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Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Key Specs

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
  • Announced February 2013
  • Old Model is Sony HX200V
  • Successor is Sony HX400V
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Launched July 2018
Photography Glossary

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Sony HX300 versus Sony RX100 VA, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. The resolution of the HX300 (20MP) and the RX100 VA (20MP) is relatively well matched but the HX300 (1/2.3") and RX100 VA (1") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The HX300 was revealed 6 years before the RX100 VA and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony RX100 VA being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief summary of how the HX300 scores versus the RX100 VA when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony RX100 VA

 HX300 RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sony HX300

 RX100 VA HX300 
LaunchedJuly 2018February 2013Fresher by 65 months
Screen resolution1229k921kClearer screen (+308k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX300 and Sony RX100 VA

 HX300 RX100 VA 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony HX300 provides physical measurements of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") having a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VA has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

See the Sony HX300 versus Sony RX100 VA in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the HX300 compared to the RX100 VA.

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the HX300 and RX100 VA is 63 and 89 respectively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizing merely by checking specs. The visual here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the HX300 and RX100 VA.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizing. The HX300 offers the tinier sensor which should make getting bokeh tougher. The older HX300 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX300 Portrait photography factors
Sony RX100 VA Portrait photography factors
42
manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
focusing manually
high flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than others in class (623g)
86
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX300
Sports photography with Sony RX100 VA
55
amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
70
quiet mode (1/32,000 seconds)
max frames per second high (24.0 frames per second)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX300 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Travel photography camera
54
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (623 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
lighter than competition (299 grams)
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX300 Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography details
48
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
66
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
terrible battery pack (220 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX300 Vlogging features
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging features
25
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing microphone socket
more heavy than others in class (623 grams)
81
relatively wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (299 grams)
doesn't have mic socket
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Sony HX300 vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX300 and Sony RX100 VA
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-02-20 2018-07-13
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 315
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.3 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 24.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes - Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 623 grams (1.37 pounds) 299 grams (0.66 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $339 $998