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Sony HX5 vs Sony A55

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 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 A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Sony HX5 versus Sony A55, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are produced by Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and A55 (16MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and A55 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The HX5 was announced 2 months prior to the A55 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the HX5 scores vs the A55 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony A55

 HX5 A55 

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony HX5

 A55 HX5 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony HX5 and Sony A55

 HX5 A55 
IntroducedJune 2010August 2010Same generation
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony HX5 offers external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Sony HX5 versus Sony A55 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the HX5 against the A55.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HX5 and A55 is 92 and 67 respectively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The image underneath will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the HX5 and A55.

As you can plainly see, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The HX5 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Sony A55 will show greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A55 as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony HX5 Street photography factors
Sony A55 Street photography factors
55
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
77
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX5 Sports photography factors
Sony A55 Sports photography factors
26
image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.4")
has no phase detect autofocus
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
bad battery (380 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX5
Travel photography with Sony A55
60
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
62
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX5 Landscape photography info
Sony A55 Landscape photography info
37
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
67
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (380 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX5 Vlogging features
Sony A55 Vlogging features
31
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
78
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
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Sony HX5 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX5 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-06-16 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.104 x 4.578mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3456 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 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, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200 grams (0.44 lbs) 500 grams (1.10 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life - 380 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-FW50
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 Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $275 $800