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Sony HX5 vs Sony S950

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
30
Overall
32
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Key Specs

Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Released June 2010
Sony S950
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Sony HX5 versus Sony S950, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both are built by Sony. The image resolution of the HX5 (10MP) and the S950 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the HX5 (1/2.4") and S950 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HX5 was manufactured 17 months after the S950 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the HX5 matches up versus the S950 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony S950

 HX5 S950 
IntroducedJune 2010February 2009More modern by 17 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S950 over the Sony HX5

 S950 HX5 
Manual focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Sony HX5 and Sony S950

 HX5 S950 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX5 provides outside dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Sony S950 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony HX5 versus Sony S950 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the HX5 versus the S950.

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX5 and S950 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The pic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX5 and S950.

All in all, both cameras posses the exact same megapixels but not the same sensor sizes. The HX5 comes with the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult. The more modern HX5 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 sensor size comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX5 Portrait photography advice
Sony S950 Portrait photography advice
20
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
26
you can focus manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
Sony S950 Street photography highlights
55
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S950 as a Sports photography camera
27
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lack of phase detect auto focus
24
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX5
Travel photography with Sony S950
60
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S950 as a Landscape photography camera
37
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.4")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
31
you can focus manually
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX5 Vlogging features
Sony S950 Vlogging features
31
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Sony HX5 vs Sony S950 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX5 and Sony S950
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S950
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-06-16 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.4" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.104 x 4.578mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3456 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.80 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 200 grams (0.44 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID NP-BG1 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $275 $130