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Sony HX30V vs Sony A57

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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
  • Succeeded the Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A55
  • Successor is Sony A58
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Sony HX30V and Sony A57, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both built by Sony. The image resolution of the HX30V (18MP) and the A57 (16MP) is fairly well matched but the HX30V (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

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The HX30V was introduced 6 months before the A57 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the HX30V grades against the A57 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A57

 HX30V A57 
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony HX30V

 A57 HX30V 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony A57

 HX30V A57 
ReleasedFebruary 2012September 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Touch display Missing Touch display

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony HX30V has got external dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs) and the Sony A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Contrast the Sony HX30V and Sony A57 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the HX30V against the A57.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX30V and A57 is 90 and 64 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at technical specs. The visual here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the HX30V and A57.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The HX30V having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony HX30V will resolve more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V Portrait photography info
Sony A57 Portrait photography info
45
manual focus
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography information
Sony A57 Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
75
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX30V
Sports photography with Sony A57
49
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
offers tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography features
Sony A57 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition in class (254g)
decent megapixels (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
67
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
50
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
72
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
Sony A57 Vlogging highlights
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not have selfie friendly screen
does not have mic port
77
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic port
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony SLT-A57
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-02-28 2012-09-13
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 922k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 254g (0.56 pounds) 618g (1.36 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 550 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $420 $1,000