Sony H300 vs Sony HX10V: Which Superzoom Camera Warrants Your Investment?

When stepping into the realm of compact superzoom cameras, two Sony Cyber-shot models often come up in discussions: the Sony H300 and the Sony HX10V. As someone who has evaluated and field-tested thousands of cameras over the last decade and a half, I found these two interesting benchmarks in Sony’s superzoom line. Their differences - big and subtle - highlight what compact zoom photography was like in the early 2010s and the trade-offs between sheer reach, sensor tech, and usability.

In this in-depth hands-on comparison, I’ll walk you through everything from sensor performance and autofocus precision to ergonomic feel and lens capabilities, across a broad spectrum of photography disciplines. Whether you’re a travel photographer, a budding wildlife shooter, or a street photography enthusiast, my goal is to help you decide which camera aligns best with your creative ambitions and budget.

Sony H300 (left) with its larger SLR-like bridge body dominates in heft and grip space compared to the compact Sony HX10V (right).

Understanding the Basics: Body and Build Quality

Right out of the gate, the physical design between these two couldn’t be more distinct. The Sony H300 is a bridge-style camera, larger and heavier at 590 grams with body dimensions (130x95x122mm) that command a substantial grip. In contrast, the HX10V is a compact shooter weighing merely 234 grams, with a markedly pocket-friendly profile measuring 105x60x34mm.

From my own handling sessions, the H300 offers a reassuring heft and better stability, especially when shooting at long focal lengths. Its SLR-like body with a pronounced handgrip supports steady frames for extended telephoto shots. Yet, it's also less discreet for street or travel photography, where subtlety and light weight matter. The HX10V's pocketability makes it a natural travel companion, easy to slip into bags or even larger pockets.

Build quality on both is average for mid-tier superzooms of their generation. Neither offers weather sealing or rugged protections, meaning you’ll want to be cautious in dusty or wet environments. Neither is frozen-out harsh conditions, nor do they handle drops that well - typical for cameras in this price bracket.

The H300’s tactile control dials and buttons deliver an SLR-like shooting experience. Meanwhile, the HX10V opts for a minimalist top layout, emphasizing portability.

Sensor and Image Quality - What’s Behind the Lens?

Now onto arguably the most critical component: sensor technology and capabilities. Both cameras utilize a small 1/2.3” sensor, measuring roughly 6.17x4.55mm with an active imaging area near 28 mm². This size is typical for budget superzooms, but here’s where their sensor types diverge meaningfully.

• Sony H300 employs a 20MP CCD sensor. CCD sensors, while delivering decent color fidelity, generally trail behind CMOS in noise management and dynamic range.
• Sony HX10V sports an 18MP back-illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) sensor - a major advantage, as BSI architecture improves light collection efficiency, resulting in better low-light performance and cleaner images.

Despite the H300’s numerical edge in megapixels, my lab tests revealed the HX10V produces cleaner images with less noise at higher ISO settings and offers a wider ISO range (100-12800 vs. 80-3200 for the H300). The CMOS sensor’s dynamic range comfortably outperforms the CCD - and that means more preserved shadow detail in landscapes and better highlight retention in bright conditions.

If maximizing image quality within the constraints of a small sensor is your priority, the HX10V is the stronger performer.

The back-illuminated CMOS sensor of the HX10V outperforms the CCD sensor in the H300, particularly in low light and dynamic range capabilities.

Lens and Zoom: The Stretch of Your Viewfinder

The defining attribute of superzooms is of course massive focal length coverage. Here the Sony H300 goes for extreme reach with an astonishing 25-875mm (35mm equivalent) zoom, delivering a massive 35x optical magnification. On paper, that’s impressive, allowing photographers to capture distant wildlife or far-off architectural details with ease.

The HX10V opts for a shorter, though still versatile, 24-400mm range (approx. 16.7x zoom). This reduction in maximum reach implies wider framing and less flexibility for extreme telephoto shots, but with one notable plus: the lens starts at a slightly wider 24mm, making it an excellent choice for landscapes and interiors.

Furthermore, the HX10V offers a closer macro focusing distance - down to 5cm - versus the H300’s unspecified macro capability. In real-world use, the HX10V’s macro is noticeably more precise and yields better close-up detail, supported by improved lens sharpness in the near range.

One challenge with the H300’s long reach is the slower maximum aperture range (F3-5.9), which reduces light intake especially when zoomed in, potentially requiring higher ISO or slower shutter speeds - both limiting in low light or fast motion scenarios.

The HX10V, with a slightly faster 24-400mm lens (F3.3-5.9), captures marginally more light at the wide end, an advantage for indoor and dim situations.

Autofocus Performance: Focusing When It Counts

Smooth, accurate autofocus is paramount for capturing fleeting moments in sports, wildlife, or street photography. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus systems without phase detection. However, there are critical differences to note here:

• Sony H300 provides basic autofocus with face detection and center weighted AF. Unfortunately, it lacks live view autofocus, continuous AF, or touch AF capabilities, and its continuous shooting speed is limited to just 1 frame per second (fps) - very restrictive for action photography.

• Sony HX10V features a 9-point AF system (albeit modest compared to DSLRs or modern mirrorless), with face detection and AF tracking. Continuous shooting reaches up to 10 fps at its max, impressive for a compact. This allows the HX10V to better track moving subjects, enhancing usability in wildlife and sports.

During my fieldwork, the HX10V’s AF felt snappier and more reliable than the H300’s, particularly in decent light. The H300 sometimes hunted noticeably, missing moments in fast-moving scenes. Neither camera supports manual focus with focus peaking, which might frustrate users preferring manual precision.

User Interface and Shooting Experience

User control and interface design strongly impact your shooting flow, especially when switching between varied scenarios.

The H300 embraces a semi-professional SLR-like design, with multiple tactile buttons, dials, and a rear LCD fixed at 3” with a modest 460k-dot resolution. The lack of a viewfinder may agitate traditionalists but is typical in this class. The control layout lets you adjust exposure compensation and manual exposure modes, albeit without dedicated aperture or shutter priority settings, limiting creative exposure control.

In contrast, the HX10V offers a streamlined compact body with minimal buttons, a sharper 3” 922k-dot XtraFine TruBlack LCD, and no viewfinder. While the smaller body limits ergonomic comfort for extended shooting, the brighter, higher resolution display significantly improves live view framing and menu navigation.

HX10V’s sharp, contrast-rich 3-inch LCD screen offers enhanced viewing clarity over the H300’s 460k-dot display, aiding composition and menu navigation.

Connectivity and Storage

Connectivity options define the ease of image transfer and remote control capabilities.

• The H300 offers only an HDMI output and USB 2.0 data transfer. It lacks Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, limiting wireless sharing or geotagging options.

• The HX10V has built-in GPS for geotagging photos and "Eye-Fi Connected" Wi-Fi compatibility (via SD card), a forward-thinking feature for the time, aimed at quick uploads and wireless file transfers.

Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (plus Sony’s Memory Stick formats), and have single card slots. Battery life is comparable with around 320-350 shots per charge, modest but manageable for travel with spare batteries.

Video Capabilities: Moving Beyond Stills

Both cameras offer HD video capture but with stark differences:

• The H300 maxes out at 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 fps, recorded in MPEG-4 or H.264. There’s no external microphone input or advanced stabilization beyond the optical lens shift system.

• The HX10V outperforms with full HD 1080p video at 60 fps (AVCHD or MPEG-4), offering smoother capture and higher quality. There’s no mic input either, but steady optical stabilization helps minimize handheld shake.

For casual video, the HX10V is clearly superior, delivering crisp, smooth clips suitable for vloggers or family footage. The H300 is limited and likely to disappoint more demanding videographers.

Photography Genres: Tackling Diverse Shooting Conditions

Let me unpack how each camera handles popular photography scenarios based on my rigorous field testing:

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone rendition and bokeh quality matter. Both cameras struggle with shallow depth of field due to their small sensors and relatively slow lenses. However, the H300’s longer zoom can create distant portraits with some background separation, albeit at the expense of lower image quality due to sensor noise and lens softness at extreme zoom.

The HX10V benefits from better color reproduction and sharper images, but limited zoom means tighter headshots are within closer proximity.

Neither has eye-detection autofocus - a feature standard in modern cameras - but decent face detection assists focusing.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shots pride themselves on resolution, dynamic range, and wide-angle coverage. The HX10V’s 24mm wide setting and superior dynamic range make it far better suited for scenic vistas, capturing detailed shadows and highlights. Its 18MP CMOS sensor produces richer images with less noise at base ISO.

The H300’s narrow 25mm start and higher noise levels pose challenges for landscapes, especially in varied light.

Neither offers weather sealing, so caution is needed outdoors.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife demands fast autofocus, long telephoto reach, and quick burst shooting.

Here, the H300’s massive 875mm equivalent zoom is a major strength - it pulls distant animals close nicely. Yet, its 1 fps burst and sluggish autofocus substantially limit capturing action shots. Missed moments are common with its focus hunting.

The HX10V’s shorter 400mm max zoom restricts reach, making it better suited for larger or closer wildlife, but 10 fps burst and better AF give you a fighting chance to capture movement crisply.

Sports Photography

Sports photography parallels wildlife needs with high-speed AF and burst performance. The HX10V’s 10 fps burst capability is quite rare among compact superzooms of its day, enabling rapid sequences. Its AF tracking also supports follow-through on moving subjects.

The H300’s 1 fps burst and primitive AF mostly preclude serious sports use, unless timing a very slow event.

Street Photography

Street demands discretion, speed, and portability.

The HX10V shines with its pocketable, lightweight frame and silent operation. Quick startup, accurate AF, and a bright screen aid shooting on the fly.

The H300’s bulkier size and noisier controls make it less discreet or comfortable for street shots.

Macro Photography

Close-up work benefits from focusing precision and minimum focusing distance.

The HX10V’s 5cm macro limit and solid lens sharpness afford crisp detail in flowers or small objects. The H300 lacks specified macro and didn’t impress in testing here.

Night & Astrophotography

Low-light and astrophotography rely on sensor noise handling, long exposures, and creative exposure modes.

The HX10V’s BSI-CMOS sensor handles ISO 1600 and above with less noise and better dynamic range, plus mechanical stabilization helps mitigate blur.

The H300’s CCD sensor, limited max ISO 3200, and lack of advanced exposure modes restrict night photography performance.

Video Use

As noted, the HX10V’s 1080p 60fps capabilities make it the preferred choice for casual HD video, while the H300 is stuck at basic 720p.

Neither caters to serious filmmakers with mic input or 4K options.

Travel Photography

Travel requires a versatile, lightweight, and reliable companion.

The HX10V packs a respectable zoom, GPS tagging, compactness, and decent autofocus into a small package, ticking key boxes for travel shooters who prioritize portability.

The H300’s giant zoom is appealing for certain travel niches - say safaris - but the size and weight become burdensome when trekking or urban exploring.

Professional Use

Neither camera suits professional workflows relying on RAW files, high-speed continuous shooting, environmental durability, or complex manual controls. Both lack RAW support and advanced customization, limiting post-processing flexibility.

Sony H300 front Sony H300 screen back Sony HX10V front Sony HX10V screen back

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

The H300 and HX10V use proprietary battery packs with roughly similar endurance (around 320-350 shots per charge). In practical use, I found them adequate for day trips but recommend spares for extended sessions.

Regarding storage, both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and Sony's proprietary Memory Stick, but only have a single card slot. My testing didn’t note any writing speed issues blocking buffer clearing.

Connectivity is where the HX10V pulls ahead with built-in GPS and Eye-Fi wireless compatibility, facilitating faster image transfer and on-location geotagging - a boon for travelers and photojournalists. The H300’s lack of any wireless connection makes transferring images more cumbersome.

My Final Thoughts

Having extensively tested both cameras, here’s how I’d summarize practical buying advice:

Pick the Sony H300 if you:

• Prioritize extreme zoom reach (up to 875mm) for birdwatching, distant wildlife, or long-range subjects.
• Prefer an SLR-style grip and larger body for stability.
• Shoot primarily in good light where noise and autofocus speed are less critical.
• Are on a strict budget (~$250 new at launch pricing).

Pick the Sony HX10V if you:

• Desire better overall image quality with improved low-light and dynamic range performance.
• Want more versatile video features with 1080p recording.
• Need a compact, travel-friendly camera with GPS and decent autofocus for street, travel, and casual wildlife photography.
• Prioritize fast burst rates and focusing for sports or action shots.
• Are willing to invest more (~$600 pricing) for an all-around performance upgrade.

Honesty Disclaimer

I do not have any affiliation with Sony or retailers regarding this review. All impressions and data come from direct testing and objective field use over weeks with both cameras.

Wrapping Up: Who Should Buy What?

For photography enthusiasts leaning towards landscapes, travel, or video blogging, the HX10V delivers a significantly better all-around user experience and image quality. On the flip side, if your main motivation is sheer telephoto capability on a limited budget, and you don't mind slower autofocus or more noise, the H300 stands as a surprisingly capable zoom beast uniquely fit for distant subjects at low cost.

For professionals or serious amateurs seeking RAW support, advanced controls, or weather resistance, I recommend looking beyond this segment to mirrorless or DSLR models.

Either way, understanding these cameras’ respective strengths and limitations will help you make a confident choice tailored to your shooting style and budget.

If you’d like advice on lenses or alternative cameras in this category, feel free to reach out. Photography is a journey, and the right gear should be your trusted companion in capturing the moments that matter most. Happy shooting!