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Sony HX20V vs Sony A55

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 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
  • Released July 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony HX10V
  • Replacement is Sony HX30V
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Updated by Sony A57
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Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Sony HX20V and Sony A55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are sold by Sony. The sensor resolution of the HX20V (18MP) and the A55 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the HX20V (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The HX20V was brought out 24 months after the A55 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the HX20V scores versus the A55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Sony A55

 HX20V A55 
ReleasedJuly 2012August 2010Newer by 24 months
Screen resolution922k921kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony HX20V

 A55 HX20V 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX20V and Sony A55

 HX20V A55 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX20V comes with exterior dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) whilst the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Sony HX20V and Sony A55 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the HX20V vs the A55.

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the HX20V and A55 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The pic underneath should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HX20V and A55.

All in all, each of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The HX20V due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony HX20V will resolve greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The more recent HX20V should have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX20V
Portrait photography with Sony A55
45
you can focus manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony HX20V as a Street photography camera
Sony A55 as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX20V
Sports photography with Sony A55
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
bad battery (380 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX20V Travel photography factors
Sony A55 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
62
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX20V Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
50
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
67
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (380 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX20V Vlogging information
Sony A55 Vlogging information
34
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
78
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic support
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Sony HX20V vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX20V and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20VSony SLT-A55
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-07-20 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 254 gr (0.56 pounds) 500 gr (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $397 $800