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Sony WX30 vs Sony A99

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
41
Overall
39
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Sony WX30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 117g - 92 x 52 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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
  • Announced December 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony A900
  • New Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Sony WX30 and Sony A99, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both designed by Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the WX30 (16MP) and A99 (24MP) and the WX30 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) provide different sensor sizes.

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The WX30 was brought out 16 months before the A99 making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony WX30 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the WX30 scores against the A99 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony WX30 over the Sony A99

 WX30 A99 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony WX30

 A99 WX30 
AnnouncedDecember 2012July 2011More recent by 16 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k922kCrisper display (+307k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony WX30 and Sony A99

 WX30 A99 
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Sony WX30 features physical measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Sony A99 has specifications of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Examine the Sony WX30 and Sony A99 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the WX30 and the A99.

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the WX30 and A99 is 96 and 57 respectively.

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The visual below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the WX30 and A99.

As you have seen, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The WX30 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony A99 will offer more detail having its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The older WX30 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony WX30
Portrait photography with Sony A99
30
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
81
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony WX30 Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (117g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
75
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sony WX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 as a Sports photography camera
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proof
has phase detect AF
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony WX30 Travel photography features
Sony A99 Travel photography features
69
lighter than others in class (117g)
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
60
weather proof
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony WX30 Landscape photography features
Sony A99 Landscape photography features
43
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
weather proof
has dual storage slots
terrible battery pack (500 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony WX30 Vlogging information
Sony A99 Vlogging information
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (117g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.6)
does not offer selfie friendly display
missing external mic socket
76
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
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Sony WX30 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony WX30 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX30 Sony SLT-A99
Category Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2011-07-25 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by BIONZ 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 surface area 28.1mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 25-125mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.6-6.3 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 922k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech XtraFine TFT LCD display TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.70 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117g (0.26 lb) 812g (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 92 x 52 x 19mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.7") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 89
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1555
Other
Battery life 250 photos 500 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN1 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One 2
Retail pricing $259 $1,998