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. The full galleries are available at Sony a5100 Gallery & Sony HX20V Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Sony a5100 has external measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Sony a5100 and Sony HX20V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the a5100 versus the HX20V.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the a5100 and HX20V is 89 and 90 respectively.

More often than not, its difficult to see the gap in sensor sizing simply by checking out specs. The visual below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the a5100 and HX20V.

All in all, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The a5100 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony a5100 will provide extra detail because of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more modern a5100 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.