Sony HX300 vs Sony S980

Here, we will be contrasting the Sony HX300 and Sony S980, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both produced by Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the HX300 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The HX300 was launched 4 years after the S980 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the HX300 matches up vs the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The complete galleries are viewable at Sony HX300 Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Sony HX300 has got exterior dimensions 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 S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Sony HX300 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the HX300 against the S980.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX300 and S980 is 63 and 94 respectively.

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision the gap between sensor dimensions purely by reading through specs. The image below will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HX300 and S980.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX300 to give greater detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent HX300 will have an edge in sensor innovation.