Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification


The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 is a digital camera which is pocketable, yet packs a 20x optical zoom lens, Wi-Fi and an 18.2 Exmor R CMOS sensor. It is available in red, white and black for £280.00.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Features

The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 has an 18.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor and 20x optical zoom lens, a 35mm equivalent of 25-500mm, and can be extended to 40x with Clear Image Zoom. There is Optical SteadyShot to reduce blur when shooting handheld and you can also shoot at 10 fps.

Intelligent Auto recognises the scene and automatically adjusts the camera settings, with Superior Auto recognising when your subject is moving. Other shooting modes include iSweep Panorama and artistic picture effects which can be applied to both images and videos. When shooting portraits the WX300 will automatically remove skin blemishes, brighten teeth, widen eyes and cut forehead shine.

The built-in Wi-Fi allows you to transfer your images and videos to a smartphone or tablet and allows your mobile device to act as a remote control.

Videos are recorded in full 1080p HD with Optical SteadyShot Active Mode to ensure they are as smooth and steady as possible.

Key Features

• 18.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor
• 20x optical zoom lens (35mm equiv: 25-500mm)
• Optical SteadyShot
• 3.0 inch 460k dot LCD screen
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Full 1080p HD video recording
• ISO 80-12800
• 5cm minimum focusing distance
• Intelligent & Superior Auto
• Artistic picture effects
• 10 fps continuous shooting
• iSweep panorama
• Available in red, black and white

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Handling

The WX300 has an extremely compact, metal body. It's a pocketable camera and isn't overly heavy, despite housing a 20x optical zoom lens. To aid grip there is a vertical groove on the front on the camera.

The LCD is a good size at 3 inches, resolution is also good and it is easy to view in varying lighting conditions. Alongside the screen are playback, movie record, menu and delete buttons, as well as a rotating wheel which also acts as a d-pad, giving quick access to the flash, continuous shooting and the photo creativity mode. The latter allows you to change the brightness, colour, vividness and choose a picture effect. The top of the camera hosts the on / off switch, zoom rocker, shutter release and mode dial. The buttons are generally small, but easy to press.

The menu system is easy to navigate, press the menu button the enter the shooting options, if you want to amend the camera settings, scroll down the bottom and you'll find an option represented by a briefcase which gives access to them.

To use the Wi-Fi you need to install the free PlayMemories app. Pairing the devices and using the app is easy. You can transfer images and videos, as well as use the app to capture them as well. You can control the zoom and set a self-timer with the app.


Battery life is rated at an impressive 500 shots according to CIPA test results. This is excellent, although a lot of use of the Wi-Fi will reduced this. We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.

Shutter Response		0.05 secs
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.1 secs
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		0.2 secs
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		2.1 secs
Shot to Shot without Flash		0.9 secs
Shot to Shot with Flash		1.7 secs
Continuous Shooting - JPEG		6.5 fps

Continuous shooting records at full resolution, we were unable to achieve 10 fps as quoted in the features.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Performance

Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Sample Photos

Sample Photos - The WX300 produces images which have good colour reproduction that are well exposed. Portraits have pleasant skin tones which show a hint of red-eye when using the flash.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Lens test images

Lens Performance - Image details is good, although there is a tendency for some purple fringing and chromatic aberration in contrasting areas. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 5cm, this allows for a decent macro shot to be taken.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 ISO test images

ISO Noise Performance - Noise is low at ISO 80, 100, 200 and 400. Detail is lost at ISO 800 and images become softer and more so at ISO 1600. Yet again, noise increases slightly at ISO 3200, but at the two highest settings of ISO 6400 and 12800, image quality is poor and best avoided.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 White-balance test images

White Balance Performance - The auto white balance (AWB) handles our studio light really well. Under the incandescent lights, the incandescent preset also performs well. There are three fluorescent presets, all of which have a slight colour cast under the fluorescent lights.


Panorama | 1/640 sec | f/3.5 | 4.3 mm | ISO 80

Panorama mode - Detail is suitable for sharing on the web, rather than large prints, they are also well stitched together.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Digital filters

Digital Filters - The WX300 has a range of picture effects to help take creative pictures, there are a number of examples above.

Video - Below is a video recorded in full 1080p HD. Quality is excellent, an example video using the optical zoom can be seen on the ePHOTOzine Youtube page.

Value For Money

The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 is available for £280.00. Other pocketable cameras with 20x optical zoom to consider are the Canon Powershot SX240 / SX260 HS for £159.95 / £184.49, Sony Cybershot HX20V for £220.00, Nikon Coolpix S9500 at £253.94, Fujifilm FinePix F900 at £309.99 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 at £387.20. There are many cameras now available with Wi-Fi, if this is the feature which attracts you the most there is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 at £109.99 and Nikon Coolpix S800c at £222.70. There are also Wi-Fi memory cards from Transcend and Eye-Fi.

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Verdict

The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 is an extremely small compact, particularly when you consider it packs a 20x optical zoom lens and Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi makes it easy to share images with smartphones and tablets, as well as using them as a remote control. On the downside, image quality isn't the best, images aren't as packed with detail as you'd hope and there is some purple fringing and chromatic aberration. However, considering the average user is likely to be sharing their images on the web, this won't be much of a problem, particularly as images have good colour reproduction.

	The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 packs Wi-Fi and a 20x optical zoom lens in to a very compact body.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Pros

Small body
20x optical zoom lens
Built-in Wi-Fi
Up to 10 fps continuous shooting
Excellent battery life
Images have good colours
Impressive focus speeds

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Cons

Image detail could be better
Images are noisy from ISO 800 upwards

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Specifications

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