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Sony HX30V vs Sony A58

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 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
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Superseded the Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Old Model is Sony A57
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Sony HX30V versus Sony A58, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are built by Sony. The sensor resolution of the HX30V (18MP) and the A58 (20MP) is relatively close but the HX30V (1/2.3") and A58 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor measurements.

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The HX30V was released 21 months earlier than the A58 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the HX30V matches up against the A58 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A58

 HX30V A58 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony HX30V

 A58 HX30V 
AnnouncedNovember 2013February 2012More modern by 21 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony A58

 HX30V A58 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sony HX30V enjoys exterior 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) whilst the Sony A58 has proportions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") along with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Check the Sony HX30V versus Sony A58 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the HX30V and the A58.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX30V and A58 is 90 and 68 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX30V and A58.

As you can see, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The HX30V featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A58 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The more aged HX30V will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V Portrait photography highlights
Sony A58 Portrait photography highlights
45
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
77
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography advice
Sony A58 Street photography advice
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V Sports photography info
Sony A58 Sports photography info
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
81
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (690 shots)
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography information
Sony A58 Travel photography information
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
63
better than average battery life (690 shots)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX30V
Landscape photography with Sony A58
50
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (690 shots)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging information
Sony A58 Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony A58
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony SLT-A58
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony SLT-A58
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-02-28 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.6
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 922 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.10 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 254 grams (0.56 lbs) 492 grams (1.08 lbs)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 753
Other
Battery life 320 photos 690 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $420 $645