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Sony HX300 vs Sony A99

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
51
Overall
46
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 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
  • Older Model is Sony HX200V
  • New Model is Sony HX400V
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Revealed December 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A900
  • Later Model is Sony A99 II
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Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Sony HX300 vs Sony A99, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR and both are designed by Sony. The resolution of the HX300 (20MP) and the A99 (24MP) is fairly well matched but the HX300 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HX300 was brought out 3 months later than the A99 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sony HX300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the HX300 grades versus the A99 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony HX300 over the Sony A99

 HX300 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sony HX300

 A99 HX300 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1229k921kSharper display (+308k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sony HX300 and Sony A99

 HX300 A99 
RevealedFebruary 2013December 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. 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 A99 has proportions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

See the Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the HX300 vs the A99.

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX300 and A99 is 63 and 57 respectively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at specifications. The graphic here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the HX300 and A99.

Plainly, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The HX300 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A99 will give you greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively.

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX300 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
42
focusing manually
decent MP (20 megapixels)
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
81
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony HX300 Street photography details
Sony A99 Street photography details
50
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competitors (623 grams)
75
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX300
Sports photography with Sony A99
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
includes tracking autofocus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony HX300
Travel photography with Sony A99
54
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (623 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (500 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX300 Landscape photography info
Sony A99 Landscape photography info
48
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
74
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery power (500 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX300 Vlogging info
Sony A99 Vlogging info
25
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (623 grams)
76
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic support
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Sony HX300 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX300 and Sony A99
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Company Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 Sony SLT-A99
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2013-02-20 2012-12-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.16 x 4.62mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.3 -
Amount of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 623 grams (1.37 pounds) 812 grams (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 103 x 93mm (5.1" x 4.1" x 3.7") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type - Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Single 2
Launch cost $339 $1,998