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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
51
Features
68
Overall
57

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Key Specs

Sony HX30V
(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
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • New Model is Sony HX50V
Sony RX100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-100mm (F1.8-4.9) lens
  • 240g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Newer Model is Sony RX100 II
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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both built by Sony. The resolution of the HX30V (18MP) and the RX100 (20MP) is relatively similar but the HX30V (1/2.3") and RX100 (1") posses different sensor dimensions.

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The HX30V was unveiled 6 months earlier than the RX100 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the HX30V scores versus the RX100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony RX100

 HX30V RX100 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 over the Sony HX30V

 RX100 HX30V 
Screen resolution1229k922kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony RX100

 HX30V RX100 
RevealedFebruary 2012August 2012Similar generation
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Sony HX30V provides outside measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Compare the Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the HX30V compared to the RX100.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX30V and RX100 is 90 and 91 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The picture underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the HX30V and RX100.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The HX30V with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Sony RX100 will deliver more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs way more aggressively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 as a Portrait photography camera
45
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18MP)
offers face detection focusing
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
64
manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography advice
Sony RX100 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
80
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (240g)
very good high ISO (25,600)
screen is fixed
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V Sports photography features
Sony RX100 Sports photography features
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
65
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking autofocus
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.2)
79
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
Landscape photography with Sony RX100
50
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
74
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging factors
Sony RX100 Vlogging factors
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone port
38
really wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone port
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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony RX100
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-02-28 2012-08-28
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-100mm (3.6x)
Max aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/1.8-4.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD WhiteMagic TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/2000 seconds
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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254g (0.56 lb) 240g (0.53 lb)
Physical dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 390
Other
Battery life 320 shots 330 shots
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $420 $448