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Sony HX5 vs Sony A58

Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
72
Overall
66

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 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
  • Launched June 2010
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony A57
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Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony HX5 and Sony A58, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are created by Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the HX5 (10MP) and A58 (20MP) and the HX5 (1/2.4") and A58 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HX5 was brought out 4 years earlier than the A58 and that is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the HX5 grades versus the A58 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Sony A58

 HX5 A58 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sony HX5

 A58 HX5 
ReleasedNovember 2013June 2010More recent by 42 months
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Sony HX5 and Sony A58

 HX5 A58 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you should take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX5 enjoys exterior dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony A58 has dimensions of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") along with a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Sony HX5 and Sony A58 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the HX5 compared to the A58.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HX5 and A58 is 92 and 68 respectively.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over a spec sheet. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the HX5 and A58.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The HX5 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Sony A58 will deliver greater detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots more aggressively. The older HX5 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX5
Portrait photography with Sony A58
19
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no RAW support
77
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
Sony A58 Street photography highlights
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no RAW support
78
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX5
Sports photography with Sony A58
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no phase detect autofocus
81
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (690 shots)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX5
Travel photography with Sony A58
60
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
63
better than average battery (690 CIPA)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX5 Landscape photography advice
Sony A58 Landscape photography advice
37
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.4")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (690 per charge)
small screen (2.7")
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX5 Vlogging advice
Sony A58 Vlogging advice
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
doesn't have external microphone jack
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic socket
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Sony HX5 vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX5 and Sony A58
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5Sony SLT-A58
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 Sony SLT-A58
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-06-16 2013-11-27
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.4" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.104 x 4.578mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 27.9mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 3456 x 2592 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 3200 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-5.5 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1.6
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.65x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.80 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 200g (0.44 lbs) 492g (1.08 lbs)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 74
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 753
Other
Battery life - 690 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BG1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type 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
Cost at launch $275 $645