Pentax E85 vs Sony HX300

In this article, we are comparing the Pentax E85 versus Sony HX300, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the E85 (12MP) and HX300 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The E85 was launched 4 years prior to the HX300 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax E85 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick view of how the E85 matches up versus the HX300 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax Optio E85 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300. The complete galleries are viewable at Pentax E85 Gallery and Sony HX300 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and size. The Pentax E85 offers outer dimensions of 93mm x 58mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.9") with a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs) while 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).

Check the Pentax E85 versus Sony HX300 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the E85 against the HX300.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E85 and HX300 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Quite often, its tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by going through a spec sheet. The pic underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E85 and HX300.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony HX300 to provide more detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged E85 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.