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Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Revealed May 2009
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
Photography Glossary

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Sony H20 and Sony HX30V, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the H20 (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The H20 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the HX30V and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the H20 matches up against the HX30V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Sony HX30V

 H20 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony H20

 HX30V H20 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012May 2009More recent by 34 months
Screen resolution922k230kSharper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Sony H20 and Sony HX30V

 H20 HX30V 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and size. The Sony H20 provides outside measurements of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and the Sony HX30V has specifications 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 H20 and Sony HX30V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the H20 compared to the HX30V.

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the H20 and HX30V is 87 and 90 respectively.

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualize the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing specifications. The photograph here will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the H20 and HX30V.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX30V to provide more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The older H20 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony H20 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
45
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony H20
Street photography with Sony HX30V
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competitors (250 grams)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony H20
Sports photography with Sony HX30V
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony H20 Travel photography features
Sony HX30V Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
long reach (380mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (250 grams)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
69
lighter than others (254g)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony H20
Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
36
manual focus
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
50
has manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony H20 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic jack
heavier than competitors (250g)
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (254 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
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Sony H20 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H20 and Sony HX30V
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-05-14 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-380mm (10.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-4.4 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 2cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 250g (0.55 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $249 $420