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Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 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
  • Old Model is Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
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 HX20V vs Sony WX50 Overview

On this page, we are reviewing the Sony HX20V versus Sony WX50, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Sony. The image resolution of the HX20V (18MP) and the WX50 (16MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The HX20V was manufactured 6 months later than the WX50 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the HX20V matches up versus the WX50 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony WX50

 HX20V WX50 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k461kClearer display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony WX50 over the Sony HX20V

 WX50 HX20V 

Common features in the Sony HX20V and Sony WX50

 HX20V WX50 
ReleasedJuly 2012January 2012Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX20V provides outside 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) while the Sony WX50 has dimensions of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Sony HX20V versus Sony WX50 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the HX20V compared to the WX50.

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX20V and WX50 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The photograph below should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX20V and WX50.

All in all, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can anticipate the Sony HX20V to give you more detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos more aggressively.

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 sensor size comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX20V Portrait photography information
Sony WX50 Portrait photography information
45
has manual focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
34
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony HX20V Street photography info
Sony WX50 Street photography info
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX20V Sports photography info
Sony WX50 Sports photography info
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
44
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX20V Travel photography details
Sony WX50 Travel photography details
69
lighter than average (254g)
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
69
lighter than competition in class (117g)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
no Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sony HX20V as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX50 as a Landscape photography camera
50
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse function
38
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX20V Vlogging details
Sony WX50 Vlogging details
34
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no external mic jack
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no mic jack
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Sony HX20V vs Sony WX50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX20V and Sony WX50
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20VSony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-07-20 2012-01-30
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip BIONZ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 922k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD Clearfoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.10 m 5.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254 grams (0.56 pounds) 117 grams (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7")
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 shots 240 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $397 $250