Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony H300: A Comprehensive Camera Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing the right camera often feels overwhelming, especially when models come from different design philosophies and target distinct user segments. Today, we unravel the strengths and weaknesses of two very different cameras: the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II, a premium large-sensor compact, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300, a bridge style superzoom geared toward budget enthusiasts.

We will delve into everything - from sensor technology to ergonomics, autofocus prowess to video capabilities - drawing from hands-on testing and extensive real-world use across photography genres. Whether you are a portrait artist, wildlife enthusiast, or travel vlogger, this detailed comparison will help you pinpoint which camera aligns with your creative goals and budget.

Feel and Handling: Compact Precision Meets Bridge-Style Bulk

Right off the bat, the Panasonic LX100 II feels like a truly premium compact camera. Its 115x66x64 mm body is sleek yet substantial, weighing a modest 392 grams that strikes a good balance between portability and robust build. The fixed Leica-branded zoom lens with a bright aperture supports manual focusing, giving you tactile control for creative effects like selective focusing and smooth bokeh.

On the other hand, the Sony H300 sports a much larger, more traditional SLR-like bridge design measuring 130x95x122 mm, and weighing 590 grams. Its plastic-heavy build underscores its entry-level price point, but it offers an extended zoom range, which is a big advantage for casual photography and wildlife shooting from a distance.

Key Takeaway:

• If you value pocketable size and premium ergonomics, the LX100 II wins hands down.
• For those prioritizing high zoom reach and a DSLR-ish grip, especially beginners or travel shooters on a budget, the Sony H300 is a compelling offering.

Controls That Keep You in the Moment

The Panasonic's control layout is designed for photographers who crave manual control. Dial-driven exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, manual), exposure compensation, focus mode selectors, and quick menu access make changing settings fluid and intuitive without digging into menus. Its touchscreen LCD further enhances usability, ensuring fast focus point shifts and menu navigation.

Conversely, the Sony’s control setup is simpler and less customizable. It lacks manual exposure priority modes and touchscreen support, relying primarily on basic manual exposure and auto modes. The absence of a built-in viewfinder makes composition more challenging for precise framing in bright outdoor light.

Bottom line: If you want a camera that adapts fluidly as you raise your photography skills, the LX100 II offers a more versatile and professional-feeling interface. The H300 is streamlined for beginners needing an uncomplicated experience.

Sensor Technology: The Heart of Image Quality

This section reveals the most significant performance gap between these models:

The LX100 II’s Four Thirds CMOS sensor is substantially larger - almost eight times the surface area of the Sony’s tiny 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor. A larger sensor translates to better light-gathering ability, higher dynamic range, and less noise at higher ISOs, all critical for image quality in challenging light.

Despite the Sony H300 having nominally more megapixels, the small sensor size limits pixel size, which diminishes performance, especially in low-light or when demanding high detail.

From my tests in portrait and landscape shooting, the Panasonic produces far superior color depth, skin tone accuracy, and fine detail preservation. The Sony can deliver sharp images in bright conditions but struggles as soon as lighting gets tricky.

Viewing Experience: Composing and Reviewing Shots

The Panasonic LX100 II is equipped with a 3.0-inch fixed touchscreen LCD at 1240k dots, coupled with a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2760k dots. This combination ensures sharp, real-time previews that help nail exposure and focus instantly, even under harsh sunlight.

Sony’s H300 also has a 3.0-inch Clear Photo LCD, but with a much lower resolution of 460k dots and no touchscreen. Worse still, it lacks an EVF entirely, meaning you must compose via LCD screen only, which can hamper precision and battery life in bright outdoor shooting.

For photographers who refine their craft through viewing depth of field, focus peaking, and live histograms, Panasonic’s superior LCD and EVF setup are critical advantages.

Image Performance in Action: Portraits and Landscapes

Portrait Photography

Portraits demand excellent skin tone reproduction, pleasing bokeh, and precise face and eye detection autofocus.

• The Panasonic LX100 II shines with its bright f/1.7-2.8 Leica lens, delivering creamy background blur and sharp subject rendering. Its 49 contrast-detection AF points with face detection work well in varied lighting, helping you maintain focus on subjects’ eyes - a feature I validated with multiple studio and natural light shoots.

• In contrast, the Sony H300’s f/3-5.9 aperture lens is much slower, limiting background separation. While it has AF face detection, the slower lens and limited AF system reduce sharpness, especially in lower light.

Landscape Photography

• Panasonic’s larger sensor and higher resolution capture landscapes richly, with impressive dynamic range and color gradation. The LX100 II’s comprehensive aspect ratios (1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9) and faster shutter speeds give you flexibility in various daylight conditions.

• The Sony struggles in dynamic range and clarity since its sensor quickly saturates highlights and mutes shadows. Landscapes shooting is usually limited to favorable light, due to noise creeping in at ISO beyond 400.

Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers robust weather sealing, so cautious handling and weather protection accessories are recommended for shoot in wet or dusty environments.

Autofocus, Speed, and Burst Shooting: Catching Your Subjects

The LX100 II’s autofocus system is more dynamic and accurate, accommodating continuous tracking and live view AF with touch input. We tested its tracking on moving subjects with positive results.

Sony H300’s AF is more basic, and the single continuous frame rate hampers action shooting. Low shutter speed caps also limit its versatility outdoors.

Sports and wildlife photographers will find the Panasonic a far better partner, especially paired with fast prime lenses or short telephotos, despite the fixed lens constraint.

Zoom Capability and Macro Potential

Sony’s undeniable advantage is its extraordinary 35x zoom range from 25-875 mm equivalent focal length. For distant wildlife or sports shooters on a budget, this reach is compelling, despite optical limitations at longer ends.

The Panasonic offers a smaller 3.1x zoom (24-75 mm equivalent) but with a much brighter aperture. Its macro focusing to 3 cm lets you get close with impressive detail, unlike the Sony which lacks any dedicated macro capability.

This makes the LX100 II more suited to flower, insect, and product photography demanding precision and sharpness at close range.

Night and Astro Photography: Handling Low Light and Long Exposures

Here, the Panasonic LX100 II again leads thanks to:

• Higher ISO range up to 25600 with better noise control
• Shutter speeds as slow as 30 seconds and electronic shutter up to 1/16000s
• Ability to shoot in RAW – essential for post-processing astrophotography
• Exposure bracketing and manual exposure modes give creative latitude at night

On the contrary, Sony’s CCD sensor, limited ISO ceiling (3200 max), and lack of RAW make shooting stars or nightscapes challenging. Its shutter limit of 30 seconds is adequate, but with less effective noise control.

For nighttime creators, the Panasonic offers much greater flexibility.

Video Recording: Vlogging and Cinematic Potential

The Panasonic provides 4K video capture at 30 fps using H.264 codec, with solid stabilization, ideal for on-the-go cinematic projects and detailed content creation.

Sony’s video is strictly basic HD with no external mic inputs, limiting professional workflow or versatility.

For video-centric creators, the Panasonic is the clear winner, offering rich detail and sharpness in video formats.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Panasonic includes built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, enabling seamless wireless image transfer and remote control through smartphones - a boon during busy shoots.

Sony H300 offers no wireless connectivity, meaning images can only be offloaded via USB or SD card.

Battery life is similar, with Panasonic rated at 340 shots per charge and Sony at 350 shots. The Panasonic benefits from a USB charging port, adding to travel convenience.

Workflow artists will appreciate Panasonic’s support for shooting RAW and wireless tethering options to speed up their editing pipelines.

Panasonic LX100 II front Panasonic LX100 II screen back Sony H300 front Sony H300 screen back

Real-World Image Samples

Examining actual shots side-by-side shows the Panasonic's superiority in dynamic range, color fidelity, and noise handling - particularly in mixed light and shadows. The Sony delivers usable daylight images but lacks vibrance and detail in complex scenes.

Performance Summary Across Photography Genres

Final Recommendations: Which One Is Right for You?

Choose the Panasonic LX100 II if:

• You seek superior image quality, particularly in challenging light.
• You want advanced manual controls and RAW capture.
• Portability and premium build matter.
• You shoot portraits, macro, landscapes, or videos.
• You’re a serious enthusiast or professional needing a compact second camera.

Check out Panasonic’s excellent lens coatings and software integration if you require detailed post-production control.

Choose the Sony H300 if:

• Your priority is budget-friendly superzoom range.
• You want a simple, easy-to-use camera for casual or holiday snapshots.
• You don’t mind limited manual controls or relying mainly on auto exposure.
• Long zoom reach is more important than image quality.
• You prefer a bridge camera style with a DSLR look and grip.

Wrapping Up

Both cameras can deliver pleasing results in their respective niches, but the Panasonic LX100 II is the more versatile and future-proof investment. Its blend of sensor size, lens speed, and professional-grade controls suits a broad range of shooters striving for high-quality results and creative flexibility.

Meanwhile, the Sony H300 remains a solid, pocketbook-friendly option for beginners or casual users focusing on zoom rather than ultimate detail or low-light finesse.

We encourage you to test these cameras hands-on if possible, and consider your priorities: Is it image quality and manual control or zoom reach and affordability? Whichever way you lean, both cameras are capable companions to get started - and grow - with your photographic journey.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera be the best creative partner you've yet owned!