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Sony HX30V vs Sony A55

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 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
  • Announced February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Sony HX30V versus Sony A55, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are built by Sony. The resolution of the HX30V (18MP) and the A55 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the HX30V (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The HX30V was revealed 19 months later than the A55 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the HX30V grades versus the A55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A55

 HX30V A55 
ReleasedFebruary 2012August 2010Fresher by 19 months
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony HX30V

 A55 HX30V 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony A55

 HX30V A55 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony HX30V features outer 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 A55 has proportions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony HX30V versus Sony A55 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the HX30V compared to the A55.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX30V and A55 is 90 and 67 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading through specs. The graphic below might give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the HX30V and A55.

All in all, the two cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The HX30V having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony HX30V will resolve more detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more modern HX30V will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V Portrait photography information
Sony A55 Portrait photography information
45
you can focus manually
MP count good (18MP)
features face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
73
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX30V
Street photography with Sony A55
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
Sony A55 Sports photography advice
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery life (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography details
Sony A55 Travel photography details
69
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
MP count good (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
62
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse mode
low battery life (380 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V Landscape photography info
Sony A55 Landscape photography info
50
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse recording
67
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
low battery life (380 per charge)
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging advice
Sony A55 Vlogging advice
34
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (254 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
display is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
78
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone support
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2012-02-28 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 922k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.10 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254g (0.56 lbs) 500g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.4
DXO Low light score not tested 816
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 380 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
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 1 1
Launch pricing $420 $800