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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
70
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • New Model is Sony HX50V
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Introduced February 2013
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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Sony HX30V versus Sony RX1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both of them are manufactured by Sony. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the HX30V (18MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the HX30V (1/2.3") and RX1 (Full frame) offer different sensor size.

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The HX30V was introduced 11 months prior to the RX1 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the HX30V matches up versus the RX1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony RX1

 HX30V RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony HX30V

 RX1 HX30V 
IntroducedFebruary 2013February 2012Newer by 11 months
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony RX1

 HX30V RX1 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony HX30V has physical 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 RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") having a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony HX30V versus Sony RX1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the HX30V and the RX1.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX30V and RX1 is 90 and 79 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over specs. The image below might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX30V and RX1.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The HX30V having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony RX1 will deliver more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged HX30V is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
Sony RX1 Portrait photography advice
45
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
82
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/4,000s)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography features
Sony RX1 Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (254g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
66
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
above average ISO range (25,600)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (482 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
Sony RX1 Sports photography advice
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
provides tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count good (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
fixed focal length (35mm)
low frames per second (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography highlights
Sony RX1 Travel photography highlights
69
lighter than average in class (254g)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
62
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
fast max aperture (f2.0)
missing Time Lapse mode
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
heavier than competition (482 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Landscape photography camera
50
focusing manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
65
manual focus
fast max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 shots)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony HX30V
Vlogging with Sony RX1
34
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
34
fast max aperture (f2.0)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition (482g)
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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony RX1
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-02-28 2013-02-19
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 35mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 922 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 5.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.10 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/4000s
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, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 254g (0.56 pounds) 482g (1.06 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life 320 shots 270 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $420 $2,798