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Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
20
Overall
27
Pentax Optio WS80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Pentax WS80
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.8-4.7) lens
  • 125g - 92 x 60 x 22mm
  • Launched August 2009
Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 623g - 130 x 103 x 93mm
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Superseded the Sony HX200V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX400V
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Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Pentax and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the WS80 (10MP) and HX300 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The WS80 was released 4 years prior to the HX300 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WS80 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the WS80 grades versus the HX300 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WS80 over the Sony HX300

 WS80 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Pentax WS80

 HX300 WS80 
RevealedFebruary 2013August 2009More modern by 43 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WS80 and Sony HX300

 WS80 HX300 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WS80 provides outer measurements of 92mm x 60mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Examine the Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the WS80 versus the HX300.

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WS80 and HX300 is 95 and 63 respectively.

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The image here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WS80 and HX300.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX300 to result in greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged WS80 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WS80 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX300 Portrait photography advice
26
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
43
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax WS80 Street photography information
Sony HX300 Street photography information
59
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (125 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
50
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WS80 Sports photography information
Sony HX300 Sports photography information
23
environment proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
features tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WS80 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competition in class (125g)
environment proof
has built in flash
MP count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.8)
54
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (623g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WS80
Landscape photography with Sony HX300
31
has manual focus
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
49
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WS80 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX300 as a Vlogging camera
25
lighter than competition in class (125g)
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic jack
25
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic socket
heavier than competition (623g)
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Pentax WS80 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WS80 and Sony HX300
 Pentax Optio WS80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Optio WS80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-05 2013-02-20
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-175mm (5.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.8-4.7 f/2.8-6.3
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1500 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.40 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 125g (0.28 lbs) 623g (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 60 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI68 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal -
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $220 $339