Sigma fp vs Sony WX300: A Tale of Two Cameras for Very Different Photographers

Choosing a camera can feel like wandering through a bazaar of gadgets - so many options, with wildly varied features, sizes, and prices. Today, I’m pitting two very different cameras head-to-head: the Sigma fp, an advanced full-frame mirrorless camera, and the Sony Cyber-shot WX300, a compact superzoom designed for casual shooters. They couldn’t be more different in design and intent, yet understanding their strengths and weaknesses will help you make a truly informed choice.

Having personally tested both models extensively, I’m sharing hands-on insights into their construction, imaging capabilities, user experience, and suitability for various photography genres. Whether you’re starting out, upgrading, or searching for a niche tool, this comprehensive comparison will clarify where each camera shines.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

When I pick up the Sigma fp and Sony WX300 side by side, low weight and compactness dominate the conversation for the Sony, while the Sigma asserts a more serious, robust vibe.

The Sigma fp’s rangefinder-style mirrorless body measures approximately 113mm wide, 70mm high, and 45mm deep, with a weight of 422g. By today’s mirrorless standards, that’s incredibly compact considering it houses a full-frame sensor. Yet, its barebones, “no-frills” design - lacking a built-in viewfinder or a large grip - feels decidedly minimalist but functional. The weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis suggests this is a tool for professionals who might encounter challenging environments, requiring durability.

By contrast, the Sony WX300 is a tiny, lightweight 166g marvel in the palm. It’s a pocketable compact with a fixed lens designed for point-and-shoot simplicity and ultimate portability - units measuring roughly 96 x 55 x 25mm. The plastic build isn’t luxurious, but perfectly suitable for casual outdoor use or travel. This camera is all about convenience.

In terms of ergonomics, the Sigma’s programmable buttons and physical dials offer direct access to main functions, which I appreciated during real-world testing for precision. The Sony limits you to more menu-driven controls, plus no manual focus and a fixed zoom lens, which simplifies but restricts creative control.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

This is where the pair part ways dramatically.

The Sigma fp sports a 35.9 x 23.9 mm full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor with a 25-megapixel resolution. A large sensor like this captures more light, offering better dynamic range, lower noise, and greater versatility in post-processing - especially in RAW format, which the Sigma supports natively. This camera can comfortably handle ISO sensitivities from 100 up to 25,600 natively, with a boosted range stretching to a lofty 102,400 ISO for very low-light conditions.

On the other hand, the Sony WX300 uses a tiny 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS sensor at 18 megapixels. This small sensor inherently limits image quality: higher noise at elevated ISOs, reduced dynamic range, and less subtle tonal gradation.

From my side-by-side shooting tests:

• Portraits: The Sigma’s large sensor and Leica L mount lenses can create creamy bokeh and beautiful skin tones with excellent detail retention. The WX300, with its small sensor and fixed zoom, produces notably flatter images with less background separation.

• Low Light: The Sigma fp maintains cleaner images up to ISO 6400 and usable results beyond. The WX300 starts showing significant noise climbing past ISO 800, restricting indoor or night photography.

• Dynamic Range: Landscapes show Sigma’s sensor pulling far more highlight and shadow detail, crucial for recovering details in challenging lighting situations.

The Sigma fp’s sensor advantage essentially guarantees superior image quality across nearly all use cases. That said, the WX300's sensor still serves well for casual snaps and social media-size prints.

Handling and User Interface - Screen and Viewfinder

Neither camera sports a viewfinder, but their LCDs differ in usability.

The Sigma fp has a crisp 3.2” touchscreen with 2.1 million dots resolution, aiding precise framing and quick menu navigation. Touch AF and menu controls streamline shooting, but the absence of a viewfinder means you’ll need to rely on the rear screen in bright conditions, which can be challenging outdoors.

The Sony WX300’s 3" screen is lower resolution at 460,000 dots and lacks touch capability, reducing ease of focus point selection and menu diving. However, its simple fixed interface fits its user profile - no fuss, just shoot.

Without an EVF, the Sigma fp might feel incomplete compared to rivals, but for a compact full-frame camera designed in 2019, this was a deliberate trade-off to keep size minimal.

Autofocus Systems - Speed and Accuracy for Action

Here things get interesting: the Sigma fp features a contrast detection autofocus system with 49 points, including Face Detection AF. Though contrast detect AF is generally slower than phase detect, Sigma’s implementation is surprisingly snappy in well-lit conditions. It supports single, continuous, and even tracking modes, but I found it struggles more in low light or with fast-moving subjects.

Meanwhile, the Sony WX300 employs a more basic center-weighted contrast AF system with no phase detect and unclear number of focus points. It’s pretty simple: you point, half-press, and the camera locks focus. It works decently in good light for stationary subjects but isn’t designed for tracking or rapid action.

For critical autofocus needs such as wildlife or sports, neither camera stands out compared to current flagship models. The Sigma is more versatile but not a speed demon; the Sony is basic but stable.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds

The Sigma fp offers 12 fps continuous shooting, a competitive speed for an advanced mirrorless camera, and is capped by an 1/8000s max shutter speed allowing freeze-frame capture of fast motion. This makes it viable for sports or wildlife shooting, though buffer depth and autofocus speed remain practical limiting factors.

The Sony WX300 tops out at 10 fps continuous, but with a slower max shutter of 1/1600s and more limited buffer, it’s best for casual bursts - think family events or travel snapshots rather than intense action.

Lens Ecosystem: Native Lens Mounts and Adaptability

The Sigma fp’s Leica L mount opens access to approximately 30 L-mount lenses, including the comprehensive offerings from Sigma, Leica, and Panasonic. This means you can choose anything from ultra-wide primes, fast portrait lenses, macro optics, to telephoto zooms. For image quality aficionados, the lens choice here impresses.

Because it is mirrorless, you can also adapt lenses from other mounts with adapters, expanding creative tools.

In contrast, the Sony WX300 includes a built-in 25-500mm equivalent zoom lens with a variable aperture of f/3.5-6.5, designed solely for convenience. You cannot change or upgrade the lens - limiting optics flexibility but simplifying use.

Weather Sealing and Build Durability

Sigma fp scores points here with environmental sealing against dust and moisture - ideal for outdoor shooting in inclement weather. The magnesium alloy body feels rock solid in hand.

The Sony WX300 has no weather sealing, and a plastic body prone to wear under harsh conditions. It’s suitable for fair-weather use but less reliable if exposed to the elements.

Shooting Across Photographic Genres

Let’s break down their performance across key photography types:

Portrait Photography

• Sigma fp: Wins here with a large sensor delivering pleasant skin tones, natural bokeh when paired with fast primes, and face detection AF that simplifies focusing on eyes.

• Sony WX300: Operates adequate skin tone processing but lacks shallow depth-of-field and manual controls to finesse portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Sigma fp: Excels due to higher resolution, superior dynamic range, and weather-sealed durability, enabling shooting in challenging outdoor lighting.

• Sony WX300: Acceptable for casual landscapes but limited by sensor size and fixed zoom, producing less detailed and dynamic images.

Wildlife Photography

The Sigma’s burst capability and lens options give it a foothold, but autofocus speed and tracking limits its viability for fast wildlife.

The Sony is less suitable due to slow AF and absence of telephoto power comparable to dedicated supertelephoto lenses.

Sports Photography

Similar story: the Sigma’s 12 fps is a strength, but AF can’t keep up with rapid action reliably. Sony’s slower shutter and AF limit its use to low-action or casual sports.

Street Photography

The compact Sigma fp is discreet enough for street work, especially if you use small primes.

The Sony WX300, being pocketable and zoom-equipped, is also viable for street but less flexible.

Macro Photography

Sigma fp paired with macro primes shoots excellent close-ups with fine focus control.

Sony’s fixed lens lacks macro and focusing precision for serious close-up work.

Night and Astrophotography

Sigma’s high native sensitivity, full-frame sensor, and capability for long exposures make it the better contender for low-light and astrophotography.

Sony’s small sensor can only manage bright night scenes with limited noise control.

Video Capabilities

• Sigma fp records 4K UHD at 30p internally, with clean HDMI output, and supports external audio input and headphones - impressive pro features for videographers.

• Sony WX300 maxes out at 1080p 60fps without external audio ports.

Sigma clearly targets hybrid shooters who demand serious video tools.

Travel Photography

Sony’s WX300 benefits from its light, pocketable form and versatile zoom lens for travel snapshots.

Sigma’s compact full-frame design offers better quality but requires carrying lenses, batteries, and accessories, making it less “grab-and-go.”

Professional Workflows

Sigma fp outputs 12-bit RAW files, offering extensive post-processing flexibility. Its USB 3.1 and HDMI ports support tethering and pro workflows.

Sony WX300 does not support RAW, limiting RAW workflow use, and has slower USB 2.0 transfer.

Battery Life and Storage

Neither camera shines dramatically here.

The Sigma fp uses a BP-51 battery, which I found to last moderately well in field tests, but high-res photo or video work drains it quickly. One SD card slot is UHS-II compatible for fast writing speeds.

The Sony WX300’s NP-BX1 battery is adequate for casual shooting but modest by modern expectations. Storage involves a single card slot supporting SD and Memory Stick formats.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The Sigma fp disappointingly lacks built-in wireless connectivity, requiring manual transfers or wired methods.

The Sony WX300 includes built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing to mobile devices, a plus for casual social photographers.

Price-to-Performance: Who Gets What for Your Money?

The Sigma fp retails around $2050 (body only), a serious investment aiming at advanced enthusiasts or professionals wanting a compact full-frame system.

The Sony WX300 originally sold near $330, reflecting its compact simplicity and consumer-grade positioning.

If your budget is tight or you seek ultimate portability with decent zoom, Sony is reasonable. For image quality, video specs, and future expandability, Sigma fp justifies its higher price.

Above: Sample images illustrating the Sigma’s rich detail versus Sony’s more limited dynamic range.

Overall Scores and Performance Ratings

Analyzing all criteria culminates in this comparative scoring:

Sigma fp’s higher marks stem from sensor, image quality, video, build, and flexibility.

Sony WX300 scores reflect compactness and convenience but limitations in control, IQ, and features.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary: Who Should Buy Which?

Sigma fp Strengths

• Large, high-quality full-frame sensor
• Pro-level video (4K, external mic/headphone)
• Weather sealing and durable body
• Extensive lens ecosystem via L-mount
• Fast 12 fps burst rate and manual control

Sigma fp Weaknesses

• No EVF makes shooting in bright light challenging
• No in-body image stabilization
• Lack of wireless connectivity
• Higher cost and more complex to carry lenses/batteries

Sony WX300 Strengths

• Ultra-compact, pocketable form
• Long 25-500 mm zoom range for versatility
• Optical image stabilization for shake reduction
• Built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing
• Affordable and easy to use

Sony WX300 Weaknesses

• Small 1/2.3” sensor limits image quality
• No RAW support, limiting post-processing
• Limited manual controls and slower AF
• No external mic/headphone ports
• No weather sealing or rugged features

Matching Cameras to Photographic Needs

This graphic helps illustrate each camera’s suitability by photography genre:

• If you want portraits, landscapes, night, pro video, or macro, Sigma fp excels.
• For casual travel, street shooting, or family snapshots on a budget, Sony WX300 fits.

Final Thoughts: Different Cameras for Different Worlds

The Sigma fp and Sony WX300 are like a seasoned professional filmmaker and a compact point-and-shoot tourist camera attending the same festival. They coexist well but aim for completely different users.

If you’re serious about image quality, manual control, video production, or professional reliability - prepared to invest time and money in lenses and accessories - the Sigma fp is a remarkable, compact full-frame choice that punches above its weight.

Conversely, if you need a lightweight, no-hassle camera with a versatile built-in zoom for travel or everyday snapshots - and budget is a big factor - the Sony WX300 remains a strong compact option, despite its limitations.

I hope this detailed comparison helps demystify these two cameras. Your perfect pick depends entirely on what kind of shooting you plan to do and the trade-offs you’re willing to accept.

Happy shooting!

For those wanting a deep dive, my video review includes extensive real-world shooting samples and hands-on demo stills.