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Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300

Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Key Specs

Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Old Model is Sony NEX-C3
  • Updated by Sony NEX-3N
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
  • Released February 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX200V
  • Refreshed by Sony HX400V
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Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Sony NEX-F3 and Sony HX300, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Sony. The resolution of the NEX-F3 (16MP) and the HX300 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the NEX-F3 (APS-C) and HX300 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The NEX-F3 was released 6 months earlier than the HX300 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the NEX-F3 grades versus the HX300 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Sony HX300

 NEX-F3 HX300 

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony NEX-F3

 HX300 NEX-F3 
Display resolution921k920kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Sony NEX-F3 and Sony HX300

 NEX-F3 HX300 
ReleasedAugust 2012February 2013Similar age
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sony NEX-F3 provides physical dimensions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Sony HX300 has proportions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs).

Check the Sony NEX-F3 and Sony HX300 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the NEX-F3 compared to the HX300.

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the NEX-F3 and HX300 is 86 and 63 respectively.

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 top view buttons comparison

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The graphic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NEX-F3 and HX300.

All in all, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NEX-F3 due to its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Sony HX300 will give more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop photos a little more aggressively.

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 sensor size comparison

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography info
Sony HX300 Portrait photography info
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
42
manual focus
resolution is good (20MP)
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Street photography factors
Sony HX300 Street photography factors
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
50
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition (623g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony NEX-F3
Sports photography with Sony HX300
53
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery pack (470 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
supports tracking focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography information
Sony HX300 Travel photography information
69
good battery pack (470 shots)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly screen
54
resolution is good (20MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (623g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX300 Landscape photography highlights
70
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
48
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony NEX-F3 Vlogging advice
Sony HX300 Vlogging advice
27
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic jack
25
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than competition (623g)
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Sony NEX-F3 vs Sony HX300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony NEX-F3 and Sony HX300
 Sony Alpha NEX-F3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha NEX-F3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-08-16 2013-02-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4912 x 3264 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 16000 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Sony E fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture - f/2.8-6.3
Total lenses 121 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 920k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Xtra Fine LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 314 gr (0.69 lbs) 623 gr (1.37 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 1114 not tested
Other
Battery life 470 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NPFW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo -
Card slots One One
Price at launch $470 $339