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Sony HX30V vs Sony W690

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 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
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Replacement is Sony HX50V
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released February 2012
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Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Sony HX30V and Sony W690, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Sony. The resolution of the HX30V (18MP) and the W690 (16MP) is pretty similar and they possess the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The HX30V was introduced around the same time to the W690 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the HX30V grades versus the W690 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony W690

 HX30V W690 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sony HX30V

 W690 HX30V 

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony W690

 HX30V W690 
ReleasedFebruary 2012February 2012Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX30V comes with outside dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) while the Sony W690 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check the Sony HX30V and Sony W690 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the HX30V and the W690.

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX30V and W690 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specifications. The visual below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the HX30V and W690.

To sum up, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You can expect the Sony HX30V to offer you greater detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
Portrait photography with Sony W690
45
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
34
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX30V
Street photography with Sony W690
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
Sony W690 as a Sports photography camera
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 (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
Sony W690 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others in class (254 grams)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great reach (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
68
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
Sony W690 Landscape photography factors
50
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
43
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
Sony W690 Vlogging advice
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
31
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
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Sony HX30V vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony W690
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-28 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone 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 254g (0.56 pounds) 142g (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 shots 220 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-BN
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 1
Launch cost $420 $297