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Sony QX30 vs Sony A99

Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 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 A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A900
  • Replacement is Sony A99 II
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Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 Overview

Following is a thorough overview of the Sony QX30 vs Sony A99, former is a Lens-style while the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are produced by Sony. The sensor resolution of the QX30 (20MP) and the A99 (24MP) is fairly similar but the QX30 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) enjoy totally different sensor size.

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The QX30 was manufactured 21 months after the A99 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the QX30 grades versus the A99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sony A99

 QX30 A99 
RevealedSeptember 2014December 2012More modern by 21 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony QX30

 A99 QX30 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3""Larger display (+3")
Display resolution1229k0kClearer display (+1229k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony QX30 and Sony A99

 QX30 A99 

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Sony QX30 provides external measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Compare the Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the QX30 vs the A99.

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the QX30 and A99 is 91 and 57 respectively.

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The pic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the QX30 and A99.

Plainly, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The QX30 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A99 will offer you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern QX30 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony QX30
Portrait photography with Sony A99
38
decent megapixels (20MP)
features face detect focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
81
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony QX30 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus via touch
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
75
screen articulates fully
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony QX30 Sports photography advice
Sony A99 Sports photography advice
47
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
78
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
bad battery pack (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sony QX30 Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
65
boasts focus via touch
decent megapixels (20MP)
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
weather proofing
good resolution (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony QX30
Landscape photography with Sony A99
39
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen (")
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery (200 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
74
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
has double storage slots
bad battery pack (500 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony QX30 Vlogging information
Sony A99 Vlogging information
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have mic socket
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone port
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Sony QX30 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony QX30 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 Sony SLT-A99
Category Lens-style Advanced DSLR
Announced 2014-09-03 2012-12-12
Body design Lens-style Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.5-6.3 -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal - 3 inch
Resolution of display 0k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes None Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 193g (0.43 lb) 812g (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 200 shots 500 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BN, NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2, 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots Single Two
Price at release $348 $1,998