• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 20.4 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 1200.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 720.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Sony HX300 advantages over Panasonic ZS80

  • Larger lens aperture
    f/2.8 vs f/3.3
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • More telephoto lens reach
    1,200 mm vs 720 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Higher extended ISO
    12800 vs 6400 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic ZS80 advantages over Sony HX300

  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Fast startup
    ~1.40 vs 2.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 380 vs 310 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Thinner
    41 mm vs 103 mm
    Thinner
  • Newer
    5 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Lighter weight
    327g vs 656g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.16 vs 0.38 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    102 vs 10 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony HX300

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic ZS80

Review Excerpt

  • Super-versatile 50x optical zoom lens helps you capture everything from wide-angle cityscapes to zoomed in portraits from what feels like a mile away; Still quite light and portable considering the powerful lens; Comfortable and ergonomic design; Full HD video recording at up to 60p, with good quality.

  • Relatively small, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor delivers average image quality that degrades quickly at high sensitivities; Images not as sharp or as bright at full telephoto as we had hoped; Slow camera to use overall.

The Competition

Compared to Fujifilm SL1000

Sony HX300
Fujifilm SL1000
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • More pixels
  • $650
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • RAW file ability
Panasonic ZS80
Fujifilm SL1000
  • $398
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $650
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Samsung WB2200F

Sony HX300
Samsung WB2200F
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $675
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Panasonic ZS80
Samsung WB2200F
  • $398
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $675
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Larger lens aperture

Compared to Sony HX400V

Sony HX300
Sony HX400V
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • $448
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Panasonic ZS80
Sony HX400V
  • $398
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $448
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • NFC

Compared to Panasonic ZS70

Sony HX300
Panasonic ZS70
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $348
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Panasonic ZS80
Panasonic ZS70
  • $398
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • Shoots 24p video
  • $348
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive

Compared to Canon SX740 HS

Sony HX300
Canon SX740 HS
  • $600
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $408
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Panasonic ZS80
Canon SX740 HS
  • $398
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $408
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
Compare Other Cameras?