Sony HX5 vs Sony W320

On this page, we are contrasting the Sony HX5 and Sony W320, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both built by Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and W320 (14MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and W320 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The HX5 was released 6 months after the W320 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony W320 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting into a thorough comparison, here is a quick view of how the HX5 scores against the W320 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320. The complete galleries are provided at Sony HX5 Gallery and Sony W320 Gallery.

When you are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Sony HX5 offers exterior measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony W320 has specifications of 93mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Sony HX5 and Sony W320 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the HX5 against the W320.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the HX5 and W320 is 92 and 97 respectively.

Often, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the HX5 and W320.

Clearly, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The HX5 due to its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony W320 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively.