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Sony HX1 vs Sony A55

Portability
67
Imaging
32
Features
36
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 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
  • Announced April 2009
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed August 2010
  • Updated by Sony A57
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Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 Overview

In this write-up, we will be matching up the Sony HX1 versus Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are offered by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the HX1 (9MP) and A55 (16MP) and the HX1 (1/2.4") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

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The HX1 was brought out 16 months before the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the HX1 scores versus the A55 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX1 over the Sony A55

 HX1 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony HX1

 A55 HX1 
RevealedAugust 2010April 2009Newer by 16 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX1 and Sony A55

 HX1 A55 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Sony HX1 has physical measurements of 115mm x 83mm x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 544 grams (1.20 lbs) and the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Check the Sony HX1 versus Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the HX1 versus the A55.

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX1 and A55 is 67 and 67 respectively.

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions only by going over specifications. The image here will give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the HX1 and A55.

Plainly, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The HX1 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A55 will deliver greater detail having its extra 7 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged HX1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX1
Portrait photography with Sony A55
27
manual focus
cannot use external flash
low MP (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
73
manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX1 Street photography features
Sony A55 Street photography features
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than average (544g)
77
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX1 Sports photography factors
Sony A55 Sports photography factors
36
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low MP (9 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
terrible battery (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX1 Travel photography advice
Sony A55 Travel photography advice
48
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than average (544 grams)
low MP (9MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX1
Landscape photography with Sony A55
39
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (9MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse function
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
terrible battery (380 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony HX1
Vlogging with Sony A55
22
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1440 x 1080 resolution)
no external microphone port
more heavy than average (544 grams)
78
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with microphone support
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Sony HX1 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX1 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 Sony SLT-A55
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2009-04-22 2010-08-24
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.104 x 4.578mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 9 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3456 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 28-560mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.20 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1440x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 544g (1.20 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 115 x 83 x 92mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 3.6") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FH50 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $47,999 $800