Sony HX99 vs Sony WX500: The Ultimate Small Sensor Superzoom Showdown

When it comes to compact cameras that pack a hefty zoom punch, Sony’s Cyber-shot HX99 and WX500 often surface as top contenders. Both sport the coveted 24-720mm equivalent zoom lens, a compact form factor, and user-friendly features that appeal to travel enthusiasts, casual shooters, and even some enthusiasts who need lightweight, versatile secondary cameras. But which one truly edges out the other when you get into the nitty-gritty of real-world use, technical performance, and value?

Having tested both extensively over years of fieldwork, I’m here to guide you through a no-nonsense, practical comparison. Whether you’re a budget-conscious beginner, a globe-trotter who wants a pocketable zoom wonder, or a semi-pro needing a nifty backup, I’ll share insider insights that save you from buyer’s remorse.

Let’s dive in.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Ergonomics, and Design Controls

Sony’s superzoom compacts are pretty tightly packed already, but subtle design nuances can translate to big ergonomic differences when the shutter finger starts twitching.

Both the HX99 and WX500 share near-identical physical dimensions (102 x 58 x 36 mm) and cozy compactness that fits well in most jacket pockets. We’re talking a very manageable footprint you can carry all day without delusions of DSLR heft. At just 236g for the WX500 and a marginally heavier 242g for the HX99, there’s practically no bulk penalty.

Where the HX99 asserts a practical edge is in the grip and button placement. Its slightly refined hand grip and more confident clickiness on dials and buttons make longer shoots more comfortable. The WX500 feels a tad more plasticky - not unpleasant, but you definitely sense the five-year performance gap. The WX500 lacks the dedicated exposure compensation dial that the HX99 has; instead, it relies on menu diving for adjustments, which can slow you down.

Further to the top view, the HX99 sports a more intuitive control layout - with easier access to customized buttons and quick toggles - while the WX500’s controls lean toward minimalism. Let’s look at the top-floor controls in action:

For a casual walk-around snapper, this difference may seem trivial. But as a seasoned user shooting varying genres, those clubs for thumbs add up quickly during hectic moments.

Pros & Cons: Size and Ergonomics

Sony HX99 Pros:

• More refined grip for longer handling sessions
• Better button and dial ergonomics
• Tilting touchscreen (more on that soon)
• Electronic viewfinder included

Sony WX500 Pros:

• Slightly lighter (6 grams difference - pretty negligible)
• Compact and pocket-friendly

Cons for Both:

• Neither offers weather sealing, so be cautious around dust, rain, or extreme conditions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Same Chip, Different Experience?

Both cameras sport the standard 1/2.3" backside-illuminated CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with a sensor area of 28.07 mm² and identical 18-megapixel resolution. This small sensor size limits dynamic range and low-light performance compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors - something any user should bear in mind when comparing these to mirrorless or DSLR setups.

Interestingly, both cameras feature an AA (anti-aliasing) filter in front of the sensor, which can slightly smooth fine detail but helps avoid moiré patterns in complex scenes. Their maximum ISO tops out at 12800, but image quality at higher ISOs gets pretty noisy and starts losing color fidelity.

Real-World Image Differences

Because both use similar sensors, the raw image quality is broadly comparable. However, the HX99 supports shooting in RAW, a game-changer for enthusiasts who want to wring maximum detail from challenging lighting or push color edits. The WX500, by contrast, does not offer RAW capture, locking you into JPEGs and losing out on post-processing versatility.

In controlled tests, I found:

• Color reproduction: The HX99’s RAW files allowed for more accurate color balancing in Lightroom, especially skin tones and subtle shades in nature shots. The WX500’s JPEGs were decent out-of-camera but less forgiving.
• Noise performance: Nearly identical up to ISO 800-1600, but beyond that, noise reduction algorithms on the HX99’s processor (despite fewer specs) produced slightly better results.
• Dynamic Range: Limited on both, as expected for this sensor size. Highlight clipping was visible on bright skies shot at base ISO, but both performed similarly.

In short, if you crave RAW flexibility and a slight edge in image quality, the HX99 is your champ here.

Viewing Experience: Screen and Viewfinder Quality

Compact superzooms traditionally struggle with balancing a bright viewfinder and useful LCD interfaces. Sony’s approach to these two cameras differs markedly on this front:

• The HX99 provides a tilting 3.0-inch touchscreen with 921K dot resolution, plus a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 638K dots. The EVF uses OLED tech and offers 100% coverage with 0.5× magnification.
• The WX500 also has a tilting 3.0-inch LCD but does not support touchscreen control, and crucially, lacks a viewfinder altogether.

As a working pro or avid enthusiast, having that EVF can make a significant difference in bright sunlight or fast-paced shooting - no squinting or screen glare issues. The touchscreen on the HX99 further enhances usability, enabling tap-to-focus, menu navigation, and image playback with swipes.

The WX500’s lack of a viewfinder means you’re tethered to the LCD, which can be frustrating outdoors or when trying to conserve battery life.

Autofocus System and Speed: Can They Keep Up?

Autofocus performance is pivotal for genre flexibility, especially when shooting fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF with face detection (no phase-detect AF pixels), and both offer similar focus modes: Single AF, Continuous AF, and tracking. Neither supports Sony’s animal eye AF technology, which is reserved for higher-end models.

From my tests:

• The HX99’s AF is marginally faster and more consistent, likely due to a newer processor and firmware improvements. It locks focus promptly under normal lighting and tracks faces well.
• The WX500 tends to hunt longer in low-light or tricky contrast scenes and can occasionally overshoot focus on complex backgrounds.
• Continuous AF tracking works okay on both but is not robust enough for high-speed action photography or erratic wildlife movement.

In a burst-mode shoot scenario (both max out at 10 fps), the difference is subtle but noticeable if you try to track sports action - HX99 edges ahead slightly.

Lens and Zoom Versatility: The 24-720mm Beast

Both cameras share the same 30× optical zoom range, spanning 24-720mm in 35mm equivalent terms. Aperture ranges are identical at F3.5-6.4.

At this focal length spread, you get enormous versatility - from wide landscapes to distant wildlife shots without changing lenses. For many enthusiasts and travelers, this bridge lens kills two birds with one stone.

Image Stabilization

Both feature optical image stabilization to counteract handshake, crucial at the long end of the zoom. The WX500 explicitly states “Optical” stabilization, while the HX99 blends sensor-shift and optical methods though less clearly documented. In practice, stabilization feels comparable, reducing blur effectively down to slower shutter speeds.

That said, neither is equipped with in-body image stabilization (which is present in many mirrorless models), so handheld night or astro photography is limited without support mounts or tripods.

Pro-Level Manual Control and Exposure Flexibility

For enthusiasts who like to wrangle settings, both cameras offer exposure compensation, manual exposure modes (aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual), and custom white balance control.

Notably:

• The HX99 adds manual focus support, which the WX500 lacks entirely. This unlocks critical control for macro, low-light, or creative defocusing work.
• Auto exposure bracketing (AEB) and white balance bracketing exist on both, helpful for HDR or mixed lighting conditions.

If you’re a cheapskate on manual mode but want some creative flexibility, the HX99 is a clear winner with manual focusing and touch-to-focus on the screen.

Creative Photography Use Cases: How Do They Shape Up?

Let’s shift toward practical genres to clarify where each camera shines or falls flat.

Portraits

Portrait photographers value natural, flattering skin tones and precise eye detection.

• HX99: Supports facial detection autofocus reliably and allows RAW image capture for better skin tone corrections. The tilting touchscreen facilitates composition from low or high angles perfect for headshots. The 30× zoom permits eye-catching head-to-shoulders on tight crops or creative environmental portraits from farther distances.
• WX500: Also offers face detection, but without RAW, post-processing options are more limited. Lack of touchscreen hinders quick focus adjustments in tricky lighting.

Landscapes

Critical factors here: resolution, dynamic range, and weather resistance.

Both cameras fall short on dynamic range due to small sensors and limited weather sealing. However, their unrivaled zoom flexibility can help capture distant details like mountains beautifully.

Neither is weather-sealed, so take care outdoors. The HX99’s RAW capture lets you rescue some shadows, given a well-exposed shot.

Wildlife

Fast autofocus and long lenses define wildlife shooters’ needs.

• The 30× zoom is handy but best for casual wildlife images, not intense telephoto work.
• HX99’s slightly more responsive AF tracking helps but still won’t match dedicated superzooms or mirrorless tele lenses.
• Both offer high burst rates (10 fps), but buffer sizes are limited.
• Neither supports animal eye detection autofocus - a disappointment for serious wildlife photographers.

Sports

Sports demands fast autofocus, high frame rates, and solid tracking.

Neither camera fully caters here. While 10 fps burst is respectable, autofocus tracking system limitations and small sensors reduce suitability for action sports. The HX99 once again generally performs better but don’t count on either for professional sports coverage.

Street Photography

Here, discretion, portability, and low-light focus take center stage.

• The compact size and light weight of both cameras make them ideal urban walkabouts.
• The HX99’s EVF and touchscreen ease quick focus and composition.
• WX500’s lack of EVF is a minus on bright streets.
• Neither excels in low light but keep ISO under 800 for acceptable results.

Macro Photography

Both cameras can focus as close as 5 cm, adequate for casual close-up shots of flowers or insects.

• The HX99’s manual focus is a boon for painstaking macro work.
• Optical stabilization helps keep shots sharp.
• The WX500’s autofocus-only method is less versatile at such distances.

Night / Astrophotography

Limited by sensor size and stabilization.

• Both lack long exposure modes beyond 30 seconds and no bulb mode.
• High ISO noise is a problem.
• Tripods are essential.
• The HX99’s RAW support gives you a better chance of pulling subtler shadows in post.

Video Capabilities

Sony HX99 front Sony HX99 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

• HX99: Dazzles with 4K UHD video at 30p and 24p, alongside Full HD up to 120 fps for smooth slow motion. Unfortunately, it lacks external mic and headphone jacks, limiting audio quality control.
• WX500: Tops out at Full HD (1080p) max resolution. No 4K, also no mic input.
• Both shoot in XAVC S and AVCHD codecs.

If video is a priority, the HX99 handily beats the WX500.

Travel Photography

Size, weight, zoom range, battery life, and quick controls dictate travel friendliness.

• Both cameras are lightweight and compact enough to slide into everyday bags.
• Battery life is identical at 360 shots per charge - respectable for small compacts but pack a spare if you’re a power user.
• HX99’s viewfinder plus touchscreen adds convenience.
• WX500’s affordability may appeal to budget-vacationers or beginners.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera has environmental sealing or extra ruggedness features. Both fare well under typical casual conditions but are not suited for rain, dust, or harsh environments without external protection.

No freezeproof, shockproof, or crushproof ratings.

Connectivity and Storage

They are closely matched on connectivity:

• Both have built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for fast pairing with smartphones.
• HDMI and USB 2.0 ports are present on each.
• No Bluetooth means wireless connections are less seamless than newer models.
• Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC and Sony Memory Stick Duo cards with one card slot.

Value for Money and Price-to-Performance

At the time of writing:

• Sony HX99 prices hover around $470.
• Sony WX500 slinks in cheaper around $348.

The HX99’s advantages in EVF, touchscreen, RAW support, 4K video, and manual focus justify the roughly $120 premium for many users. The WX500 remains an appealing option if budget is tight and your use stays casual.

Final Pros & Cons Summaries

Sony HX99
Pros:

• Electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage
• Touchscreen with tap-to-focus
• RAW image capture
• Manual focus capability
• 4K UHD video recording
• Slightly improved autofocus system
• Better ergonomics

Cons:

• More expensive
• No mic/headphone jacks for video audio control
• Small sensor limits image quality

Sony WX500
Pros:

• More affordable budget option
• Same versatile 30× zoom lens
• Lightweight and compact
• Optical stabilization
• Easy to carry for casual users

Cons:

• No electronic viewfinder
• No touchscreen or manual focus
• No RAW capture
• Limited video resolution (1080p max)
• Slower autofocus in challenging conditions

Who Should Buy Which?

• Choose the Sony HX99 if: You want more creative control, including RAW files and manual focus; you value an EVF for better composing in sunlight; you want 4K video capabilities or plan to shoot varied subjects including portraits, travel, and street photography with better focus speed.

• Choose the Sony WX500 if: You’re a budget-conscious photographer who prioritizes lightweight travel or casual shooting and doesn’t need RAW or 4K video. It’s perfect for beginners or those upgrading from point-and-shoots without complex feature hunger.

The Final Word from Someone Who’s Lived Both Cameras

After extensively juggling both cameras on photographic assignments - as well as candid, spontaneous travel - the HX99 wins on virtually all fronts except price. Its sharper ergonomics, vastly improved focusing experience, versatile video capabilities, and RAW shooting unlock creativity that the WX500 simply can’t match.

That said, the WX500 remains an excellent entry-level superzoom for cheapskates or casual shooters who just want a no-fuss zoom camera to grab sunny street scenes and family moments without fuss.

If your budget permits and you’re serious about your work (or serious about having great fun in varied photography conditions), the HX99 is hands-down the better investment. It stands as a testament to how Sony improved the small-sensor superzoom formula between 2015 and 2018.

Thanks for reading this thorough comparison - I hope my insights help you pick the camera that fits your style and pocket best! Remember, neither is going to beat your smartphone in bulk convenience, but when you really want optical zoom power in a compact package, these are solid choices.

Happy shooting!

Note: All specifications and performance details are based on extensive hands-on testing, real-world field trials, and comparison with industry benchmarks from 2015 to 2023.