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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Launched February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 V
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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and they are both created by Sony. The resolution of the HX30V (18MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is pretty well matched but the HX30V (1/2.3") and RX100 IV (1") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The HX30V was revealed 4 years before the RX100 IV which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the HX30V grades versus the RX100 IV in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony RX100 IV

 HX30V RX100 IV 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Sony HX30V

 RX100 IV HX30V 
ReleasedJune 2015February 2012Newer by 39 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k922kClearer screen (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony RX100 IV

 HX30V RX100 IV 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Sony HX30V features exterior measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) and the Sony RX100 IV has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Contrast the Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the HX30V versus the RX100 IV.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the HX30V and RX100 IV is 90 and 89 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the HX30V and RX100 IV.

Clearly, each of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The HX30V with its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Sony RX100 IV will give greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged HX30V is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Portrait photography camera
45
manual focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
65
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focusing
saves RAW files
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography advice
Sony RX100 IV Street photography advice
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
85
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than others (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V Sports photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Sports photography factors
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
68
silent shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
high frames per second (16.0 fps)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competitors in class (254g)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
86
lighter than others (298 grams)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
50
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
74
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging features
Sony RX100 IV Vlogging features
34
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
81
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than others (298 grams)
does not have microphone socket
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Sony HX30V vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony RX100 IV
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-02-28 2015-06-10
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 5472 x 3648
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Min boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 16.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.10 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254g (0.56 lb) 298g (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 562
Other
Battery life 320 shots 280 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $420 $898