Readers Write: Sony HX7V vs H70, What's The Difference?

Take a look at this message we received by e-mail:

Subject: Sony HX7V and H70 identical? Hello, I can't see any difference between the Sony HX7V and H70. Can you confirm that both cameras have the same specs? Will they give the same results in low light? Will they take the same quality photos? It seems strange because the H70 is quite a bit cheaper than the HX7V!

Hello,

The two models may look similar, but don't be fooled!

From a glance at the tech specs, it's true that the two cameras don't look very different, especially since both have 25-250 mm lenses and 16-Megapixel sensors. They have very similar designs too.

However, a closer look at the spec sheets of the HX7V and H70 reveals three key differences.

First of all, in the 'Imaging Sensor' section, the Sony HX7V is listed as using an 'Exmor R™ CMOS sensor', while the Sony H70 uses a 'Super HAD CCD™'. In other words, the cameras uses sensors built with different types of technology—a BSI CMOS sensor for the HX7V and a CCD sensor for the H70.

BSI CMOS sensors are more sensitive to light than CCDs. Our review of the HX7V shows just how good sensitivity is with this model, as images are smoothed from 800 ISO but are still perfectly usable up to 1600 ISO. Although we haven't reviewed the H70, Sony's recent CCD-clad W570 takes pictures that are too grainy to be used at 1600 ISO.

The second difference is that the H70 has a maximum video resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, compared with 1920 x 1080 pixels for the HX7V. Plus, the HX7V uses a stereo microphone, whereas the H70 records mono sound—something that can only be spotted from the product visuals. On the whole, then, the HX7V will give better image and sound quality in video mode.

The third key difference is the screen. The HX7V has a 921,600-dot LCD, while the H70 screen only has 230,400 dots. Pictures on the HX7V screen will therefore look sharper and generally nicer.

Similarly, the H70 uses a cheap LCD based on TN technology, which means the onscreen colours will look different depending on which angle you look at the screen from. If you look at a TN screen from below, the screen seems to go black and the image looks a bit like a negative (see right). So when you want to shoot over the top of an obstacle (over a crowd of people, for example), it can be tricky to see what's going on onscreen. That's not a problem you'll encounter with other types of screen technology.

So while the H70 may look like a similar camera to the HX7V, there are a few key differences which ultimately explain why one model is more expensive than the other. To sum up, the H70 won't perform as well in low light or in video mode, and the screen won't be as practical for lining up or viewing back pictures.

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