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Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Released April 2009
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Refreshed by Sony RX100 V
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Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

In this write-up, we are contrasting the Sony HX1 and Sony RX100 IV, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both created by Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the HX1 (9MP) and RX100 IV (20MP) and the HX1 (1/2.4") and RX100 IV (1") come with different sensor sizing.

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The HX1 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the RX100 IV and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the HX1 scores against the RX100 IV with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony RX100 IV

 HX1 RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony HX1

 RX100 IV HX1 
ReleasedJune 2015April 2009More recent by 74 months
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX1 and Sony RX100 IV

 HX1 RX100 IV 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sony HX1 features outer dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

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Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the HX1 vs the RX100 IV.

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX1 and RX100 IV is 67 and 89 respectively.

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by looking at technical specs. The visual here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX1 and RX100 IV.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The HX1 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony RX100 IV will give more detail having an extra 11MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos far more aggressively. The older HX1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX1 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography features
27
has manual focus
no external flash support
low MP (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
65
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony HX1 Street photography details
Sony RX100 IV Street photography details
50
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average (544g)
85
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than others in class (298g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX1 Sports photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography advice
36
long zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low MP (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
68
silent mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (16.0 frames/s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX1 Travel photography details
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography details
48
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (560mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than average (544 grams)
low MP (9MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
86
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
decent megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX1 Landscape photography info
Sony RX100 IV Landscape photography info
39
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lacks RAW support
missing Timelapse function
74
manual focus
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX1 Vlogging advice
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging advice
22
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1440 x 1080 pixels)
missing external microphone port
more heavy than average (544 grams)
81
rather wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others in class (298 grams)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Sony HX1 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX1 and Sony RX100 IV
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Released 2009-04-22 2015-06-10
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.104 x 4.578mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 9MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3456 x 2592 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 125
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 16.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.20 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1440x1080 3840x2160
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 544 gr (1.20 lbs) 298 gr (0.66 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 562
Other
Battery life - 280 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $47,999 $898