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Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100

Portability
63
Imaging
45
Features
51
Overall
47
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 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
  • Revealed February 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony HX200V
  • Later Model is Sony HX400V
Sony S2100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-105mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 61 x 27mm
  • Revealed January 2010
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Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Sony HX300 and Sony S2100, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the HX300 (20MP) and S2100 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The HX300 was revealed 3 years after the S2100 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S2100 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a simple view of how the HX300 grades against the S2100 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony S2100

 HX300 S2100 
RevealedFebruary 2013January 2010More modern by 38 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S2100 over the Sony HX300

 S2100 HX300 

Common features in the Sony HX300 and Sony S2100

 HX300 S2100 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor its weight and proportions. The Sony HX300 comes with external measurements of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs) while the Sony S2100 has measurements of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony HX300 and Sony S2100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the HX300 vs the S2100.

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HX300 and S2100 is 63 and 93 respectively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through specs. The pic below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the HX300 and S2100.

As you can plainly see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX300 to render greater detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer HX300 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 sensor size comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX300
Portrait photography with Sony S2100
43
you can focus manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony HX300 Street photography factors
Sony S2100 Street photography factors
50
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competition (623 grams)
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX300 Sports photography info
Sony S2100 Sports photography info
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX300 Travel photography info
Sony S2100 Travel photography info
54
good resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (623g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
50
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX300 Landscape photography details
Sony S2100 Landscape photography details
49
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
27
screen is a good size (3 inch)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX300 Vlogging information
Sony S2100 Vlogging information
25
relatively wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of mic jack
heavier than competition (623 grams)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic port
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Sony HX300 vs Sony S2100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX300 and Sony S2100
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S2100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-02-20 2010-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 33-105mm (3.2x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.3 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 1s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 623g (1.37 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") 98 x 61 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 model - 2 x AA
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage - Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo, optional SD, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $339 $0