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Sony A7S vs Sony HX300 Comparison

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Sony A7S

12 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony A7S
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Sony HX300

20 MP | 1/2.3″ (6.16 x 4.62 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony HX300
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Sony A7S vs Sony HX300 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Sony cameras cameras with different body types: Sony A7S, which was introduced in April 2014 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 12.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Sony HX300, which was introduced in February 2013 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 20.0MP 1/2.3" sensor. There is 13 months difference between A7S and HX300 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger A7S, especially in sensor tech.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony A7S and Sony HX300 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony A7S Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-04-06
  • 12MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • Sony E Mount
  • 3 Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • 120 fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 489g. 127 x 94 x 48 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Sony HX300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-20
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 24-1200 mm F2.8-6.3 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 623g. 130 x 103 x 93 mm mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V Compare

Sony A7S was replaced by Sony Alpha 7S II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sony Alpha A7S
Sony Alpha 7S II vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300

Sony HX300 was replaced by Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V vs Sony Alpha A7S

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony A7S and Sony HX300 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7S over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max ISO
409.600 vs 12.800 3100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
25 vs 9 16 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
1.230k dots vs 921k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
489 g vs 623 g 134 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300 over Sony Alpha A7S
Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 5.0fps 5 fps faster

Common Strengths of Sony Alpha A7S and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Sony Alpha A7S and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Sony A7S vs Sony HX300: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony A7S and Sony HX300 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony A7S has external dimensions of 127 x 94 x 48 mm (5 x 3.7 x 1.89″) and weighs 489 g (1.08 lb / 17.25 oz) (including batteries). Sony HX300 has external dimensions of 130 x 93 x 103 mm (5.1 x 3.67 x 4.06″) and weighs 623 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony A7S and Sony HX300. Sony A7S is 3mm narrower and 55mm thinner than Sony HX300 but it is also 1mm taller. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Sony HX300 has a built-in lens but Sony A7S doesn't. Once you put a lens on A7S, its thickness will increase significantly.

Sony A7S vs Sony HX300 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony A7S and Sony HX300 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony A7S and Sony HX300.

Sony A7S vs Sony HX300 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sony A7S and Sony HX300 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony A7S and Sony HX300.
Sony A7S vs Sony HX300 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sony A7S and Sony HX300 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony A7S is significantly lighter (134g ) than the Sony HX300 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on A7S, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

With its weather sealed body, we believe that A7S has a big advantage over HX300 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7S and Sony HX300's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels.
Sony A7S vs Sony HX300: Sensor Comparison

Sony A7S has a 12.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Sony HX300 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3" (6.16 x 4.62 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Sony HX300's sensor provides 8MP more than Sony A7S's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the A7S and HX300 sensor size comparison.

Sony A7S vs Sony HX300 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony A7S and Sony HX300 Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7S has a 30.1x Larger sensor area than Sony HX300. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Sony A7S and Sony HX300 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sony A7S and Sony HX300 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony A7S for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony HX300 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3″ (6.16 x 4.62 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Read the details

Sony A7S for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony HX300 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3″ (6.16 x 4.62 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Sony A7S for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sony HX300 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1200 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.30
Read the details

Sony A7S for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony HX300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
489g
Body Thickness 48mm
Read the details
50.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3″ (6.16 x 4.62 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
623g
Body Thickness 103mm
Read the details

Sony A7S for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony HX300 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3″ (6.16 x 4.62 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony A7S vs Sony HX300: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony A7S and Sony HX300, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony A7S and Sony HX300 scores compare:

Sony A7S
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #39 out of 87 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #71 out of 1221 in all Cameras
Sony HX300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #86 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #700 out of 1221 in all Cameras

Sony A7S is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony HX300 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Sony A7S
Sony A7S
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Sony HX300
Sony HX300
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Sony HX300 vs Sony A7S Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sony Alpha A7S Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
Brand Sony Sony
Announced 2014-04-06 2013-02-20
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame 1/2.3"
Dimensions 35.8 x 23.9 mm 6.16 x 4.62 mm
Area 855.62mm2 28.46mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4240 x 2832 5184 x 3888
Max Native Light sensitivity 409,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 25 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Sony E fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 24-1200 mm (50x)
Max Aperture no lens F2.8-6.3
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3 3"
Resolution 1,230k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,359k dots n/a
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.71x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Optical
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 5.0 fps 10.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC n/a
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 489g 623g
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 48mm 130 x 103 x 93 mmmm
Battery Life 360 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording With Downloadable App
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 87 not tested
DxO Color Depth 23.9 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 13.2 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 3702 not tested
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