Overview
The Sony DSC T300 is a sleek and stylish pocket camera. It's features and settings are controlled through a large 3.5 inch touch screen. It has 10 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom lens.
Why Buy The Sony DSC T300
There are a number of good reasons for buying the DSC T300. These include the fact it looks good, has a touch screen, is easy to use and has a bit of extra zoom when compared with a lot of other leading pocket cameras.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
5x
3.5 inches
94 x 59.3 x 21.4
151g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
8cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom):
On the whole I am happy with the first test shot. Focusing is good and does not really fall away at the edges. I like the colours too. The only problem is that a small amount of detail is lost from the shot where the sun catches the boats.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom):
The second outdoor shot confirms my findings from the first shot. The colours are more natural than many cameras produce for this shot. Again focusing is good, but a small amount of detail is lost from the boats. Darkness does creep into the corners of the photo. This is a common problem with digital cameras, but it is more noticeable with the DSC T300.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom):
This photo lacks the sharper focusing that I see with some of the very best digital cameras I test. You may see better results if you reduce the number of megapixels you are shooting at, increase the amount of zoom available and take pictures without the zoom being fully extended.
Outdoor 4 (Building):
I have compared this picture quite close with those I have taken with Canon digital cameras and Panasonic digital cameras recently. Although you may not see a fantastic difference when you print your photos I feel that the DSC T300 does not quite match up to the other brands when it comes to focusing and overall definition.
Portraits
Outdoor Portrait:
I am happy with most aspects of this photo; although some of the skin tones have a stronger shade of pink than I would like to see.
Indoor Portrait with Flash:
Focusing for this photo is softer than I am used to seeing, despite using face detection focusing. I can also see some noise in the shot and the flash on the DSC T300 does not look that strong to me. This leaves the picture darker in the corners.
Indoor Portrait without Flash:
Taking into account the fact the lighting was very good when I took this photo I am a bit disappointed. It is darker than I would like to see, noise is creeping in and there is a greenish tint to the photo.
Macro, Colours and Noise
Macro:
The macro shot is o.k. I would imagine if you were considering buying this camera whether or not it takes a great close up shot is unlikely to be high on the list of things it must do. So it's a case of good enough without being outstanding.
Colours:
I like the colours this camera produces. Sony digital cameras tend to produce vivid colours, but in this instance they also retain a natural feel.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600:
At ISO 400 the colours start to break up a little as well as noise starting to show. Strangely the colours improve by the time you reach ISO 1600, but noise is a big issue.
Summary
Picture quality is good without being perfect. It is not quite up with the very best, so it's a case of 8 out of 10 rather than a 9.
Style
Despite a simplistic design this is one of the most stylish cameras on the market. It is available in black red and silver. It looks sleek and the slight rounding of the front of the camera enhances the way it looks.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.32 seconds
8.13 seconds
0.53 seconds
11.15 seconds
Ease of Use
There is not much here that is likely to catch you out. The menu design helps to make the camera straightforward. The way the touch screen has been set out also helps to make the camera that bit easier to use.
Points I Like
Ease of use - design - touch LCD screen
Where it Could Improve
Lowlight photos could be better
Verdict
The Sony DSC T300 takes a good picture and in my opinion has a stunning design. Picture quality does not quite match up to the very best, but if your main consideration is design, as long as the camera can still take a decent snap, then the DSC T300 is well worth considering.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Canon IXUS 510 HS Rating 86/100
If you are prepared to pay a bit more for extra quality then the Canon IXUS 510 HS is likely to be of interest to you. For a pocket camera picture quality is very good. Add in the impressive set of features including a touch screen and Wi-Fi and you can start to see that you do get more for your money compared to a lot of digital cameras. The power of the lens also gives you plenty of scope for capturing a wide range of photo opportunities. It is true you pay a little extra than with more standard pocket cameras, but if you also include the stylish look of this model there is a lot on offer for the price tag.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 510 HS Review
Canon IXUS 125 HS Rating 86/100
If you are looking for a pocket camera and you are prepared to pay extra for picture quality and build quality then the Canon IXUS 125 HS is a good choice. Although it doesn’t have all the latest features like 360 degree panoramas it does an excellent job when it comes to taking pictures. It is straightforward, easy to use and will fit into just about any pocket.
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Canon IXUS 1100 HS Rating 85/100
The Canon IXUS 1100 HS is a very good choice if you are looking for a pocket digital camera with a combination of a longer zoom lens and touch control. Once you get used to the screen and improve your touch accuracy it responds well. Picture quality compares favourably with other pocket cameras. The style and build suggest a bit of extra class too. The IXUS 1100 HS ticks most of the boxes for a camera in this category.
Read Review: Canon IXUS 1100 HS Review
Related Pages
Sony DSC T300 Review Sony DSC T300 Specification Sony DSC T300 Sample Images Sony DSC T300 Features Sony Digital Cameras
Review Date
June 2008
