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Sony HX30V vs Sony A99

Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 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
  • Announced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Later Model is Sony HX50V
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A900
  • Updated by Sony A99 II
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Sony HX30V vs Sony A99, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both of them are built by Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the HX30V (18MP) and A99 (24MP) and the HX30V (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) provide different sensor sizes.

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The HX30V was introduced 9 months earlier than the A99 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX30V being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the HX30V grades versus the A99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Sony A99

 HX30V A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony HX30V

 A99 HX30V 
AnnouncedDecember 2012February 2012Newer by 9 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k922kSharper display (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony HX30V and Sony A99

 HX30V A99 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX30V has got physical 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 A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Look at the Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the HX30V vs the A99.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX30V and A99 is 90 and 57 respectively.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The pic underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the HX30V and A99.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The HX30V having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony A99 will render more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged HX30V will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX30V Portrait photography features
Sony A99 Portrait photography features
45
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
comes with face detect autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
81
manual focus
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX30V Street photography details
Sony A99 Street photography details
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect autofocus
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX30V Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
69
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
missing Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.2)
60
environment sealing
resolution is good (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX30V Landscape photography factors
Sony A99 Landscape photography factors
50
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
resolution is good (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
two card slots
bad battery life (500 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX30V Vlogging features
Sony A99 Vlogging features
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (254g)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
76
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic socket
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Sony HX30V vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX30V and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30VSony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Sony SLT-A99
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2012-02-28 2012-12-12
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 922k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.10 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
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, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 254 gr (0.56 pounds) 812 gr (1.79 pounds)
Physical dimensions 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 500 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-FM500H
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 Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots One 2
Retail cost $420 $1,998