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Sony HX30V vs Sony W550

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 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
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX50V
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Sony HX30V and Sony W550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the HX30V (18MP) and W550 (14MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The HX30V was launched 8 months after the W550 which means that they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the HX30V scores vs the W550 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony W550

 HX30V W550 
RevealedFebruary 2012July 2011More modern by 8 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony HX30V

 W550 HX30V 

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony W550

 HX30V W550 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Sony HX30V provides outside measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Sony HX30V and Sony W550 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the HX30V vs the W550.

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX30V and W550 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor sizes simply by viewing technical specs. The pic here will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the HX30V and W550.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony HX30V to result in extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher HX30V is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V Portrait photography highlights
Sony W550 Portrait photography highlights
45
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
comes with face detect focusing
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
28
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography advice
Sony W550 Street photography advice
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (254 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX30V
Sports photography with Sony W550
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography info
Sony W550 Travel photography info
69
lighter than average (254 grams)
resolution is good (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
65
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
50
manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
42
really wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony HX30V
Vlogging with Sony W550
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
29
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.7)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic jack
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Sony HX30V vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2012-02-28 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 922k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.10 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 254 gr (0.56 lbs) 110 gr (0.24 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Launch cost $420 $119