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Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Announced June 2010
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony WX350
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Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 Overview

In this article, we are analyzing the Sony HX5 versus Sony WX500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both offered by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and WX500 (18MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and WX500 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizes.

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The HX5 was launched 5 years prior to the WX500 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the HX5 scores against the WX500 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony WX500

 HX5 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Sony HX5

 WX500 HX5 
LaunchedApril 2015June 2010Fresher by 58 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony HX5 and Sony WX500

 HX5 WX500 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Sony HX5 enjoys outer 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 WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Sony HX5 versus Sony WX500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the HX5 against the WX500.

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the HX5 and WX500 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through specs. The graphic below should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX5 and WX500.

All in all, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The HX5 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony WX500 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images far more aggressively. The older HX5 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Portrait photography camera
19
no manual focus
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
39
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
55
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (236 grams)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX5 Sports photography factors
Sony WX500 Sports photography factors
26
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have phase detect autofocus
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery life (360 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX5
Travel photography with Sony WX500
60
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
71
great battery life (360 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (236 grams)
good megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
37
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.4")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
49
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
great battery life (360 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX5 Vlogging advice
Sony WX500 Vlogging advice
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
35
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (236g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
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Sony HX5 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX5 and Sony WX500
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2010-06-16 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.104 x 4.578mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3456 x 2592 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.80 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 200 gr (0.44 pounds) 236 gr (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $275 $348