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Sony TX30 vs Sony A99

Portability
96
Imaging
42
Features
43
Overall
42
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Announced July 2013
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Superseded the Sony A900
  • Later Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Sony TX30 and Sony A99, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both offered by Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the TX30 (18MP) and A99 (24MP) and the TX30 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The TX30 was launched 8 months after the A99 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the TX30 matches up versus the A99 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Sony A99

 TX30 A99 
AnnouncedJuly 2013December 2012More modern by 8 months
Display sizing3.3"3"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony TX30

 A99 TX30 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony TX30 and Sony A99

 TX30 A99 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution1229k1229kIdentical display resolution

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sony TX30 offers external measurements of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") accompanied by a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Sony A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Examine the Sony TX30 and Sony A99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the TX30 versus the A99.

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the TX30 and A99 is 96 and 57 respectively.

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The image below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the TX30 and A99.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The TX30 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A99 will deliver extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The younger TX30 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony TX30
Portrait photography with Sony A99
38
focusing manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
81
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony TX30
Street photography with Sony A99
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
75
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
big sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sony TX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
46
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
environment sealing
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
bad battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony TX30 Travel photography features
Sony A99 Travel photography features
69
environment sealing
MP count good (18MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
60
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony TX30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
51
focusing manually
fairly wide (26mm)
screen is a good size (3.3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
74
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
two card slots
bad battery life (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony TX30
Vlogging with Sony A99
34
fairly wide (26mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of external mic socket
76
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone socket
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Sony TX30 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony TX30 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 Sony SLT-A99
Class Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-07-26 2012-12-12
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-4.8 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3.3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,229 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech OLED monitor TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 141g (0.31 lb) 812g (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") 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 - 500 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots One 2
Launch cost $230 $1,998