• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 20.4 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300
  • Olympus PEN E-PL8
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Sony HX200V
HX200V vs HX300
Olympus E-PL7
E-PL7 vs E-PL8
Successor:   Olympus E-PL9
E-PL8 vs E-PL9
General
Model Number: HX300 E-PL8
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: EVF Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: Yes Yes
Retail Price: $500.00 $649.99
Street Price: $599.98 $599.00
Date Available: 2013-03-15 2016-10-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 23.1 oz (656 g)
includes batteries
17.2 oz (487 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.1 x 3.7 x 4.1 in.
(130 x 93 x 103 mm)
4.6 x 2.7 x 1.5 in.
(117 x 68 x 38 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony Exmor R Sony
Effective Megapixels: 20.4 16.1
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch 4/3
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.19 microns 3.75 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 2.7x 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 5184 x 3888 (20.2 MP, 4:3),
3648 x 2736 (10.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
5184 x 2920 (15.1 MP, 16:9),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
11520 x 1080 (12.4 MP, Other),
10480 x 4096 (42.9 MP, Other),
7152 x 1080 (7.7 MP, Other),
4912 x 1920 (9.4 MP, Other),
4912 x 1080 (5.3 MP, Other),
3424 x 1920 (6.6 MP, 16:9)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
3200 x 2400 (7.7 MP, 4:3),
2560 x 1920 (4.9 MP, 4:3),
1280 x 960 (1.2 MP, 4:3),
1024 x 768 (0.8 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG JPEG, 12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG, MPO
Continuous-mode frames/second: 10.0 8.5
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60p/​60i)
1440x1080 (30p)
640x480 (30p)
1920x1080 (30p (24 or 16Mbps))
1280x720 (30p (12 or 8Mbps))
640x480 (30p)
Movie File Format: AVCHD 2.0 / MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with Dolby Digital (AC3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC audio MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG); Linear PCM 16-bit, 48kHz stereo audio
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a Micro Four Thirds
Lens: Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T*; 15 elements in 10 groups (including 1 Super ED glass element, 2 ED glass elements, and 3 aspheric elements) Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R MSC M.Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 24 - 1,200mm 28 - 84mm
Focal Length (actual): 4.3 - 215mm 14 - 42mm
Zoom Ratio: 50.00x 3.00x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (wide) / f/6.3 (tele) - f/8 f/3.5 (wide) / f/5.6 (tele) - f/22
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a 37.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: 2x Clear Image Zoom, Up to 4x standard digital zoom 2x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detection: Multi Point AF/Center Weighted AF/SpotAF/Flexible Spot AF/Manual/Face Tracking Focus High-speed Contrast-detect AF: 81-area multiple AF; All target, Group target area (9-area), Single target (normal/small); Eye detection with left/right/nearest priority
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: EVF type. Optional VF-4 electronic viewfinder
Focus Peaking: Yes Yes
EVF Resolution:   n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots (307,200 px) 1,036,800 dots
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: Yes Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: Yes
Max Playback Zoom:   14.0x
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 80 200
ISO Settings: Program Auto (80-1600), iAuto (80-3200), 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400*, 12800*; (* By Pixel Super Resolution multi-shot overlay) AUTO ISO: 100 (Low) - 25600 (Customizable, Default 100-1600); Manual ISO: 100 (Low), 200 - 25600, 1/3 or 1 EV steps selectable
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent1, Fluorescent2, Fluorescent3, Incandescent, Flash, One Push, White Balance Shift Auto, Sunny, Shadow, Cloudy, Incandescent, , Fluorescent, Underwater, Flash, Custom (4), Kelvin
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/4000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: No Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Multi segment, Center- weighted, Spot Digital ESP metering (324-area multi pattern metering), Center weighted average metering, Spot metering, Spot metering with highlight control, Spot metering with shadow control
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Scene modes: High Sensitivity, Night Scene, Handheld Twilight, Night Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Soft Skin, Anti Motion Blur, Backlight correction HDR, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Advanced Sports Shooting, Gourmet, Pet Mode; Picture Effect: HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, Soft High-key, Watercolor, Illustration; Intelligent Sweep Panorama; Background Defocus Scene (Portrait, e-Portrait, Landscape, Landscape + Portrait, Sport, Night, Night + Portrait, Children, High Key, Low Key, DIS mode, Macro, Nature Macro, Candle, Sunset, Documents, Panorama, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Fisheye Conv., Wide Conv., Macro Conv., 3D*, Underwater wide/macro, Custom Mysets 1-4 *3D lens(H-FT012 by Panasonic) only, still only); Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pin Hole, Diorama, Cross Process, Gentle Sepia, Dramatic Tone, Key Line, Water Color, Vintage, Partial Color); Gradation (Auto, Normal, High Key, Low Key); Multiple Exposure (2 frames); HDR1/2 (4 frames)
Self Timer: 2, 10, Portrait1, Portrait2 seconds 2, 12, custom seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Slow Synchro, Flash Off, Advanced Flash; Red-Eye Correction: Auto/On/Off Auto, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction slow sync., Slow sync at 1st curtain, Slow sync at 2nd curtain, Fill-in, Manual (Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64), Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 7.0 m / 23.0 ft.
Flash Range Description: ISO Auto: 0.5 to 8.5m (W) / 2.4 to 3.5m (T) Bundled FL-LM1 flash has GN of 7m (ISO 100) or 10m (ISO 200)
Max Flash Sync:   1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: n/a Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No Yes
Uncompressed Format:   12-bit RAW, RAW + JPEG, MPO
Movie File Format: AVCHD 2.0 / MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with Dolby Digital (AC3) / MPEG-4 AAC-LC audio MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264), AVI (Motion JPEG); Linear PCM 16-bit, 48kHz stereo audio
Included Memory: 0.0 MB No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No Yes
Remote Control Type:   Wi-Fi or Optional Remote Cable RM-UC1
Connections (extended): Micro HDMI (Type D), Multi Terminal (USB/AV) Micro HDMI (Type-D), combined AV/USB/Remote connector, Accessory Port 2, Built-in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.93  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 10.0 8.5
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 10  
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.38 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.13 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.011 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 2.4 seconds  
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power: 7.3 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 310 shots 350 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:   90 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NP-BX1 Proprietary BLS-50
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NP-BX1 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary BLS-50 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software:   OLYMPUS Viewer 3 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Improved Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode for movies, Full HD 1080p60 movies, 10 fps burst mode. Available in black, white or brown.