Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX300

Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX300, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and HX300 (20MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S3 was released 3 years before the HX300 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the S3 grades against the HX300 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic S3 Gallery & Sony HX300 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera often, you should think about its weight and size. The Panasonic S3 comes with physical dimensions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) whilst the Sony HX300 has specifications of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic S3 vs Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the S3 vs the HX300.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and HX300 is 96 and 63 respectively.

Often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The visual below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3 and HX300.

As you have seen, both cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX300 to give you extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The older S3 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.