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Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50

Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 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 WX50
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Released January 2012
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Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Sony. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the HX1 (9MP) and WX50 (16MP) and the HX1 (1/2.4") and WX50 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The HX1 was announced 3 years earlier than the WX50 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX50 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the HX1 grades against the WX50 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony WX50

 HX1 WX50 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony HX1

 WX50 HX1 
ReleasedJanuary 2012April 2009Fresher by 33 months
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Sony HX1 and Sony WX50

 HX1 WX50 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX1 features physical dimensions of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs) while the Sony WX50 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the HX1 vs the WX50.

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the HX1 and WX50 is 67 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The visual below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HX1 and WX50.

Plainly, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The HX1 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony WX50 will offer you extra detail with its extra 7 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The older HX1 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX1 Portrait photography features
Sony WX50 Portrait photography features
27
has manual focus
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony HX1 Street photography info
Sony WX50 Street photography info
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
heavier than others in class (544g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX1
Sports photography with Sony WX50
36
incredible zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
low resolution sensor (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect AF
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Travel photography camera
48
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
very long zoom (560mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (544 grams)
low resolution sensor (9 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than average (117 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX1 Landscape photography advice
Sony WX50 Landscape photography advice
39
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution sensor (9MP)
sensor is small (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
38
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX1 Vlogging details
Sony WX50 Vlogging details
22
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1440 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
heavier than others in class (544 grams)
35
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic socket
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Sony HX1 vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX1 and Sony WX50
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-04-22 2012-01-30
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.104 x 4.578mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 9 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3456 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-560mm (20.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.20 m 5.30 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 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1440x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 544 grams (1.20 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
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 - 240 images
Type 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 Single Single
Launch price $47,999 $250