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Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30

Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 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
  • Introduced April 2009
Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
Photography Glossary

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Sony HX1 and Sony WX30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the HX1 (9MP) and WX30 (16MP) and the HX1 (1/2.4") and WX30 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HX1 was launched 3 years earlier than the WX30 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the HX1 matches up versus the WX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony WX30

 HX1 WX30 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony HX1

 WX30 HX1 
AnnouncedJuly 2011April 2009More modern by 27 months
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sony HX1 and Sony WX30

 HX1 WX30 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Sony HX1 enjoys physical dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs) while the Sony WX30 has specifications of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX1 and Sony WX30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the HX1 vs the WX30.

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HX1 and WX30 is 67 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HX1 and WX30.

As you can tell, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The HX1 because of its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony WX30 will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 7MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged HX1 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 sensor size comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Portrait photography camera
27
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
low resolution (9MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony HX1 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX30 as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
heavier than average in class (544 grams)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX1
Sports photography with Sony WX30
36
excellent zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
low resolution (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX1 Travel photography features
Sony WX30 Travel photography features
48
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than average in class (544g)
low resolution (9MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than average (117g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX1
Landscape photography with Sony WX30
39
you can focus manually
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.4")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse function
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX1 Vlogging features
Sony WX30 Vlogging features
22
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1440 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than average in class (544 grams)
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Sony HX1 vs Sony WX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX1 and Sony WX30
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-04-22 2011-07-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
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
Maximum resolution 3456 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - XtraFine TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.20 m 3.70 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 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1440x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 grams (1.20 lbs) 117 grams (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 - 250 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FH50 NP-BN1
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/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $47,999 $259