Sony HX20V vs Sony A57

Following is a in depth analysis of the Sony HX20V versus Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are manufactured by Sony. The sensor resolution of the HX20V (18MP) and the A57 (16MP) is pretty well matched but the HX20V (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The HX20V was launched about the same time to the A57 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the HX20V matches up versus the A57 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V and Sony SLT-A57. The complete galleries are provided at Sony HX20V Gallery and Sony A57 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony HX20V provides physical measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) while the Sony A57 has proportions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Examine the Sony HX20V versus Sony A57 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the HX20V versus the A57.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HX20V and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The pic below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the HX20V and A57.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The HX20V due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony HX20V will give you more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively.