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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-H20SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Overview
Released2009June 2015
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor formatOther1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Effective resolution10.1 MP18.2 MP
Largest image3648 × 27364896 × 3672
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–320080–3200
Sensor detail1/2.3-type colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.4 million total and 10.1 million effective photosites; optical sensor format does not establish physical sensor dimensions1/2.3-type Exmor R CMOS; approximately 21.1 million total photosites. Optical format is distinct from physical sensor dimensions
Image formatsJPEG still images; no RAW recording. Exif 2.21 and DPOF supportedJPEG Fine or Standard; no RAW. 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and square stills plus stitched Sweep Panorama
ISO detail–Ordinary single-frame ISO 80–3200. Multi-shot Noise Reduction extends to ISO 6400 and 12800 using interpolation and composite exposures
Image processorBIONZ imaging processor; Dynamic Range Optimizer, Intelligent Scene Recognition, face detection and Smile ShutterBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens38–380 mm equivalent24–720 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.5–4.4f/3.5–6.4
Optical zoom10×30×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst–10 fps
Lens detailCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10× optical zoom, physical 6.3–63 mm, equivalent 38–380 mm, f/3.5 wide to f/4.4 telephoto in exact UK specifications and English manual. Hong Kong launch table has conflicting f/3.3–5.2 text but its manual-mode row confirms f/3.5/f/4.4; exact UK/manual values retained. 58 mm filters require optional lens adapterZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens; 11 elements in 10 groups including 5 aspherical elements, five-blade iris; actual 4.1–123 mm. Equivalent still range 24–720 mm at 4:3, 25–750 mm at 3:2, 26.5–795 mm at 16:9 and 27.5–825 mm at 1:1. Customisable lens control ring; digital Clear Image Zoom distinct from optical zoom
AutofocusNine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF, face detection and discrete distance presets rather than continuous manual focus. Maker focus range approximately 2 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto to infinityAF-S, direct manual focus and manual focus; AF-C in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point wide, centre, flexible spot S/M/L and expanded flexible spot; Lock-on AF, manual-focus peaking and magnification. Minimum focus from lens front approximately 5 cm wide or 250 cm telephoto
ShutterHong Kong exact table: Auto 1/4–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/2000; operating conditions affect availabilityMechanical shutter: Auto 4–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual and shutter-priority 30–1/2000, aperture-priority 8–1/2000. Above ISO 3200 the slowest shutter is 1/4 second
Burst detailUK maker lists approximately 0.57-second burst intervals and up to 100 frames; no reciprocal conversion into headline fpsApproximately 10 full-resolution photographs per second, up to ten frames. Flash lowers the rate and some modes prohibit bursts. Focus and exposure locked from first frame in Cameralabs testing
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShot lens stabilisation; UK table explicitly excludes NightShot and NightFramingOptical still-image stabilisation; Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotation
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; Hong Kong maker specifies approximately 0.2–7 m wide or 0.9–5.5 m telephoto at ISO Auto. ISO3200 distance claims use different conditionsBuilt-in pop-up flash; auto, fill, slow, rear-sync and off modes. ISO Auto range approximately 0.3–5.4 m wide or 2.5–3.0 m telephoto; no external-flash shoe
Exposure controlsIntelligent Auto, Easy, Program Auto, Manual and scene selections. No aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode. Manual offers f/3.5 or f/8 at wide angle and f/4.4 or f/10 at telephoto; PhotographyBlog explains these use an ND filter rather than changing depth of field. Exposure compensation ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; exposure bracketing; One Push custom white balance in exact instructionsP/A/S/M for stills and movies; three Memory Recall positions. Multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±3 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailMPEG-4 Visual movies with monaural audio, maximum 1280×720 at approximately 30 fps. Optical zoom operates while filming; exact manual warns that lens/button sounds may be recorded. 720 Fine 9 Mbps, Standard 6 Mbps or VGA 3 Mbps. Exact instructions limit continuous clips to approximately 29 minutes depending on conditions; 720 modes require Memory Stick PRO Duo. Frame-rate submode entries conflict in Hong Kong launch table, so lower-mode fps omittedXAVC S 1920 × 1080 at 60p, 30p or 24p/50 Mbps; AVCHD 60p/28 Mbps, 60i or 24p/24 or 17 Mbps. International PAL/NTSC selection switches to 50p/50i/25p; main rate represents NTSC. MP4 includes Full HD 60/30 fps and 720 p30 fps. XAVC S requires Class 10 SDXC. Optical zoom during filming; AVCHD/XAVC clips approximately 29 minutes, MP4 28 Mbps approximately 20 minutes due 4 GB limit. HDMI4 K output is for stills, not 4 K video recording
AudioBuilt-in monaural microphone and monaural speaker, confirmed by exact instructionsXAVC S LPCM stereo, AVCHD Dolby Digital stereo or MP4 AAC-LC stereo; microphone reference-level control
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneElectronic
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots230,400921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNo–
Display detailFixed 3-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots in exact English manual; maker tables round to 230000. No viewfinder4:3 Xtra Fine TFT LCD tilts upward approximately 180°; five-step brightness control, no touchscreen
Viewfinder detail–Retractable 0.2-type OLED Tru-Finder, 638400 dots, 100% coverage and0.50 × 35 mm-equivalent magnification; eye sensor and −4 to +3 dioptre adjustment. Pop up housing and extend eyepiece to use
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)290 photographs390 photographs
Body weight250 g218 g
Release detailContemporary Sony US announcement republished by Photoxels on 17 February 2009 planned April purchase availability; Hong Kong 3 March announcement planned mid-April. Full independent May/June tests establish retail generation 2009, but earliest actual sale month unconfirmed, so year precision retainedSony Japan’s 19 May 2015 announcement specifies sale on 5 June 2015; Sony Hong Kong specifies mid-June after 8 May–7 June pre-orders. June precision retained without treating the Japanese day as a confirmed international first-sale day
Recording mediaApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo supported, with no PRO-HG speed advantage. Memory card not suppliedMemory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC(UHS-I). Memory Stick Micro and microSD/HC/XC require adapters
PortsType2b multi-use terminal carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and SD/HD analogue AV output. Optional HD output adapter cable is separately sold; this is not an HDMI terminal.Multi/Micro USB with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and micro HDMI; HDMI audio during playback only
Wireless connectionsUK exact specifications explicitly list no Bluetooth2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, NFC Forum Type 3 and built-in GPS location logging; maker specifies GPS only, without compass. Non-V HX90 is a distinct non-GPS model
Battery life detailSupplied NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, nominal 3.6 V, typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh and minimum 3.3 Wh/910 mAh. Approximately 290 photographs/145 minutes under CIPA still-test conditions. Playback 6400 images/320 minutes is a separate test; optional NP-FG1 supportedNP-BX1; maker CIPA claim 390 shots/195 minutes with LCD or360 shots/180 minutes with viewfinder. Actual movie use70 minutes LCD/75 minutes viewfinder; continuous movie105/115 minutes with clip limits
ChargingExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger in exact English instructions; regional supplied components vary. Approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge from depleted battery at 25°CIn-camera USB charging and external power with supplied AC adapter and battery
DimensionsApproximately 107.3 × 68.7 × 47.1 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions102.0 × 58.1 × 35.5 mm(width × height × depth), CIPA
Weight detailApproximately 250 g excluding battery and recording media in UK/Hong Kong maker specifications; 279 g including NP-BG1 battery and Memory Stick Duo in exact instructionsApproximately218 g camera only, or245 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black
In the boxNP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, wrist strap, lens cap and software disc; memory card and HD output adapter cable separately sold, regional charger fittings varyNP-BX1, AC-UB10 C/UB10 D adapter, micro USB cable, wrist strap and instructions; regional mains fittings vary

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