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Sony HX1 vs Sony W730

Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
33
Overall
37

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Key Specs

Sony HX1
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1440 x 1080 video
  • 28-560mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 544g - 115 x 83 x 92mm
  • Introduced April 2009
Sony W730
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-224mm (F3.3-6.3) lens
  • 122g - 93 x 52 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Sony HX1 versus Sony W730, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the HX1 (9MP) and W730 (16MP) and the HX1 (1/2.4") and W730 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The HX1 was announced 4 years before the W730 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W730 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the HX1 matches up against the W730 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony W730

 HX1 W730 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony W730 over the Sony HX1

 W730 HX1 
LaunchedJanuary 2013April 2009More modern by 45 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony HX1 and Sony W730

 HX1 W730 
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony HX1 features outside dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs) whilst the Sony W730 has sizing of 93mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9") with a weight of 122 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check the Sony HX1 versus Sony W730 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is a front view scale comparison of the HX1 against the W730.

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX1 and W730 is 67 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX1 and W730.

As you can see, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The HX1 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony W730 will show more detail with its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged HX1 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 sensor size comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX1
Portrait photography with Sony W730
27
focusing manually
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW format
35
resolution is good (16MP)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
Sony W730 as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW format
more heavy than competition (544 grams)
67
image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (122 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX1 Sports photography details
Sony W730 Sports photography details
36
great zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count low (9MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no phase detect AF
41
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX1 Travel photography details
Sony W730 Travel photography details
48
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
long reach (560mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (544 grams)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than competition in class (122 grams)
offers touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX1
Landscape photography with Sony W730
39
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (9 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
39
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX1 Vlogging factors
Sony W730 Vlogging factors
22
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1440 x 1080 pixels)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (544g)
34
relatively wide (25mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (122 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support
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Sony HX1 vs Sony W730 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX1 and Sony W730
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W730
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-04-22 2013-01-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.4" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.104 x 4.578mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 9MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3456 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-224mm (9.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.3-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.20 m 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Advanced Flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1440x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 544g (1.20 lbs) 122g (0.27 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") 93 x 52 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 240 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail price $47,999 $138