Sony HX30V vs Sony S950

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Sony HX30V and Sony S950, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the HX30V (18MP) and S950 (10MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The HX30V was unveiled 3 years later than the S950 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summary of how the HX30V grades vs the S950 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950. The full galleries are available at Sony HX30V Gallery and Sony S950 Gallery.

When you are going to carry your camera often, you have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony HX30V offers physical 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) while the Sony S950 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Sony HX30V and Sony S950 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the HX30V vs the S950.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX30V and S950 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Typically, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing only by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the HX30V and S950.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You should expect the Sony HX30V to produce extra detail having an extra 8MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more modern HX30V should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.