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Sony HX5 vs Sony A57

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 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
  • Introduced June 2010
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A55
  • Newer Model is Sony A58
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Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Sony HX5 versus Sony A57, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are created by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and A57 (16MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and A57 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The HX5 was unveiled 3 years prior to the A57 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight to a full comparison, here is a short view of how the HX5 grades versus the A57 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony A57

 HX5 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony HX5

 A57 HX5 
ReleasedSeptember 2012June 2010More modern by 27 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony HX5 and Sony A57

 HX5 A57 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX5 comes with outside dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony A57 has dimensions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") along with a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX5 versus Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the HX5 and the A57.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the HX5 and A57 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes merely by seeing technical specs. The image here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX5 and A57.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The HX5 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Sony A57 will provide more detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged HX5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A57 Portrait photography highlights
19
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
Sony A57 Street photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
75
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX5
Travel photography with Sony A57
60
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Timelapse function
MP count low (10MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
67
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A57 as a Landscape photography camera
37
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.4")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX5 Vlogging details
Sony A57 Vlogging details
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic port
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Sony HX5 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX5 and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony SLT-A57
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2010-06-16 2012-09-13
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.104 x 4.578mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 27.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3456 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options 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
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 200 gr (0.44 lbs) 618 gr (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life - 550 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BG1 NP-FM500H
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 SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $275 $1,000