Sony HX50V vs Sony A77: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Cameras for Different Creators

When Sony released the Cyber-shot HX50V in 2013 and the SLT-A77 in 2011, they addressed dramatically different slices of the photography market. Nearly a decade later, these two cameras remain fascinating points of comparison - not as competitors, but as icons of distinct design philosophies: one, a versatile compact superzoom; the other, an advanced DSLR alternative with an SLT (Single-Lens Translucent) design.

Having personally logged hundreds of hours with both models across numerous genres - portrait to wildlife, landscapes to video - I’m eager to unpack what each camera genuinely offers. Which camera aligns with your photographic ambitions? How do their technology choices affect real-world performance? And ultimately, which delivers the best value?

In this detailed comparison, I’ll draw upon hands-on testing, technical analysis, and practical use case assessments to clarify these questions.

Size, Build, and Handling: Compact Convenience vs SLR Presence

Right out of the gate, the HX50V and A77 couldn’t be more different in physical design.

The HX50V is a classic compact superzoom, measuring just 108 x 64 x 38 mm and weighing a modest 272 grams. Its pocket-friendliness makes it an ideal travel companion or everyday grab-and-shoot. The ergonomics reflect this: small grips, minimal manual control surfaces - but importantly, a fixed 3-inch XtraFine LCD optimized for daylight visibility.

Contrast this to the SLT-A77’s sizeable, robust SLR-style body at 143 x 104 x 81 mm and 732 grams. This heft feels reassuringly professional in hand, with pronounced grips and a plethora of buttons/dials placed for rapid access. The A77’s magnesium alloy frame, though not officially weather sealed, has a solid, durable feel rare in cameras of its vintage and price point.

Though the HX50V wins hands-down on portability, the A77’s larger frame allows for better balance when paired with heavy lenses, improving handling for wildlife and sports shooters.

Controls and User Interface: Quick Access vs Simplicity

Studying the top plate and control layouts reveals the HX50V’s clean, minimal approach - ideal for casual users or beginners who prefer auto or semi-auto shooting modes. It includes a traditional mode dial for Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual, plus a zoom lever wrapped around the shutter. But there’s no customizable button, no front dial, and very limited real-time exposure control without delving into menus.

On the A77, the layout screams professional ambition - two command dials (front and rear) facilitate speedily adjusting aperture and shutter; custom buttons allow setting frequently used functions like ISO, white balance, or focus area; and the top LCD panel provides instant status feedback - something compact cameras rarely offer.

This difference matters most when shooting fast-paced subjects like sports or wildlife, where quick manual exposure overrides and AF area selection can mean the difference between a keeper and a missed opportunity.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: Compact Limits vs DSLR Clout

Perhaps the most critical technical contrast lies in sensor design.

The HX50V houses a 1/2.3-inch backside-illuminated CMOS sensor measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm with 20 megapixels. While respectable for a compact zoom, the small sensor area (about 28 mm²) inherently limits dynamic range, ISO performance, and shallow depth-of-field control. Noise becomes noticeable above ISO 800, and images exhibit moderate chromatic aberration, particularly at the telephoto end.

On the other hand, the A77 boasts an APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm, approx. 367 mm²) with 24.3 MP resolution. This sensor size is a game-changer - it produces far superior image quality with cleaner high ISO performance up to ISO 16000 native (and extended to 25600), impressive dynamic range for recovering shadow and highlight detail, and natural bokeh thanks to a physically larger sensor and interchangeable lenses.

In my side-by-side testing, landscape shots captured by the A77 displayed finer detail retention and more nuanced tones compared to the HX50V, which had a more ‘digital’ feel at base ISO. Portraits on the A77 benefited from better color depth and creamier background separation thanks to the larger sensor and lens choices.

If image fidelity is your priority, especially in challenging lighting or for large prints, the A77's sensor will satisfy better.

LCD and Viewfinder: Fixed Simplicity vs Articulated Precision

Both cameras feature 3-inch screens with approximately 921k-dot resolution, but their articulation and viewfinder systems vary significantly.

The HX50V’s screen is fixed and non-touch, offering excellent visibility with its XtraFine LCD technology - but lacks articulation, limiting low-angle or high-angle framing options. It also relies on electronic live view for framing; no built-in EVF is included, although an optional external EVF is available.

Conversely, the A77 offers a fully articulated LCD, excellent for video shooting, macro work, or composing from odd positions. More notably, it incorporates a high resolution (2.36M-dot) electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.73x magnification - something rare in DSLR-style cameras at this price from its era. This EVF provides bright, lag-free previews, exposure simulations, and overlay info without eye strain.

For photographers who prefer composing via the viewfinder (especially in bright light) or need flexible display positions, the A77 takes a clear lead.

Autofocus Systems: Navigating Complex Scenes

Autofocus performance is crucial for subjects in motion or requiring precise, selective focus.

The HX50V uses a contrast-detection AF system with face detection and multi-area functionality. While reliable in static or slow-moving scenes, it struggles with fast action or low light due to slower acquisition speed and absence of phase detection. The maximum continuous shooting rate is 10 fps but more akin to burst-limited “snaps” rather than continuous focus tracking.

In contrast, the A77 employs a hybrid AF system - 19 phase-detection points (11 cross-type) combined with contrast-detection, enabling much faster and reliable focus acquisition and continuous tracking. This system shines in wildlife and sports photography, locking quickly onto moving subjects with good accuracy. Continuous shooting runs at up to 12 fps with AF-C mode, hard to beat for its generation.

While the HX50V is versatile enough for everyday use and light action, the A77 is geared toward advanced users demanding precision AF and sustained burst rates under challenging conditions.

Sony HX50V front Sony HX50V screen back Sony A77 front Sony A77 screen back

Real-World Image Quality: Comparing Sample Shots Across Genres

I captured a variety of test scenes on both cameras to showcase their strengths and weaknesses.

• Portraits: A77 delivers superior skin tone rendering and creamy bokeh, especially when paired with fast prime lenses. The HX50V produces acceptable portraits but has more depth-of-field and less background separation.

• Landscape: Dynamic range advantage is clear on A77 RAW files. HX50V JPEGs often clip bright skies and lose shadow detail despite in-camera HDR.

• Wildlife: Using the A77 with a 300mm f/4 lens, autofocus tracking was responsive enough to nail flight shots. The HX50V’s 30x zoom is impressive for reach but AF hunting hampered keeper ratio.

• Sports: A77’s 12 fps shooting and phase detection AF eclipsed the HX50V. Fast panning and tracking with minimal focus misses.

• Street and Travel: HX50V shines for discreet shooting with its compact size and silent operation. The A77 is bulkier but offers more creative control.

• Macro & Night: A77 with macro lens and sensor stabilization delivers detailed close-ups. HX50V’s 5 cm macro focus range is decent for casual snaps. Night shots on A77 are cleaner with less noise.

Overall, sample galleries speak volumes. For casual or travel shooters, HX50V images are great convenience trade-offs. Serious image quality is firmly with the A77.

Performance Metrics: Technical Scores and Processing

Sony's HX50V did not score in DXOmark’s tests, but general consensus places its low-light ISO performance beneath APS-C standards, with a maximum native ISO of 3200 and usable results mostly between 100-800 ISO.

The A77 earned a 78 in DXOmark overall score with color depth at 24 bits, excellent dynamic range above 13 EV, and low-light ISO rating of 800, aligned with mid-range APS-C competitors of its time. The raw support and expandability with advanced RAW processing software give it an edge in post-production workflows.

The HX50V’s image processing favors immediate JPEG snaps, with limited manual tweaking, while the A77’s Bionz processor remains robust for 24 MP data, facilitating sophisticated noise reduction and sharpening.

Video Capabilities: HD Coverage with Different Ambitions

Both cameras offer 1080p Full HD video recording, but their approaches differ:

• The HX50V records up to 60fps 1920x1080 AVC HD MPEG-4 but lacks microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control. Video stabilization is optical, leveraging lens-based technology to smooth handheld footage. Its small size is a plus for casual vloggers or travel video.

• The A77 provides 1080p at up to 60fps with AVCHD or H.264 encoding, has an external microphone port for improved audio capture, and offers sensor-based image stabilization (SteadyShot INSIDE), which works across all lenses. The fully articulating screen is perfect for vloggers or filmmakers shooting at odd angles.

For serious video work, the A77 has clear advantages in audio flexibility and stabilization, though neither supports 4K or advanced codecs.

How Each Camera Performs Across Photography Genres

Breaking it down by popular categories:

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

HX50V’s fixed 30x zoom lens (24-720mm equivalent, f/3.5-f/6.3) is a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. Its optical stabilization helps, but image quality softens at tele end. No lens changes possible.

The A77’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount supports 143 lenses from primes to super-telephotos, with superior optics and faster apertures. This flexibility enables serious work across genres: fast primes for portraits, telephotos for wildlife, macro lenses, and versatile travel zooms.

For anyone planning to explore different photography styles or future-proof their system, the A77’s lens ecosystem is a huge boon.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery endurance slightly favors the A77 - rated at 470 shots per charge versus 400 shots for the HX50V - owing to larger battery packs and efficient power management.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards and Sony Memory Stick formats, with single card slots.

For extended shooting sessions, the A77’s larger grip also accommodates vertical battery grips enhancing capacity (third-party support), while HX50V remains limited to its single compact battery.

Connectivity and Extras

The HX50V impressively integrated built-in GPS for geotagging - still uncommon in 2013 compacts - and Wi-Fi for quick sharing, though no Bluetooth or NFC.

The A77 supports Eye-Fi wireless cards for image transfer but lacks built-in WiFi or Bluetooth. HDMI and USB 2.0 ports are standard on both.

Neither has touchscreen controls, which feels dated today but was typical then.

Price-to-Performance: Who Gets What?

Retail prices at launch reflected their distinct positioning: the HX50V around $439 and the A77 approximately $900.

The HX50V is a compelling value for hobbyists seeking an all-in-one compact capable of jump-starting their photography journey or capturing wildlife on the cheap, with minimal gear hassle.

The A77, while pricier, delivers professional-grade stills and video performance, with the flexibility of lens interchangeability and advanced controls - a worthy investment for enthusiasts and semi-pro shooters looking for a long-term system.

Final Verdict: Which Sony Camera Belongs in Your Bag?

Choosing between the Sony Cyber-shot HX50V and the Sony SLT-A77 isn’t a matter of which is objectively “better,” but which suits your photographic priorities. Here’s my breakdown:

Pick the Sony HX50V if you:

• Prioritize portability and zoom reach in a pocketable package
• Are an enthusiast or casual shooter focusing on travel, street, or family photography
• Want an affordable camera with built-in GPS and Wi-Fi for easy sharing
• Don’t require RAW support or advanced autofocus for fast action
• Prefer simple controls and don’t mind fixed lenses

Pick the Sony A77 if you:

• Desire professional image quality from an APS-C sensor with RAW support
• Want superior autofocus performance for sports, wildlife, or fast-moving subjects
• Need a flexible camera system with a broad lens lineup
• Value a high-resolution electronic viewfinder and articulated screen for creative shooting
• Require better video controls, including external microphone input and sensor stabilization
• Don’t mind a larger, heavier camera body for ergonomic benefits

Beyond the Specs: What I Learned from Shooting Both Cameras

Having spent time shooting portraits and landscapes with the A77 pushed me to appreciate the nuances of an APS-C sensor in controlling depth-of-field and revealing tonal subtleties. Meanwhile, the HX50V’s immense zoom made me rethink how far a good compact can stretch without changing lenses.

The A77 remains a steadfast performer, especially for photographers willing to build a lens kit and invest in mastering manual controls. Conversely, the HX50V shines by delivering ease and reach, albeit with limits in low light and precision focusing.

This exercise underscored how core decisions about size, sensor, and controls directly influence user experience and output quality.

If your budget or needs change down the road, both represent solid entry points into photography, but their strengths lead to different creative journeys. Ultimately, I hope this comparison helps you pick a camera that feels not just right on paper but in your hands, in the field, and in your images.

Happy shooting!

Appendix: Quick Specs Comparison Table

With this thorough analysis, I hope you now have a clearer picture of which Sony camera best fits your style, budget, and photographic ambitions. From casual zooming to professional-grade imaging, Sony has delivered two remarkable cameras on very different paths - and your perfect match is only a test shoot away.