Clicky

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Sony HX5 and Sony RX1, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact and both are built by Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and RX1 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The HX5 was announced 3 years earlier than the RX1 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the HX5 scores against the RX1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony RX1

 HX5 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Sony HX5

 RX1 HX5 
RevealedFebruary 2013June 2010More recent by 32 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Sony HX5 and Sony RX1

 HX5 RX1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Sony HX5 comes with physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony RX1 has proportions of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

See the Sony HX5 and Sony RX1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the HX5 compared to the RX1.

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the HX5 and RX1 is 92 and 79 respectively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to see the difference in sensor measurements just by going through specs. The visual below may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the HX5 and RX1.

All in all, both cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The HX5 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony RX1 will produce greater detail with its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older HX5 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX5 Portrait photography details
Sony RX1 Portrait photography details
19
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
81
has manual focus
high flash sync (1/4,000s)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
Sony RX1 Street photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
66
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
above average high ISO (25,600)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
heavier than others (482g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony HX5 Sports photography details
Sony RX1 Sports photography details
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks phase detect autofocus
53
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX5
Travel photography with Sony RX1
60
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
good MP (24MP)
built-in flash
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (270 CIPA)
heavier than others (482g)
display is not selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Sony HX5 Landscape photography advice
Sony RX1 Landscape photography advice
37
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.4")
lacks RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
64
has manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony RX1 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
34
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic socket
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
heavier than others (482g)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sony HX5 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX5 and Sony RX1
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-16 2013-02-19
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.104 x 4.578mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3456 x 2592 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.80 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/4000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200g (0.44 lb) 482g (1.06 lb)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $275 $2,798