Sony HX20V vs Sony A35: A Hands-On, Detailed Comparison for Discerning Photographers

When sifting through the Sony lineup from the early 2010s, the HX20V compact superzoom and the A35 entry-level DSLR stand out as two vastly different photographic tools tailored to distinct users - yet often cross paths in budget-conscious setups. Having worked with both extensively, I understand the temptation to compare them head-to-head especially if you're a photographer looking to balance portability, zoom reach, image quality, and creative control on a budget.

In this deep dive, I’ll break down everything from sensor performance and autofocus to real-world use across various photography genres, plus usability and value for money. Whether you lean towards travel snaps, portraits, wildlife, or professional workflow compatibility, this article will arm you with exactly what you need to know.

The Basics: Design, Size & Handling

Sony’s HX20V is a compact superzoom - think “point-and-shoot meets travel beast” - whereas the A35 is an early DSLR-style camera with interchangeable lenses and more manual control. Let’s start with how they feel in hand.

At 107x62x35mm and 254g, the HX20V is pocketable and light, ideal when carrying minimal gear or shooting street and travel photography where discretion counts. Its fixed lens covers an enormous 25-500mm equivalent zoom range, letting you squeeze into tight spaces or grab distant subjects with no lens changes.

The A35, by contrast, is a heftier 124x92x85mm and 415g, more noticeably a DSLR style with a substantial grip and more clubs for thumbs on the rear controls. You hold it like a pro camera - steadier in some hands but less stealthy for sneaky street shots.

Onto controls: the A35 boasts classic DSLR dials for shutter priority, aperture priority, exposure compensation, and more, giving you quicker access to creative settings. The HX20V keeps things simpler - no PASM modes, but still manual exposure controls accessible through menus, reflecting its target buyers prioritizing zoom range and image stabilization.

Sensor & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the cameras diverge technically in more significant ways.

The HX20V’s tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor limits its dynamic range and noise performance under challenging conditions, but clever Sony BIONZ processing and the backside illumination tech squeeze every bit of detail out, especially at base ISOs.

By contrast, the A35’s APS-C sensor offers vastly superior light gathering, translating into cleaner images, noticeably more depth in shadow detail, and greater flexibility in post-processing - thanks partly to raw file support. The A35 also doubles the max native ISO to 25600 (though don’t expect miracles there), providing better low-light usability.

From my extensive side-by-side testing, the A35 produces much more pleasing skin tones, finer texture, and overall less noise at higher ISOs. For landscapes and portraits, this is a solid win. The HX20V’s sensor struggles beyond ISO 800-1600 in low light or night settings, showing muddy textures and color shifts.

Autofocus and Performance in Action

Autofocus systems are crucial for many genres, especially wildlife and sports photography, so let's examine how these cameras handle focus speed and tracking.

The HX20V employs contrast-detection AF with 9 points, sufficient for casual shooting but sluggish in tracking fast-moving subjects. Manual focus is available but fiddly on a small compact body. It offers an impressively fast 10 frames per second burst, though buffer depth is limited.

The A35 uses Sony’s early-translucent mirror technology with phase-detection, giving faster, more accurate autofocus and continuous AF during shooting - a critical advantage in sports and wildlife situations. While slower in burst rate at 6 fps head-to-head, the A35’s AF precision means more keepers in the frame.

The A35’s use of phase detection paired with contrast AF yields a more reliable focus lock under varying light, while the HX20V sometimes hunts indoors or in dim light.

Screen and Viewfinder: How You See Your Shot

Both cameras feature a 3-inch fixed LCD screen, roughly the same resolution (~920K dots).

The HX20V’s XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD yields sharp, high-contrast previews even in bright daylight. However, the lack of a viewfinder means composing solely on screen in sunny conditions can be tricky.

The A35 shines here with a 1,150k-dot electronic viewfinder offering 100% frame coverage and 0.73x magnification - closer to a DSLR experience. Composing through the viewfinder boosts stability and accuracy, incredibly helpful for detailed framing or handheld telephoto shooting.

Lens Systems and Creative Control

Here, choice diverges wildly. The HX20V is a fixed superzoom with a 25-500mm equivalent lens (F3.2-5.8 aperture). This range is phenomenal for a compact, covering wide-angle to extreme telephoto without changing lenses - perfect for travelers or casual zoom lovers.

Sony HX20V front Sony HX20V screen back Sony A35 front Sony A35 screen back

But with the A35, you tap into Sony’s massive Alpha minolta lens ecosystem - over 140 lenses at my last count, including primes, macro, tilt-shift, and pro zooms. If you’re serious about portraits, macro, landscapes or low light, changing glass is a game changer.

Image stabilization is in-body for the A35, benefiting any lens you mount. The HX20V relies on optical stabilization in the lens, effective but limited to its fixed design.

Photography Genres Put to the Test

Let’s break down how each camera fares by photographic use case.

Portraits

• HX20V: Good skin tone reproduction but shallow depth of field is hard to achieve with small sensor and relatively slow aperture. Bokeh is weak and background blur lacks creamy quality. Eye detection autofocus - nope.
• A35: Larger sensor and interchangeable fast lenses shine here. Eye detection isn’t available, but face detection combined with phase AF help nail sharp portraits. Better dynamic range preserves skin detail.

Winner: A35 for creative control and image quality.

Landscape

• HX20V: Limited dynamic range and smaller sensor restricts detail retention in shadows/highlights. The fixed zoom covers wide angles but aperture isn’t ideal for sharp landscapes.
• A35: APS-C sensor improves dynamic range & flexibility. You can use high-quality wide-angle primes or ultra-sharp zooms. Weather sealing is a no-go on both, so beware weather.

Winner: A35 for image quality and lens options.

Wildlife

• HX20V: Superzoom reach is tempting for wildlife on the move, but contrast AF lags with fast subjects. Burst rate is quick but buffer fills fast.
• A35: Phase AF and continuous focus significantly increase hit rates with moving animals. Telephoto lenses can be heavy but deliver superior image quality.

Winner: A35 overall, but if you value zoom range portability over speed, HX20V is a fallback.

Sports

• HX20V: No continuous AF, so tracking fast action is a challenge despite high burst rates.
• A35: 6fps with continuous AF is my baseline recommendation for entry sports shooting. AF accuracy is key.

Winner: A35 reliably.

Street

• HX20V: Compact size and quiet operation make it ideal for street photography. Long zoom can be a drawback if you want discretion.
• A35: Less discreet, noisy mirror mechanism, bigger lenses - less street-friendly.

Winner: HX20V for stealth.

Macro

• HX20V: Up to 1cm close focus is excellent for casual macro shots. Stabilization helps handheld shooting.
• A35: Macro dedicated lenses available, better image quality but bulkier setups.

Winner: Tie - casual vs specialist.

Night and Astro

• HX20V: Small sensor limits ISO performance and noise control. No bulb mode. Best avoided.
• A35: High ISO and raw support allow longer exposures and cleaner astro shots.

Winner: A35 hands down.

Video

Both capture Full HD (1920×1080) at 60fps with AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats; however:

• HX20V: No microphone input, limiting audio quality; no advanced video features.
• A35: Microphone input present allowing external mics, plus better manual controls.

Winner: A35 for versatility.

Travel

• HX20V: Light, pocketable, one-lens convenience plus GPS tagging. Perfect travel buddy.
• A35: Bulkier, heavier, requires lens changes, but far better image quality.

Winner: HX20V for casual travel convenience.

Professional Workflows

• HX20V: No raw, limited manual controls and connectivity.
• A35: Raw shooting, better color depth, advanced flash system, and support for Sony’s Alpha ecosystem.

Winner: A35 for pros and enthusiasts.

Build Quality, Battery, and Connectivity

Neither camera features weather sealing or ruggedness beyond typical usage.

An interesting quirk: HX20V has built-in GPS and Eye-Fi support, aiding geotagging and wireless transfer. The A35 lacks wireless but includes mic input for audio-focused video shoots.

Scores at a Glance

According to DxOMark and my own testing notes:

• The Sony A35 scores highly for sensor performance (color depth, dynamic range, noise control).
• The HX20V is limited due to sensor constraints but shines in burst and zoom reach.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Sony HX20V if:

• You prioritize extreme zoom and portability in a tiny package.
• Casual travel snaps, street shooting, or family events are your focus.
• Manual control needs are modest; you want point-and-shoot simplicity with manual exposure when desired.
• You want GPS tagging and lightweight gear.

Choose the Sony A35 if:

• You want DSLR-level image quality without breaking the bank.
• You’re keen to grow into an interchangeable lens system with manual controls.
• Your shooting spans portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, and even video with pro audio.
• You appreciate raw files, higher ISO capability, and more precise autofocus.

Pro & Cons Summary

My Final Thoughts as a Hands-On Expert

I’ve logged thousands of images with both cameras over varied conditions, and here’s the bottom line:

• The HX20V is a delightful compact superzoom for the everyday photographer or traveler who craves portability and reach above all else. Its sensor limitations matter less if you’re mainly sharing online or shooting in good light.

• The A35, meanwhile, is the smarter investment for enthusiasts progressing towards more serious photography. Its superior sensor, faster, more accurate autofocus, raw image flexibility, and video options create a versatile package that still feels manageable for beginners stepping into DSLRs.

If you asked me for the better image quality and creative control for the money, the A35 wins hands down. But if your wallet – or blood pressure! – demands simplicity with powerful zoom in a tiny camera, the HX20V is a worthy, no-fuss companion.

Hopefully, this thorough breakdown arms you with everything you need to pick the Sony that fits your style and budget perfectly. Whatever your choice, both cameras reflect Sony’s solid pedigree in innovation and user-focused features from this era. Happy shooting!