Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS vs Sony Cybershot DSC-W650

Canon ELPH 300 HS

76

"The optical image stabilizer lens technology did a good job."
digitalreview.ca | talking about the 300 HS's image-stabilization
"The Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 performed above average in terms of image quality for its class."
digitalreview.ca | talking about the 300 HS's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon ELPH 300 HS

Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
Size
Really small
Super compact 92x55x19 mm
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Thickness
Thin
0.8"
Weight
Light-weight
141 g
Sony Cybershot DSC-W550

58

Reasons to buy the Sony Cybershot DSC-W550

Size
Really small
Super compact 95x57x19 mm
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Battery life
Great battery life
250 shots
Thickness
Thin
0.8"
Weight
Light-weight
122 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 300 HS

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Wide angle Better wide angle 24 mm vs 26 mm
Help
Around 10% better wide angle
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3.4 fps vs 1 fps
Help
Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Macro focus Better macro capability 3 cm vs 4 cm
Help
Focus on subjects around 30% closer to the lens
Size Slightly smaller 92x55x19 mm vs 95x57x19 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $145.50 vs $176.05
Help
The best price we've seen is $31 cheaper (around 20% less)
Canon ELPH 300 HS Learn more about
the Canon 300 HS

Advantages of the Sony DSC-W550

Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 122 g vs 141 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Sony Cybershot DSC-W550 Learn more about
the Sony DSC-W550
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon ELPH 300 HS Canon ELPH 300 HS
76 vs 58
Explain scores
Sony Cybershot DSC-W550 Sony Cybershot DSC-W550
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon ELPH 300 HS.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Canon 300 HS or the Sony DSC-W550,
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0
votes
by Chem-Mystry last month
Sony W510 vs Sony DSC-W550

I am begainner and i am confused which cAMERA i buy.

0
votes
by sankalpz last month
Canon 310 HS vs Canon 300 HS

I am not professional photographer, neither want to be. I am looking for a camera, which is easy...

0
votes
by Mask-Italia last month
Canon 300 HS vs Canon S100

I love to take photos! I want a basic camera that takes sharp high quality photos. I really do...

One person recommends the Canon 300 HS:

" All of these are Canon cameras.  Each has its own benefits.  The 300 HS is very small and will f..."

0
votes
by Peter-Fitzgerald last month
Canon 300 HS vs Sony WX9

I am not an expert but I like tinkering with settings to get the best photo. Also I would like a c...

1
votes
by Randy-Roussel last month
Canon 300 HS vs Canon S95

Not a beginner but no where near an expert. I enjoy taking pictures and making movies for the litt...

2 people recommend the Canon S95:

" I also agree with Alex.  The faster glass and larger sensor in the S95 will allow for faster shu..."

"Hi Randy, I'm recommending the S95, but you should consider its successor the S100. The S100 (and ..."

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.7
Size Fairly small Help
300 HS:92x55x19 mm
DSC-W550:95x57x19 mm
Thickness Thin Help
0.8"
Weight Light weight Help
300 HS:141 g
DSC-W550:122 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Zoom Poor zoom Help
300 HS:5x
DSC-W550:4x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Canon ELPH 310 HS

Travel zoom

$195 - $196

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Macro focus Slightly closer macro focusing
Weight Is slightly heavier
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$109 - $189

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $307

Zoom Has much more zoom
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50

Sony Cyber-shot WX50

Ultra compact

$178 - $198

Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX7

Sony Cybershot WX7

Compact

$241 - $273

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

Compact

$129

Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot A3400 IS

Canon PowerShot A3400 IS

Travel zoom

$149

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Weight Is slightly heavier
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life

Canon ELPH 300 HS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$372 - $430

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Significantly larger
Weight Significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS

Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS

Compact

$229

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Size Slightly larger
Canon PowerShot ELPH 320 HS

Canon ELPH 320 HS

Compact

$249

Screen size Much larger screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Size Slightly larger
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Canon ELPH 500 HS

Canon ELPH 500 HS

Pro digicam

$188 - $293

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen size Much larger screen
Size Larger
Weight Significantly heavier

Sony Cybershot DSC-W550 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Cybershot W530

Sony Cybershot DSC-W530

Ultra compact

$171

Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Size Slightly smaller
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Sony Cybershot DSC-W560

Sony Cybershot W560

Compact

$116

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Sony Cybershot DSC-W570

Sony Cybershot W570

Ultra compact

$135

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Sony Cybershot DSC-W610

Sony Cybershot DSC-W610

Ultra compact

$108

Size Smaller
Lowest price Cheaper
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Nikon Coolpix S3100

Nikon Coolpix S3100

Ultra compact

$132

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Slightly smaller
Aperture Narrower aperture
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Canon ELPH 300 HS Sony Cybershot DSC-W550
Canon ELPH 300 HS Sony Cybershot DSC-W550
Canon ELPH 300 HS Sony Cybershot DSC-W550

discussion

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