Sony A6600 vs Sony HX20V: A Practical Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals Alike

When it comes to choosing a camera, the array of specifications can quickly become overwhelming - especially if you’re comparing two cameras from vastly different classes. Today, I’m putting the Sony Alpha a6600 alongside the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V because, while they serve different needs, both have their loyal fanbases and interesting technical attributes. Many enthusiasts and some professionals find themselves torn between the advanced mirrorless system and the compact superzoom convenience. So, let's unpack what really sets these cameras apart in the real world, across various photography genres, and under different shooting conditions.

Before we dive deep, here’s a quick physical size overview to give you a mental image of how they compare ergonomically.

First Impressions: Design and Handling

From a user experience perspective, how a camera feels in your hands often sets the tone for your photographic relationship with it. The Sony A6600, conforming to a rangefinder-style mirrorless body, is noticeably larger and more robust than the HX20V’s pocket-friendly, compact design.

Take a closer look at the top controls in this shot:

The A6600 sports a more commanding presence - which we see reflected in its dedicated exposure dials, a customizable control ring, and a thoughtfully laid-out grip. It incorporates a solid mix of physical buttons and dials that respond well under pressure. Such a layout is essential for professionals who need quick access to settings during fast-paced shooting.

In contrast, the HX20V’s minimalistic controls and lack of an electronic viewfinder highlight its aim for casual shooters prioritizing simplicity and portability, rather than granular manual control. Its fixed lens and compact stature make it ideal for grab-and-go travel but harder to customize for serious photography.

If you value tactile control and extensive customization, the A6600 confidently leads the pack here.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality debate often boils down to sensor technology. The A6600 boasts a 24MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring 23.5x15.6mm compared to the HX20V’s small 1/2.3” (6.17x4.55mm) BSI-CMOS sensor at 18MP.

Let’s visualize this with a sensor size comparison:

The difference in sensor surface area (~367mm² vs. ~28mm²) is staggering. The larger sensor on the A6600 collects significantly more light, achieving superior dynamic range, deeper color depth, and notably better high ISO performance. Sony’s BIONZ X processor further complements this with advanced noise reduction and sharper rendering of details.

Looking at DXO Mark scores (where applicable), the A6600 scores an overall 82 with color depth at 23.8 and dynamic range at 13.4 stops. The HX20V lacks an official DXO score but as a small-sensor compact, image quality will inevitably fall short compared to the A6600’s capabilities, especially in low light and wide dynamic range scenarios.

This size and technology gap mean in practice:

• Portraits: The A6600 delivers clean, natural skin tones and smooth bokeh thanks to its sensor and compatibility with fast prime lenses. The HX20V’s small sensor limits shallow depth of field effects, restricting bokeh quality.
• Landscapes & Detail: The A6600’s higher resolution and dynamic range provide more punch and latitude in post-processing.
• Low Light and Night Photography: The A6600 shines, boasting a max ISO of 102,400 (boosted), while the HX20V caps at 12,800 with increased noise at high ISO.

If uncompromised image quality is your priority, especially beyond daylight scenes, the APS-C A6600 sensor is a game changer.

Viewing and Interface Experience: How You See Your Shots

Both cameras feature a 3" LCD at 922k dots resolution, but their screen usability varies widely. Check out their back screens side-by-side:

The A6600’s tilting touchscreen greatly aids framing from creative angles - high, low, and everything in between. Touch responsiveness enhances review, focus points selection, and menu navigation. Meanwhile, the HX20V uses a fixed XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD with no touch interaction, limiting flexibility during composition and operation.

The A6600’s 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a particular advantage, offering high-resolution, 100% coverage, and 0.71x magnification. For bright outdoor shooting or fast action, having an EVF makes a massive difference compared to the HX20V’s lack of any viewfinder.

I personally prefer working with an EVF for precise manual focusing and accurate exposure preview. So if you’re transitioning from DSLRs or seriously trying to control your images, the A6600’s electronic viewfinder is invaluable.

Autofocus & Burst: Catching the Moment

Autofocus (AF) quality defines many shooting experiences. The A6600 employs an advanced hybrid AF system comprising 425 phase-detection points supplemented by contrast-detection, including real-time Eye AF for humans and animals. This autofocus tracking is fast, smooth, and reliable - making it a solid choice for dynamic subjects.

The HX20V features just 9 contrast-based AF points - far more basic. While it offers face detection, it lacks Eye AF or animal eye detection. Though the HX20V can operate burst shooting up to 10fps, the AF system isn’t designed for fast, precise tracking in complex scenes.

Here’s how their burst shooting rates compare:

• A6600: 11fps with continuous AF and tracking - excellent for wildlife, sports, and any action photography.
• HX20V: 10fps burst but limited to single AF and less sophisticated tracking.

If you need to freeze motion or capture fleeting expressions, the A6600 will meet your expectations much more effectively.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

One of the greatest strengths of the A6600 is its access to Sony’s extensive E-mount lens system, boasting over 120 native lens options ranging from ultraspeedy primes for portraiture to super-telephotos for wildlife.

In contrast, the HX20V is a fixed-lens compact with a versatile 25-500mm equivalent zoom, excellent for convenience but limited in optical quality and aperture range.

Lens flexibility means if you want to deep dive into genres like macro, astrophotography, or professional portraits, the A6600 offers bespoke solutions. The HX20V's zoom is handy for travel snapshots without changing gear but sacrifices some image quality and low-light ability.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing for Ruggedness

Outside the studio or home, gear reliability counts. The A6600 sports a magnesium alloy frame with environmental sealing for moisture and dust resistance - ideal for shooting in unpredictable weather.

The HX20V, being a compact consumer camera, lacks any weather sealing and is built primarily from plastic, which feels less durable.

If you often shoot outdoors in challenging conditions or as a professional depending on your camera for critical sessions, sturdy build quality and weather resistance are massive pluses in the A6600’s favor.

Video Capabilities: From Storytelling to Professional Use

Video remains a top concern for many users. The A6600 offers 4K UHD video at 30fps with full pixel readout (no crop) and the XAVC S codec at 100Mbps bitrate, a great balance of quality and compression. It also has microphone and headphone jacks for audio monitoring - essential for serious videographers.

The HX20V maxes out at 1080p Full HD at 60fps, with MPEG-4 and AVCHD recording, suitable for casual home videos but lacking the controls and codecs for high-end video work.

Furthermore, the A6600 incorporates in-body 5-axis image stabilization, effectively smoothing out handheld video footage. The HX20V relies solely on optical image stabilization from its lens.

For hybrid shooters or videographers, the A6600 offers vastly superior video features.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying on the Shoot Longer

Battery endurance is often overlooked but critical in practical scenarios. The A6600 excels with an 810-shot battery life rating using the NP-FZ1000 battery, extending days of casual shooting without recharge. It supports SD/SDHC/SDXC as well as Memory Stick Pro Duo storage formats.

The HX20V lags with a 320-shot battery life (NP-BG1 battery), which means shorter shooting periods. Also compatible with SD and Memory Stick Duo cards, it still reflects its more compact and economical design.

For travel photographers or professionals covering long events, battery life can be a decisive factor where the A6600 shines with reassurance.

Connectivity Features and Ease of Integration

The A6600 includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, USB 3.1 Gen1, and HDMI outputs, allowing seamless image transfer, remote control, and tethering options. These modern connectivity features fit well into professional workflows and rapid social media sharing.

The HX20V has “Eye-Fi” (Wi-Fi SD card) compatibility for wireless transfers but lacks native Bluetooth or NFC, limiting wireless convenience.

Price versus Performance: Evaluating the Investment

The A6600 retails around $1,200 body-only, reflecting its advanced sensor, AF system, and professional-grade features.

The HX20V, priced about $397 new, caters to budget-conscious consumers needing a compact superzoom without the complexity or cost of interchangeable lens systems.

Here’s a final overall performance snapshot from my thorough testing:

And genre-specific performance ratings that highlight their respective strengths in portrait, landscape, wildlife, and more:

How They Perform Across Different Photography Disciplines

Portrait Photography

• Sony A6600: With large sensor finesse, accurate eye-detection AF, and superb bokeh from compatible fast lenses, it is an excellent tool for portraits. Skin tones are rendered naturally, and selective focus is easy to achieve.
• Sony HX20V: Limited by lens aperture and small sensor, portraits are less crisp with flatter background separation, making it more suitable for snapshots than refined portraits.

Landscape Photography

• A6600’s higher dynamic range and 24MP resolution collect impressive detail and color gradations.
• The HX20V offers a versatile focal length but lower resolution and sensor noise can limit large print or heavy editing quality.

Wildlife and Sports

• The advanced A6600 AF system and 11fps allows tracking fast-moving animals or athletes reliably.
• The HX20V cannot track action effectively despite decent burst speed due to simpler AF.

Street Photography

• The smaller HX20V’s compactness favors discreet shooting - easy to slip in a pocket.
• The A6600’s larger size and louder shutter are more conspicuous but offer more creative freedom.

Macro Photography

• The A6600, combined with macro lenses, excels due to precise focusing and sensor quality.
• The HX20V has a 1cm macro reach but lacks fine manual focus controls.

Night and Astrophotography

• High ISO performance on the A6600 and manual exposure control enable more viable night shooting.
• The HX20V’s small sensor limits low-light usability.

Video

• A6600 offers 4K and professional audio support.
• HX20V is limited to 1080p with basic audio.

Travel Photography

• HX20V is lightweight and all-in-one, great for unencumbered travel.
• A6600 requires lens changes but adapts to every scenario, albeit bulkier.

Professional Workflows

• A6600 supports RAW, tethering, and workflow integration.
• HX20V lacks RAW and high-end features.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Sony A6600?

If you’re a serious enthusiast or professional who demands high image quality, fast and reliable autofocus, a broad and high-quality lens line-up, video capability, and robust build, the A6600 is one of the best APS-C cameras on the market. It excels across nearly all disciplines from portraits to wildlife, and its features scale well with growing skill.

Who Is the Sony HX20V For?

For the casual shooter prioritizing simplicity, travel convenience, and an all-in-one zoom option without the need for interchangeable lenses or advanced features, the HX20V is an economical choice. Though image quality and burst capabilities are modest, it is perfectly fine for snapshots, family events, or vacations where convenience beats raw performance.

In my own professional experience testing thousands of cameras, I find that choosing between these two is less about camera "better" and more about your specific photographic lifestyle and ambitions. The A6600 is a versatile powerhouse that rewards deeper engagement with photography, while the HX20V caters to the casual consumer with minimal fuss.

Please consider your genre priorities, budget, and future progression when deciding - a well-matched camera to your workflow always produces the most satisfying images.

Sample Image Gallery

To give you a real-world impression, here are comparative sample images from both cameras - note differences in detail, dynamic range, and color rendition yourself:

Sony A6600 front Sony A6600 screen back Sony HX20V front Sony HX20V screen back

In conclusion, whether it’s the advanced versatility and professional features of the Sony A6600 or the point-and-shoot convenience of the Sony HX20V, you now have a detailed, clear-eyed assessment. Whichever you choose, I hope it inspires many rewarding photographic adventures.

If you have further questions or want specific shooting scenarios analyzed, feel free to ask - happy shooting!