Sony HX10V vs Sony HX5: A Hands-On Camera Showdown from an Experienced Photographer

In the ever-evolving landscape of compact superzoom cameras, Sony’s Cyber-shot series has long stood as a popular choice for enthusiasts craving versatility without the bulk of interchangeable-lens systems. Today, I’m diving deep into two of Sony’s more budget-conscious superzooms from the early 2010s - the Sony HX10V and the Sony HX5. Both pack respectable zoom ranges and a slew of highly user-friendly features. But which one delivers better real-world performance for photographers at distinct experience and budget levels?

Drawing on my extensive hands-on testing across hundreds of cameras during my 15+ years as a photography gear reviewer, I’ve put these two models side-by-side to uncover how they stack up in image quality, ergonomics, autofocus, and more. Whether you’re a travel bug hunting very long zooms on the fly or a casual street snapper needing something pocketable yet capable, this review is your comprehensive insider scoop.

Let’s begin by taking a look at the physical design and handling.

Body and Ergonomics: Size Matters (But How Much?)

When debating compact cameras, size and control layout are often dealbreakers. The HX10V and HX5 are both compact, pocketable cameras targeted at enthusiasts wanting more zoom reach than their phones can offer. But how do they compare physically?

The HX10V (left) is slightly larger than the HX5 (right), with thicker grips and subtle body sculpting.

The HX10V measures 105x60x34mm and weighs 234g with battery, while the HX5 is marginally smaller at 102x58x29mm and lighter at 200g. This difference is modest, but in my experience, those extra few millimeters and grams on the HX10V translate to a noticeably more comfortable grip for longer shooting sessions. It has a subtle thumb rest and slightly bigger clubs for your thumbs, mitigating fatigue if you’re shooting banks of photos or using long focal lengths.

Both cameras lack an electronic viewfinder, meaning you’re tethered to their rear LCD screens, so having good ergonomics is crucial for steady handholding. I found the HX10V’s body feels more robust and less toy-like compared to the plasticky HX5, thanks to more solid construction and refined button placement.

Speaking of buttons…

HX10V presents a more intuitive arrangement of dials and buttons on top – a win for control accessibility.

The HX10V features an improved top plate with dedicated zoom and shutter buttons as well as a clearer on/off switch. The HX5 is simpler but sometimes the controls feel a bit cramped under fingers, especially for users with larger hands. Neither camera offers customizable buttons or clubs to baby your paw - but for point-and-shoot simplicity, they do the job.

Pros of HX10V ergonomics:

• Larger, more comfortable grip
• Better top button/dial layout for quick adjustments
• Heft translates to stability in-hand

Pros of HX5 ergonomics:

• Smaller footprint perfect for ultralight carry
• Lighter for pocket shooting and street use

Sensor and Image Quality: More Pixels, More Problems? Not Always

With imaging technology, sensor size and resolution can make or break your photo quality. Both cameras share small sensors typical of superzooms of their era but with differing specifications.

Both cameras use 1/2.3-inch type BSI CMOS sensors, but HX10V packs 18 megapixels versus HX5’s 10 megapixels.

The HX10V boasts an 18MP BSI CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55 mm sensor area), while the HX5 uses a 10MP BSI CMOS sensor (6.1x4.58 mm). Despite the similar physical sensor dimensions, packing nearly twice the pixels in the HX10V means smaller photosites, which can impact noise performance negatively - but not necessarily disastrously.

In practical testing, the HX10V produces sharper images at base ISO with noticeably better detail rendition, ideal if you crop or print your shots. However, at high ISOs (1600 and above), noise becomes more pronounced compared to the lower-res HX5, which exhibits smoother but softer images.

Color depth and dynamic range are somewhat muted on both cameras compared to modern standards. For everyday snapshots - landscape, macro, and street photography - they deliver pleasing colors and reasonable tonal gradations, but you shouldn’t expect professional-grade files or heavy post processing leeway.

Also, neither camera supports RAW capture, limiting your ability to dial in tonal adjustments in post, especially in challenging lighting. This is a big consideration if you crave ultimate control.

Bottom line: HX10V offers sharper, higher-resolution images but requires more noise management at high ISO; HX5 favors cleaner but softer images. Both are fine for casual use but will frustrate professional-level workflows.

Screen and User Interface: See What You Shoot

The rear LCD screen is the windows through which you compose and review your work, so let’s see how these two stack up here.

The HX10V offers a significantly higher-resolution, XtraFine TruBlack 3-inch display, where the HX5 sticks with a lower-res 230k LCD.

The HX10V boasts a 3.0-inch, 922k-dot “XtraFine TruBlack” TFT LCD with deep contrast and more accurate color reproduction. This sharp and bright screen is a joy for framing shots in outdoor conditions, and its excellent viewing angles aid quick refocusing and composition tweaks.

The HX5’s 3.0-inch LCD weighs in at only 230k dots, making fine detail harder to assess and outdoor viewing more challenging due to washed-out highlights and reflections. That said, for casual point-and-shooters, it’s perfectly adequate.

Neither camera offers a touchscreen interface, so all controls happen through physical buttons with no touch AF or parametric gestures. The menu systems on both models are straightforward but aging compared to today’s standards, lacking advanced customization or quick-access operations.

User takeaway: If you value a large, sharp screen for meticulous framing - especially in bright light - HX10V is clearly superior. For casual use, HX5’s screen is serviceable but not inspiring.

Lens Reach and Optical Performance: Stretching the Focal Limits

One of the biggest appeals of these models is their respective zooms, vital for versatile travel and wildlife shooting. Let’s compare their lenses head-to-head.

The HX10V’s fixed lens covers a massive 24-400 mm (35mm equivalent) focal range with an aperture of f/3.3-5.9. Meanwhile, the HX5 offers a less ambitious but still respectable 25-250 mm range at f/3.5-5.5.

In practical terms, this means the HX10V grants you over 16x optical zoom against HX5’s 10x zoom.

Sony HX10V front Sony HX10V screen back Sony HX5 front Sony HX5 screen back

Personally, I found the HX10V’s focal length a game-changer for wildlife and distant landscape details. Sure, the longer zoom comes with some softness toward the extreme telephoto end and a relatively slow maximum aperture at long zooms, but the built-in optical image stabilization (OSS) helps significantly reduce blur from camera shake - even handheld.

The HX5 lens is fast enough and sharp at wide angles but limits your framing options, especially for far-away subjects. However, its smaller zoom does mean less lens distortion and marginally crisper images at shorter focal lengths.

Neither camera sports manual focus lenses - the autofocus is fixed to contrast detection only, but more on that in the next section.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: When Time Is of the Essence

Autofocus (AF) performance is a critical measure, especially if you shoot wildlife, sports, or spontaneous street moments. How snappy and accurate are these cameras’ AF systems?

Both cameras employ contrast detection autofocus with 9 focus points. The HX10V adds face detection and some AF tracking capabilities - features lacking on the HX5, which sticks to basic center-weighted single AF.

In real-world testing, the HX10V locks focus more quickly and more reliably than the HX5, especially in bright light. Its face detection helps nail skin tones and eye sharpness during portrait shooting, a real boon for casual portraits and social photography.

Tracking moving subjects is only modestly successful on the HX10V - don’t expect pro-grade continuous AF or predictive algorithms here. The HX5’s AF can feel sluggish and prone to hunting in low light or busy scenes.

Continuous shooting speeds are equal at 10 frames per second (fps) on both, but neither camera excels at buffer depth or sustained bursts, making them less suitable for fast-paced action photography.

Video Features: Lightweight Full HD Shooters?

Both cameras can shoot Full HD video up to 1080p at 60fps, using AVCHD and MPEG-4 codecs. Here’s the rundown:

• HX10V records in 1920x1080 at 60fps, with smooth motion capture and good color fidelity. It also has a broader frame rate palette for flexibility.
• HX5 matches up with lower-res 1080p60 and equivalents but offers fewer fine controls.

Neither camera sports microphone or headphone jacks, and both lack advanced video stabilization beyond optical lens-based correction. Audio quality is average via internal mics, with background noise prevalent in windy or noisy environments.

Overall, for casual video, both suffice, but serious vloggers or content creators hoping for manual exposure or audio input will need to look elsewhere.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: The Practical Stuff

Long shooting days demand reliable endurance and easy file management.

The HX10V uses the NP-BG1 battery rated for roughly 320 shots per charge, a solid number for this size class. The HX5 uses the same battery model, but manufacturer claims are less clearly stated. From my tests, the HX10V can comfortably last a full daylight shoot, while the HX5 may run out quicker under continuous use, especially video recording.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the HX5 also supports Sony’s Memory Stick Duo format, offering more flexibility if you have legacy Sony accessories. However, using Memory Sticks can be slower and more expensive than SD cards.

Regarding connectivity, the HX10V includes built-in GPS for geotagging - a huge boon for travel photography tracking. It also supports Eye-Fi wireless card compatibility, allowing some wireless image transfer. The HX5 does not offer wireless features, which may slow your workflow if you want on-the-go uploads.

USB 2.0 and HDMI ports are available on both for tethered file transfers and video output, though no charging over USB is supported.

Durability and Weather Sealing: Keeping Up With the Outdoor Hustle

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, or freezeproof features. This is typical for compact superzooms of their generation. You’ll need to be cautious shooting them in wet or dusty conditions and factor in protective housing if working in the elements.

That said, the HX10V’s more substantial build feels less delicate, reducing worry about drops or bumps, a helpful factor for travel shooters.

Genre-specific Performance and Real World Use

How do these cameras really perform across different photography types? Here’s my assessment:

Price and Value: Budget Realities and Buyer Recommendations

The HX10V was priced around $615 at launch, whereas the HX5 debuted for roughly $275. Given their positions in Sony’s lineup and varying specs, this price gap is substantial.

In 2024 terms, these cameras are effectively legacy gear for collectors or budget buyers on archaic online marketplaces. However, the value question remains relevant.

• HX10V provides better all-around image quality, longer zoom reach, improved ergonomics, and added features like GPS and higher-res screens. It’s worth the premium if you prioritize versatile zoom and image quality in a compact body.

• HX5 is an affordable entry-level camera with sufficient performance for simple travel snapshots and street photography but feels limiting when pushed.

If your photography demands crop-worthy landscapes or fauna shots with a clean interface, HX10V is a clear winner. For casual, walking-around-the-city users who want light weight and basic features, HX5 will suffice.

The Final Verdict: Which Sony Superzoom Should You Choose?

After rigorous testing and comparison, here’s how I’d sum it up:

For budget-conscious amateurs and casual users prioritizing portability, the Sony HX5 is a sensible choice. But if you want a more robust camera for extended travel, wildlife, and portraiture - especially with a powerful zoom - investing a bit more in the Sony HX10V proves worthwhile.

My Personal Take: Which Would I Grab?

Speaking strictly from my photographer’s perspective, I’d pick the HX10V every time as a compact travel companion. It balances size, reach, and image quality without exploding your wallet. The beefier screen, GPS tagging, superior zoom, and snappy AF make it a joy to use on hikes, family events, and impromptu wildlife spotting.

The HX5 feels like a perfect backup or beginner’s pocket camera but quickly reveals its flaws when you start demanding more from your gear.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you cut through the specs and marketing fluff to make a confident decision. At the end of the day, the best camera is the one you enjoy carrying and using - no matter how many megapixels it has.

Happy shooting!

If you have questions about these or other models, feel free to ask - I’ve tested them all (and then some).