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Sony QX30 vs Sony A57

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Announced September 2014
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Announced September 2012
  • Older Model is Sony A55
  • Refreshed by Sony A58
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Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Sony QX30 vs Sony A57, former being a Lens-style while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are offered by Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the QX30 (20MP) and A57 (16MP) and the QX30 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The QX30 was manufactured 24 months later than the A57 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the QX30 grades vs the A57 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A57

 QX30 A57 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014September 2012Fresher by 24 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony QX30

 A57 QX30 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimensions3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution921k0kSharper display (+921k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony QX30 and Sony A57

 QX30 A57 

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Sony QX30 offers physical dimensions of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") and a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Check out the Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 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 based on the lens you are using during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the QX30 and the A57.

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the QX30 and A57 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by going through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the QX30 and A57.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The QX30 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony QX30 will produce greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics more aggressively. The fresher QX30 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
38
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
supports face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony QX30 Sports photography advice
Sony A57 Sports photography advice
47
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony QX30 Travel photography advice
Sony A57 Travel photography advice
65
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery power (200 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
67
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Sony QX30 Landscape photography details
Sony A57 Landscape photography details
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small ( inches)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
72
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony QX30
Vlogging with Sony A57
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone support
77
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external microphone socket
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Sony QX30 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony QX30 and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 Sony SLT-A57
Category Lens-style Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-09-03 2012-09-13
Physical type Lens-style Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 16000
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.3 -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing - 3 inches
Resolution of display 0k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings None Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 193g (0.43 lb) 618g (1.36 lb)
Physical dimensions 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 photos 550 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN, NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $348 $1,000