Sony A6300 vs Sony WX80: A Hands-On Battle Between an Advanced Mirrorless and a Compact Point-and-Shoot

When it comes to choosing a camera, one of the biggest questions I get from photography enthusiasts and pros alike is: "How much camera do I really need?" The gap between a compact point-and-shoot and an advanced mirrorless system is massive - not just in specs, but how they perform in the real world. So today, let’s dig deep into two very different Sony cameras that illustrate this divide perfectly: the Sony Alpha a6300 - a mirrorless powerhouse introduced in 2016 - and the diminutive Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX80 compact from 2013.

At first glance, these cameras couldn’t be more different in terms of size, technology, and intended audience. But how do they compare practically, and who really benefits from each? Having lived through testing both extensively in varied photography situations - from portraits under natural light to fast-paced sports shoots - I’ll walk you through everything you need to know. Grab a coffee; this will be a fertile ground to explore sensor science, autofocus wizardry, real-world ergonomics, and much more.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

If you’re reading this, you probably have an idea that a compact camera like the WX80 will be smaller and lighter than the A6300 mirrorless system. But how much smaller?

A quick peek at the above image confirms what our eyeballs tell us: the WX80 is tiny (92x52x22mm, 124g), pocket-friendly, and devilishly portable. It’s the sort of camera you could toss into your jacket pocket or small bag without a second thought. On the flip side, the A6300 (120x67x49mm, 404g) is noticeably chunkier, with a grip that screams “professional-grade.” This is a camera designed to be held - and held comfortably for prolonged shooting sessions.

This translates into a different shooting experience: The A6300’s magnesium alloy body offers a reassuring heft and weather resistance that the WX80 simply lacks. The WX80’s plastic shell, while lightweight and discreet, doesn’t inspire the same confidence against the elements or rigorous use. For travel or casual street photography where portability is king, the WX80 wins points, but the A6300’s build quality offers peace of mind for demanding fieldwork.

Looking more closely at ergonomics and control layout from the top,

you’ll notice the A6300 features dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation, a sliding mode dial, and a prominent shutter button surrounded by a zoom lever - all arranged with seasoned photographers in mind. The WX80 keeps things basic with minimal physical controls, relying mostly on on-screen menus.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Why Bigger Can Be Better

Under the hood lies one of the most significant technical divides: sensor size.

The A6300 sports a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.6 mm - a serious imaging platform for excellent dynamic range, low noise, and sharpness. By contrast, the WX80 uses a tiny 1/2.3-inch 16-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, just 6.17 x 4.55 mm.

In practical terms, this means the A6300 can capture images with richer tonal gradations (dynamic range), deeper colors, and less noise at higher ISO sensitivities. The WX80’s small sensor limits its performance, especially in low light or situations needing fine detail, despite its more modest pixel count.

From my testing, the A6300 delivers stunning 6000 x 4000 pixel images that retain detail even when pushing shadows or enhancing midtones. The WX80 maxes out at 4608 x 3456 pixels, which looks decent on smaller prints or web but falls flat when cropping or making big enlargements.

Sony’s engineering also gives the A6300 an antialiasing (AA) filter designed to balance sharpness and moiré suppression, while the WX80’s AA filter and smaller sensor size struggle with fine patterns, sometimes leading to distracting artifacts.

If image quality is your top priority - say, for landscapes, portraits, or commercial work - the answer is crystal clear. The WX80’s sensor can pass muster in sunny conditions or casual snaps but is simply outclassed for anything demanding.

Viewing and Interface Experience: How We Compose Images

Looking through the camera while framing a shot is fundamental, and here the two cameras diverge sharply.

The A6300 boasts a bright 3-inch tilting LCD screen with 922k-dot resolution and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dots, offering eye-level framing with precise detail even under bright sunlight. The WX80 lacks any viewfinder entirely and relies on a small fixed 2.7-inch LCD with just 230k dots - which can feel cramped, especially under tricky lighting.

From personal experience, the presence of a high-resolution EVF on the A6300 dramatically improves manual focusing, composition accuracy, and shooting in bright outdoor environments. The tilting LCD adds versatility for shooting from awkward angles - for example, low macro shots or overhead street captures - a luxury not possible with the fixed screen of the WX80.

The interface on the A6300, while complex, caters superbly to photographers who want fast access to manual modes (aperture, shutter priority, ISO, exposure compensation). The WX80 is definitively point-and-shoot territory; no manual exposures means creative control is limited, placing it firmly in snapshot mode.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Chasing Fast Action and Sharp Focus

Autofocus (AF) is perhaps where the A6300's technological maturity shows most clearly.

The A6300 offers a hybrid AF system with 425 phase-detection AF points covering a broad area of the frame - a system designed for speed, accuracy, and tracking moving subjects across genres from sports to wildlife. It supports continuous autofocus and eye detection, critical for portraits and fast action alike.

In contrast, the WX80 employs contrast-detection AF with a smaller number of focus points and no phase detection, which led to visibly slower and less consistent focusing under my tests. It can hunt noticeably in low contrast or dim light and can't do eye AF or reliable subject tracking.

The continuous shooting speed is respectable on both: 11 frames per second (fps) on the A6300 and 10 fps for the WX80. But actual sustained shooting differs sharply - the A6300’s buffer, combined with faster AF and image processing, allows for longer burst sequences without pauses, whereas the WX80 tends to slow down or pause frequently due to limited buffer memory and slower processing.

For wildlife or sports photographers - where split-second sharpness can make or break a shot - the A6300 is a clear winner, reliably locking focus on moving targets and allowing creative burst shooting workflows.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: Growing With Your Eye

One major advantage of the A6300 is the lens mount compatibility - it uses Sony’s E-mount system, which boasts wide support for over 120 lenses ranging from ultra-wide converted primes to telephoto zooms and specialty optics like macro or tilt-shift lenses.

This diversity is a game changer. Whether you’re shooting intimate portraits with bokeh-rich backgrounds, vast landscapes requiring edge-to-edge sharpness, or long-reach wildlife images, there’s a lens suited for your vision and budget.

The WX80, however, features a fixed 28-224mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens - versatile enough for casual zoom needs but with a variable aperture from f/3.3 to f/8 that limits low-light performance. Plus, fixed optics mean no option to swap or upgrade, so creative flexibility falls short.

In practice, I found the WX80’s lens decent for snapshots and vacations, but try stretching it to professional applications and limitations quickly become apparent - especially for portraits (limited background blur at f/8) or macro work (minimum 5 cm focus distance but no true lens swap possible).

Battery Life and Storage: Keeping You Shooting

Battery life is often underestimated but critical during long shoots or travel. The A6300 uses an NP-FW50 battery offering approximately 400 shots per charge, which is respectable but may require spares for extended use given its power-hungry EVF and advanced features.

The WX80’s smaller NP-BN battery yields about 240 shots per charge, less than the A6300 but acceptable for a point-and-shoot meant for light use. Given the compact size, carrying multiple spare batteries isn’t always practical for the WX80.

Both cameras support familiar SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards for storage. The A6300 supports UHS-I standards, which benefits faster write speeds for continuous RAW shooting and 4K video.

Video Capabilities: From Casual Clips to 4K Cinematics

The A6300 is no slouch in video performance. It records 4K UHD footage at 30p or 24p using Sony’s XAVC S codec - a feature that, just a few years ago, was reserved for much pricier cameras. It also provides microphone input for better audio capture, though no headphone jack for monitoring.

In contrast, the WX80 maxes out at 1080p Full HD video at 60fps, decent for casual videography but lacking modern codecs and resolution. There is no mic input, which limits sound quality and professional use.

Image stabilization is another major difference. The WX80 includes optical image stabilization, helpful in handheld video or zoomed-in shots. The A6300 relies on lens-based stabilization (when available), as it does not have in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Many higher-end Sony APS-C cameras now incorporate IBIS, but the A6300 predates that trend.

If video is important - say for vlogging or corporate shoots - the A6300 clearly provides a more advanced toolkit, though serious cinematographers might yearn for features like Zebra stripes or flat color profiles absent here.

How Do They Perform Across Different Photography Genres?

No camera is an island; your choice should reflect your photographic passions.

Sony A6300 front Sony A6300 screen back Sony WX80 front Sony WX80 screen back

Portraiture

The A6300 handles portraits with aplomb thanks to fast, accurate eye detection AF and a large sensor that produces natural, smooth skin tones and pleasing background separation. Paired with a fast prime lens, the bokeh quality rivals entry-level full-frame setups.

The WX80 can snap faces adequately but struggles to isolate subjects from backgrounds due to its small sensor and limited aperture lens - army of pixels isn’t everything after all!

Landscape

For landscapes, the A6300’s wide dynamic range (~13.7 EV as per DxOMark) captures broad tonal gradations spanning shadow detail to sky highlights, while its resolution captures intricate textures like foliage and rocks sharply.

The WX80’s compact sensor results in lower dynamic range and noisy images in high contrast scenarios. Plus, no weather sealing means caution shooting outdoors in adverse conditions.

Wildlife

The A6300 shines thanks to snappy autofocus and customizable AF tracking modes. Coupled with telephoto lenses, it’s a capable entry-level wildlife rig, though full-frame cameras still have an edge.

The WX80 may capture some casual animal shots but slow AF and modest zoom degrade results significantly.

Sports

High burst rate and extremely fast AF on the A6300 help nail moments in fast sports. The WX80 lacks continuous AF and sustained burst capacity, making it a poor choice here.

Street and Travel

Here, the WX80’s compact size and discreetness are major pluses. Light and easy to pocket, it won’t draw attention. However, the A6300’s mirrorless form factor remains quite portable for those who prioritize image quality and professional controls on the street.

Travel photographers will appreciate the A6300’s versatility, interchangeable lens system, and weather sealing, but the WX80’s small footprint and decent zoom lens make it a great backup or casual travel companion.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

The A6300’s interchangeable lenses include macro options and manual focus focus peaking, allowing tight focus and detailed close-ups. The WX80’s fixed lens offers limited macro capabilities (minimum focus 5cm), insufficient for serious macro work.

Night photography strongly favors the A6300 for its superior high ISO performance (native max ISO of 25600 with usable images at surprisingly high settings) and larger sensor gathering more light.

Reliability, Connectivity, and Workflow Integration

The A6300 features robust build quality with some weather sealing, a durable shutter rated for over 200,000 cycles, and the dependable Sony BIONZ X processor. It supports Wi-Fi and NFC for quick image transfer to smartphones - handy for on-the-go sharing or proxy workflows.

The WX80, lacking ruggedness or advanced connectivity (no NFC), is more suited to casual shooting with manual photo transfer.

What Does the Data Say? Scoring Their Performance

Enough anecdotal evidence - industry benchmark data offers useful summary insight.

Sony A6300 earns a resounding DxOMark overall score of 85 boasting high color depth (24.4 bits), excellent dynamic range (13.7 EV), and strong low-light ISO performance (~1437). No testing exists for the WX80 on DxOMark - its small sensor likely would rate quite low compared to APS-C models.

But we can glean practical scores from usability and review consensus:

The A6300 dominates in nearly every photographic discipline except perhaps portability (where WX80 leads). It’s broadly praised for autofocus, image quality, and video capabilities. The WX80 scores best in casual snapshots and ease of use.

Pricing and Value: What’s Your Buck Really Buying?

At the time of writing, the Sony A6300 lists for around $890, while the WX80 can be had for about $275 (used or discounted retail).

For roughly three times the price, the A6300 offers dramatically superior image quality, creative control, and system expandability. However, the WX80’s price may justify it for photographers who want simple point-and-shoot functionality without fuss or investment.

So, Which One Should You Buy? My Recommendations

If you made it this far, kudos. Here’s my summary advice based on extensive day-to-day shooting experience:

• Choose the Sony A6300 if…

  • You want a camera for serious photography, including portraits, wildlife, landscapes, or sports.
  • You desire manual control over exposure, apertures, and shutter speed.
  • You care deeply about image quality, low-light performance, and creative lens choices.
  • You plan to shoot video in 4K or need microphone input for decent audio.
  • You value durability and a camera that feels professional in hand.

• Choose the Sony WX80 if…

  • You want an ultra-light, pocketable camera for casual snapshots, vacations, or events.
  • You need a simple, no-fuss camera without manual settings.
  • Price is a primary concern and you can accept lower image quality.
  • You prioritize portability and discretion over system expandability.
  • You shoot mostly in well-lit conditions and do not require RAW files or advanced AF tracking.

Final Thoughts: Cameras Tailored to Different Souls

Photography isn't one-size-fits-all. The Sony A6300 and WX80 vividly illustrate that operating on different planes of the photographic spectrum. The A6300 is a powerful tool for those willing to invest time and money for excellent results and creative freedom. The WX80 caters to convenience and simplicity for casual shooters.

Whether you're contemplating your next step up from a smartphone or a compact, you can’t go wrong by recognizing your shooting style, priorities, and budget before making this choice. I hope this detailed, hands-on comparison helps you do just that.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to grab my A6300 and lens bag for some sunset landscapes before the light fades!

Want more personalized advice? Feel free to ask - trust me, choosing cameras is a passion I take seriously.