Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-H300 Sony - Review 🏆

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 is an affordable superzoom camera featuring a 35x optical zoom lens and 20.1MP image sensor. This model was released in 2014 as an entry-level bridge camera suitable for travel photography and everyday use.

Key features of the H300 include the 35x zoom lens with a focal range of 25-875mm, Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, 720p HD video recording, and a 3-inch LCD screen. The camera has a 20.1 megapixel Super HAD CCD sensor and uses contrast-detect autofocus. It offers basic manual controls and Auto/Program/Scene modes for easy operation.

Design

The Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-H300 has a fairly bulky DSLR-like design. It measures 127.5 x 89 x 91.7 mm and weighs 590g. While the camera is not compact, the larger body provides a nice hand grip and makes the camera feel sturdy. The mostly plastic construction helps keep the weight manageable. The DSC-H300 comes in black color only. The physical buttons are well-placed for easy access. There is a dedicated mode dial to quickly switch between different shooting modes. Overall, the design is functional but not particularly stylish. The large handgrip and light weight make the DSC-H300 comfortable to hold, though some with smaller hands may find it a bit large and heavy for extended one-handed use. Those wanting a more compact camera may find the size and weight unwieldy. But the design provides good ergonomics for a superzoom camera with a large lens.

Image Sensor

The Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-H300 has a 1/2.3-inch sized CCD image sensor with 20.1 megapixels of resolution. The relatively small sensor size and high megapixel count mean each pixel is quite small, which can negatively impact low-light performance and dynamic range. However, the resolution allows for very detailed images in good lighting conditions. 20 megapixels provides sufficient resolution for large prints. Overall, the sensor is capable but its small size is a limitation, especially compared to larger sensors found in some higher-end point-and-shoot and mirrorless cameras. For its class though, the image sensor delivers good photo quality when lighting conditions are favorable.

In contrast, the Sony RX100 III Creator Kit features a larger 1-inch sensor, which greatly enhances low-light performance and dynamic range. This compact camera is ideal for professionals and enthusiasts alike due to its superior image quality, advanced features, and portability. The RX100 III not only excels in everyday shooting but also offers 4K video capabilities, making it a versatile choice for content creators. Its high-quality lens and quick autofocus allow for stunning images in various conditions, truly elevating your photography experience.

Optical Zoom

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 has a powerful 35x optical zoom lens, providing an extremely versatile focal range equivalent to 25-875mm. This allows you to capture wide landscapes and architecture shots, as well as get very close to distant subjects like wildlife and sports.

The impressive zoom range gives you great compositional flexibility. At the wide end, you can fit more of a scene into the frame, while the telephoto end lets you tightly frame distant details. This makes the H300 well-suited for travel photography and situations where you can't always physically move closer or farther from your subject.

The lens uses Sony's Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to minimize blur from camera shake when using the long zoom range. This allows you to handhold the camera at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp images. The powerful zoom also has a faster maximum aperture range of f/3.4-6.5, helping with low light shooting. Overall, the 35x zoom gives you exceptional versatility in a compact point-and-shoot camera body.

For those looking to expand their photographic capabilities, the Sony Alpha 6100 + Portrait Creator kit offers an advanced mirrorless camera system with features like fast hybrid autofocus and real-time tracking, making it perfect for capturing stunning portraits and candid moments. The included Portrait Creator kit enhances the experience with additional tools, enabling photographers to experiment with lighting and composition, ultimately delivering professional-quality results.

Image Stabilization

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 features Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to minimize the appearance of camera shake. This helps produce sharper images when shooting handheld, especially in low light conditions.

Optical SteadyShot uses a floating lens element that counteracts camera movements in 5 axes: pitch, yaw, roll, vertical shift, and horizontal shift. Sensors detect the amount and direction of shake, and move the lens element to stabilize the image projected onto the image sensor. This optical system reduces blur without any loss in image quality.

The stabilization is particularly useful when zooming in, where minor hand movements can be amplified. With Optical SteadyShot, you can confidently zoom up to the 35x maximum optical zoom range of the H300 while maintaining a steady shot. This allows you to capture sharper, clearer long distance images.

Overall, the optical image stabilization provides effective reduction of blur caused by camera shake. This is a useful feature in the H300 for shooting in low light situations without a tripod.

Autofocus

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 has decent autofocus performance thanks to its 25-point contrast detection autofocus system. It includes multi-area, center weighted and spot metering modes for added flexibility when composing shots.

In terms of focus modes, you get AF-S which locks the focus once acquired, useful for stationary subjects. There's also AF-C which continuously adjusts focus, handy when shooting moving subjects. For more control, the camera has manual focus as well.

Overall, the autofocus is fairly quick and accurate in good lighting conditions. However, it can struggle and hunt in low light situations. The manual focus assist makes it easier to dial in sharp focus in difficult conditions. So while not best-in-class, the autofocus capabilities are solid for a budget superzoom camera.

Photo Quality

The Sony Cyber-SHOT DSC-H300 captures high-quality photos and videos thanks to its 20.1 megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor. This allows you to shoot images with a maximum resolution of 5152 x 3864 pixels, providing plenty of detail for printing enlargements or cropping into photos.

Videos can be recorded in 720p HD at 30 frames per second, resulting in smoothly detailed footage. While not the highest video resolution available, 720p is sufficient for capturing memorable moments in everyday shooting. Still images can also be extracted from video clips.

Low light performance is decent but noise becomes more apparent at higher ISO levels. The camera has a native ISO range of 80 to 3200, which is expandable up to 12800. Using the built-in flash can help in dim conditions. Overall the image quality is very good for a camera in this class.

LCD Screen

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 has a 3-inch LCD screen with 460,800 dots resolution. This provides a decently sharp and bright view for composing shots and reviewing images and videos.

The 3-inch screen is fairly standard for an entry-level bridge camera like the H300. While not as large as higher-end models, the screen still offers a good amount of real estate for previewing your compositions.

At 460,800 dots, the resolution is not extremely high but it's sufficient for a camera in this price range. Images and menus look sharp enough without excessive pixelation. The screen provides a good level of brightness and is easy to view in most lighting conditions, including bright sunlight.

Overall, while the H300's LCD screen is fairly basic, it's functional and gets the job done. The size and resolution are typical for a camera at this price point and allow you to compose, review, and navigate menus without too much trouble. More advanced photographers may want a larger and sharper screen, but for casual users, the H300's screen is just fine.

Connectivity

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 has decent connectivity options for a budget superzoom camera. It includes a micro USB 2.0 port for charging and transferring photos and videos. The camera also has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity to allow wireless transfer of media to smartphones, tablets and computers.

The Wi-Fi works with Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app, available for iOS and Android devices. This gives you remote control over the camera for taking photos or videos. It also makes it easy to quickly transfer photos from the camera to your mobile device.

The NFC allows quick one-touch connection between the H300 and compatible Android devices. Just tap the devices together to pair them, then you can transfer photos and remotely control the camera.

The H300 lacks more advanced wireless capabilities like Bluetooth or GPS geotagging. But the inclusion of Wi-Fi and NFC is handy for quick wireless transfers without having to mess with cables.

Pros and Cons

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 has several advantages that make it a compelling choice:

Pros

• Powerful 35x optical zoom gets you very close to the action
• 20.1MP resolution provides detailed images
• Optical SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur from camera shake
• 720p HD video capability
• Large 3-inch LCD makes framing and reviewing shots easy
• Easy to use button and menu layout
• Low light performance pretty good for its class

However, there are a few downsides to consider:

Cons

• No RAW shooting mode limits editing flexibility
• Lens is slow with max aperture range of f/3.0-5.6
• No manual exposure controls
• No WiFi connectivity or NFC
• Mediocre high ISO noise levels
• Sluggish autofocus, especially in low light

Overall, the H300 is a superzoom camera that packs an extremely versatile lens into a compact body. It's geared more towards casual users who want an affordable all-in-one camera for travel and everyday use. Advanced photographers may want more controls and low light performance. But the H300's zoom range, image quality, and ease of use make it a great choice for budget-minded buyers looking for big zoom power.