Sony HX300 vs Sony W560

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Sony HX300 and Sony W560, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact and they are both built by Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the HX300 (20MP) and W560 (14MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The HX300 was manufactured 2 years after the W560 which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony W560 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the HX300 grades against the W560 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560. The entire galleries are available at Sony HX300 Gallery and Sony W560 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Sony HX300 comes with external dimensions of 130mm x 103mm x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") and a weight of 623 grams (1.37 lbs) while the Sony W560 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Contrast the Sony HX300 and Sony W560 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the HX300 versus the W560.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the HX300 and W560 is 63 and 96 respectively.

Often, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by checking specifications. The picture underneath might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the HX300 and W560.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Sony HX300 to give more detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher HX300 will have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.