Sony HX5 vs Sony W560

Below, we are evaluating the Sony HX5 and Sony W560, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are designed by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and W560 (14MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and W560 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The HX5 was released 6 months earlier than the W560 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the HX5 grades versus the W560 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560. The complete galleries are provided at Sony HX5 Gallery & Sony W560 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX5 offers physical dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Sony W560 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Sony HX5 and Sony W560 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the HX5 compared to the W560.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX5 and W560 is 92 and 96 respectively.

Quite often, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing only by going over a spec sheet. The graphic underneath should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX5 and W560.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The HX5 featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Sony W560 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images much more aggressively.