Generally, some of the advantages of the Sony DSC-F717 compared to super zoom competitors include: it has a significantly wider aperture (f/2 vs f/2.8), has a marginally larger sensor (2/3" 8.8x6.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.16x4.62mm), is thinner (2.7" vs 4.1") and supports an external flash.
However, on average it has a much narrower wide angle lens (38 mm vs 24 mm), has a much smaller screen (1.8" vs 3"), has a significantly lower resolution screen (123k dots vs 921k dots), doesn't have image stabilization (none vs lens) and takes slightly lower resolution photos (4.9 MP vs 9.9 MP).
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX300
10 years newer
Significant advantages of the DSC-HX300 (vs the DSC-F717)
- Much larger screen: 3" vs 1.8"
- Much better wide angle: 24 mm vs 38 mm
- Image stabilization:
- Lens
vs None
Significant disadvantages of the DSC-HX300 (vs the DSC-F717)
- Significantly narrower aperture: f/2.8 vs f/2
- No external flash support
common strengths of the DSC-HX300 and DSC-F717
- Fairly small: Professional size (130×93×103 mm) vs Large (162×124×68 mm)
- Thin: 4.1" vs 2.7"
- Light weight: 650 g vs 659 g
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS
6 years newer
$519
Significant advantages of the SX10 IS (vs the DSC-F717)
- Much larger screen: 2.5" vs 1.8"
- Much better wide angle: 28 mm vs 38 mm
- Image stabilization:
- Lens
vs None
Significant disadvantages of the SX10 IS (vs the DSC-F717)
- Significantly narrower aperture: f/2.8 vs f/2
common strengths of the SX10 IS and DSC-F717
- Fairly small: Prosumer size (128×88×87 mm) vs Large (162×124×68 mm)
- Thin: 3.4" vs 2.7"
- Light weight: 600 g vs 659 g