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Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Comparison

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Camera to replace
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Sony HX50V

20 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony HX50V
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Sony HX30V

18 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony HX30V
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Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Sony HX50V with the camera that it replaced, the Sony HX30V, list out what is new, its advantages over its predecessor and finally try to conclude if the HX50V is a worthy upgrade to the HX30V. Sony HX50V was introduced to the market in April 2013 and Sony HX30V was launched in February 2012 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 14 months between the two cameras make.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony HX50V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-04-24
  • 20MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200 ( expands to 12800)
  • 24-720 mm F3.5 - 6.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 272g. 108 x 64 x 38 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Compare

Sony HX30V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-02-28
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 25-500 mm F3.2-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 254g. 107 x 62 x 35 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 18 MP 11% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/1600s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
400 shots vs 320 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 500mm 220 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
30x vs 20× more flexible focal coverage
CHECK HX50V PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Internal Storage
105 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Max ISO
12.800 vs 3.200 300% higher Max ISO
Weight
254 g vs 272 g 18 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide
3.20 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.30 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
7.1m vs 5.6m 1.5m longer range
CHECK HX30V PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
GPS
Built-in vs Built-in track your location
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
20 MP vs 18 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 922k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
720mm vs 500mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
6.30 vs 5.80 Slow lenses at tele
New4
Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony HX50V has external dimensions of 108 x 64 x 38 mm (4.25 x 2.52 x 1.5″) and weighs 272 g (0.60 lb / 9.59 oz) (including batteries). Sony HX30V has external dimensions of 107 x 62 x 35 mm (4.21 x 2.44 x 1.38″) and weighs 254 g (0.56 lb / 8.96 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Sony HX50V and the Sony HX30V. Sony HX30V is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 1mm narrower, 2mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Sony HX50V.

Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Sony HX50V and the Sony HX30V Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V.

Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Sony HX50V and the Sony HX30V Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V.
Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Sony HX50V and the the Sony HX30V Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony HX30V is 18g lighter than the Sony HX50V but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

HX50V
HX30V
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

HX50V
HX30V
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V: Sensor Comparison

Sony HX50V has a 20.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Sony HX30V has a 18.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features BIONZ processor.

Below you can see the HX50V and HX30V sensor size comparison.

Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V Cameras


Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V Lens Specs Comparison

Sony HX50V features a 24-720 mm F3.5 - 6.3 30x zoom lens whereas Sony HX30V features a 25-500 mm F3.2-5.8 20× zoom lens.

Sony HX50V has 1mm wider coverage than the Sony HX30V. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f3.20, Sony HX30V is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Sony HX50V has 220mm longer reach than the Sony HX30V. However, with a max aperture of f5.80, Sony HX30V is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

HX50V
HX30V
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

HX50V
HX30V
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

HX50V
HX30V
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

HX50V
HX30V
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony HX50V for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX30V for Portrait Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sony HX50V for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony HX30V for Street Photography

GOOD
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Optional External Viewfinder
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Sony HX50V for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony HX30V for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Optional External Viewfinder
No RAW shooting capability
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
500 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Sony HX50V for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX30V for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
272g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
254g
20.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Sony HX50V for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony HX30V for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Built-in GPS
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony HX50V vs Sony HX30V: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony HX50V and Sony HX30V scores compare:

Sony HX50V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #44 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #489 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Sony HX30V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #108 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #629 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Sony HX50V has a higher Overall Score than the Sony HX30V and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Sony HX50V
Sony HX50V
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Sony HX30V
Sony HX30V
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Sony HX30V vs Sony HX50V Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2013-04-24 2012-02-28
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 2920 4896 x 3672
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 12800 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-720 mm (30x) 25-500 mm (20×)
Max Aperture F3.5 - 6.3 F3.2-5.8
Macro Focus Range 5cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/1600s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.60 m 7.10 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 272g 254g
Dimensions 108 x 64 x 38mm 107 x 62 x 35mm
Battery Life 400 shots 320 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


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