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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37
Samsung HZ30W front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Key Specs

Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Alternate Name is WB600
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Revealed January 2008
  • Successor is Sony A330
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Samsung HZ30W versus Sony A300, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the HZ30W (12MP) and the A300 (10MP) is very well matched but the HZ30W (1/2.3") and A300 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The HZ30W was announced 24 months after the A300 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung HZ30W being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the HZ30W grades vs the A300 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Sony A300

 HZ30W A300 
RevealedJanuary 2010January 2008More modern by 24 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Samsung HZ30W

 A300 HZ30W 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Samsung HZ30W and Sony A300

 HZ30W A300 
Focus manually More precise focus
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Samsung HZ30W comes with outer measurements of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony A300 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Check out the Samsung HZ30W versus Sony A300 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the HZ30W versus the A300.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HZ30W and A300 is 91 and 64 respectively.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking specs. The pic underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the HZ30W and A300.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The HZ30W having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Samsung HZ30W will give greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images much more aggressively. The more modern HZ30W provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Portrait photography details
Sony A300 Portrait photography details
29
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
59
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Street photography factors
Sony A300 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Sports photography advice
Sony A300 Sports photography advice
42
great zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
54
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Travel photography advice
Sony A300 Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (360mm)
missing Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
45
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung HZ30W
Landscape photography with Sony A300
43
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
57
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inches)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung HZ30W Vlogging factors
Sony A300 Vlogging factors
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone support
9
no video
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Samsung HZ30W vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung HZ30W and Sony A300
 Samsung HZ30WSony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model Samsung HZ30W Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Also Known as WB600 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2010-01-19 2008-01-30
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-360mm (15.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.2-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) -
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone 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 245g (0.54 lb) 632g (1.39 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 64
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 538
Other
Battery model SLB-11A -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $280 $0