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Sony HX300 vs Sony A57

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Sony HX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Replaced the Sony HX200V
  • Newer Model is Sony HX400V
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Previous Model is Sony A55
  • Replacement is Sony A58
Photography Glossary

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Sony HX300 vs Sony A57, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are created by Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the HX300 (20MP) and A57 (16MP) and the HX300 (1/2.3") and A57 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The HX300 was brought out 6 months after the A57 so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the HX300 matches up vs the A57 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony A57

 HX300 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sony HX300

 A57 HX300 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony HX300 and Sony A57

 HX300 A57 
IntroducedFebruary 2013September 2012Same generation
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Display resolution921k921kIdentical display resolution
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sony HX300 has got exterior 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 A57 has measurements of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the HX300 against the A57.

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX300 and A57 is 63 and 64 respectively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions just by researching a spec sheet. The pic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the HX300 and A57.

Clearly, both the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The HX300 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony HX300 will provide you with more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A57 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
MP count decent (20MP)
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
focusing manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony HX300 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
heavier than competition in class (623 grams)
75
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX300 Sports photography features
Sony A57 Sports photography features
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX300 Travel photography factors
Sony A57 Travel photography factors
54
MP count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition in class (623g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX300
Landscape photography with Sony A57
48
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
72
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX300 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A57 as a Vlogging camera
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than competition in class (623 grams)
77
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic jack
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Sony HX300 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX300 and Sony A57
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 Sony SLT-A57
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-02-20 2012-09-13
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5184 x 3888 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-1200mm (50.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 lbs) 618g (1.36 lbs)
Physical dimensions 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 785
Other
Battery life - 550 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $339 $1,000