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Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV front
Portability
52
Imaging
53
Features
82
Overall
64

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Key Specs

Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
Sony RX10 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1095g - 133 x 94 x 145mm
  • Introduced September 2017
  • Older Model is Sony RX10 III
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Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony HX20V and Sony RX10 IV, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Sony. The image resolution of the HX20V (18MP) and the RX10 IV (20MP) is relatively similar but the HX20V (1/2.3") and RX10 IV (1") posses different sensor measurements.

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The HX20V was launched 6 years before the RX10 IV and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera and the Sony RX10 IV being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple overview of how the HX20V scores against the RX10 IV in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony RX10 IV

 HX20V RX10 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 IV over the Sony HX20V

 RX10 IV HX20V 
IntroducedSeptember 2017July 2012Fresher by 62 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k922kClearer screen (+518k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sony HX20V and Sony RX10 IV

 HX20V RX10 IV 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony HX20V has got external dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) and the Sony RX10 IV has proportions of 133mm x 94mm x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7") with a weight of 1095 grams (2.41 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX20V and Sony RX10 IV in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the HX20V vs the RX10 IV.

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the HX20V and RX10 IV is 90 and 52 respectively.

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV top view buttons comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizing only by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the HX20V and RX10 IV.

As you can tell, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The HX20V featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony RX10 IV will deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs more aggressively. The older HX20V is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV sensor size comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX20V Portrait photography information
Sony RX10 IV Portrait photography information
45
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
offers face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
71
you can focus manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
64
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
has focus by touch
environment sealing
more heavy than competitors in class (1,095 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX20V as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 IV as a Sports photography camera
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
76
excellent zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (24.0 frames/s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX20V Travel photography factors
Sony RX10 IV Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
56
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (600mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors in class (1,095g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX20V Landscape photography factors
Sony RX10 IV Landscape photography factors
50
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
62
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX20V Vlogging info
Sony RX10 IV Vlogging info
34
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
has external microphone port
slow maximum aperture (f2.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competitors in class (1,095g)
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Sony HX20V vs Sony RX10 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX20V and Sony RX10 IV
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20VSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-07-20 2017-09-12
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW images
Min boosted ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/32000s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/2000s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254 gr (0.56 lb) 1095 gr (2.41 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 133 x 94 x 145mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 400 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $397 $1,698