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Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
81
Imaging
68
Features
85
Overall
74
Sony Alpha a6500 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Released October 2016
  • Superseded the Sony A6300
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
  • Updated by Sony HX50V
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Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Here, we are comparing the Sony A6500 and Sony HX30V, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the A6500 (24MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the A6500 (APS-C) and HX30V (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The A6500 was unveiled 4 years after the HX30V which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the A6500 grades vs the HX30V with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Sony HX30V

 A6500 HX30V 
IntroducedOctober 2016February 2012More modern by 57 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A6500

 HX30V A6500 

Common features in the Sony A6500 and Sony HX30V

 A6500 HX30V 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution922k922kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony A6500 offers physical dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Examine the Sony A6500 and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select at that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the A6500 vs the HX30V.

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A6500 and HX30V is 81 and 90 respectively.

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes simply by researching specifications. The pic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A6500 and HX30V.

To sum up, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The A6500 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony A6500 will result in more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos way more aggressively. The fresher A6500 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A6500 Portrait photography information
Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
80
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18MP)
has face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony A6500 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Street photography camera
85
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
offers touch focus
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony A6500 Sports photography advice
Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
77
quiet mode (1/32,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (350 shots)
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony A6500 Travel photography factors
Sony HX30V Travel photography factors
74
weather proof
connects via bluetooth
offers touch focus
good resolution (24MP)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (350 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony A6500 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX30V Landscape photography highlights
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
weather proof
terrible battery power (350 per charge)
50
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A6500 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
39
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
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Sony A6500 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A6500 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Alpha a6500Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha a6500 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2016-10-06 2012-02-28
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz X 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 24MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 6000 x 4000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max enhanced ISO 51200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 425 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Amount of lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/32000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 11.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.10 m
Flash modes Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 453g (1.00 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 85 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 24.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.7 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1405 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 320 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FW50 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,298 $420