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Nikon B500 vs Sony H300

The Nikon Coolpix B500 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2016 and February 2014. Both the B500 and the H300 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 15.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 19.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon B500
versus
Sony H300
Nikon B500   Sony H300
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
22.5-900mm f/3.0-6.5 25-875mm f/3.4-6.5
15.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 19.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/60i Video 720/30p Video
ISO 80-6,400 ISO 80-3,200
No viewfinder, LCD framing No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
7.4 shutter flaps per second 0.8 shutter flaps per second
600 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
114 x 78 x 95 mm, 541 g 128 x 89 x 92 mm, 590 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon Coolpix B500 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon B500 and the Sony H300. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The B500 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the H300 is only available in black.

Size Nikon B500 vs Sony H300
Compare B500 versus H300 top
Comparison B500 or H300 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony H300 is notably larger (28 percent) than the Nikon B500. Moreover, the H300 is markedly heavier (9 percent) than the B500. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the B500 nor the H300 are weather-sealed.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon B500 114 mm 78 mm 95 mm 541 g 600 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
2.
 
Sony H300 128 mm 89 mm 92 mm 590 g 350 n Feb 2014 219ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX610 105 mm 61 mm 27 mm 191 g 270 n Jan 2015 249ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon B600 122 mm 82 mm 99 mm 500 g 280 n Jan 2019 349ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon A1000 114 mm 72 mm 41 mm 330 g 250 n Jan 2019 429ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon P1000 146 mm 119 mm 181 mm 1415 g 250 n Jul 2018 999 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon W300 112 mm 66 mm 29 mm 231 g 280 Y May 2017 389ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon B700 125 mm 85 mm 107 mm 565 g 350 n Feb 2016 499ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon P900 140 mm 103 mm 137 mm 899 g 360 n Mar 2015 599ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon L840 113 mm 78 mm 96 mm 538 g 590 n Feb 2015 299ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic FZ80 130 mm 94 mm 119 mm 616 g 330 n Jan 2017 399ebay.com
12.
 
Sony HX80 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 390 n Mar 2016 349ebay.com
13.
 
Sony HX90V 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 360 n Apr 2015 429ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX400V 130 mm 93 mm 103 mm 660 g 300 n Feb 2014 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony H400 130 mm 95 mm 122 mm 628 g 300 n Feb 2014 319ebay.com
16.
 
Sony H200 123 mm 83 mm 87 mm 530 g 240 n Jan 2013 249ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The H300 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 27 percent) than the B500, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Nikon B500 and Sony H300 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the H300 offers a higher resolution of 19.9 megapixels, compared with 15.9 MP of the B500. This megapixels advantage translates into a 12 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the H300 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.19μm versus 1.33μm for the B500). Moreover, it should be noted, that the B500 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 11 months) than the H300, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of individual pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Sony H300 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the H300 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.8 x 19.3 inches or 65.4 x 49.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.6 x 15.5 inches or 52.3 x 39.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.2 x 12.9 inches or 43.6 x 32.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon B500 are 23 x 17.3 inches or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inches or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon Coolpix B500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the B500 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the H300 uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

B500 versus H300 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon B500 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.311.781048
2.
 
Sony H300 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.111.463045
3.
 
Canon SX610 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.211.671247
4.
 
Nikon B600 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/30p20.712.2109552
5.
 
Nikon A1000 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34564K/30p20.712.2109552
6.
 
Nikon P1000 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34564K/30p20.612.1104451
7.
 
Nikon W300 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34564K/30p20.512.093850
8.
 
Nikon B700 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.411.881848
9.
 
Nikon P900 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.211.672747
10.
 
Nikon L840 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60i20.211.672147
11.
 
Panasonic FZ80 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.511.990049
12.
 
Sony HX80 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.411.882248
13.
 
Sony HX90V 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.211.673847
14.
 
Sony HX400V 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.111.462945
15.
 
Sony H400 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.111.463045
16.
 
Sony H200 1/2.3 15.2 5184 2930720/30p19.911.252944
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the B500 provides a higher video resolution than the H300. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60i, while the Sony is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The B500 and the H300 are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon B500 and Sony H300 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon B500none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony H300none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/1500s 0.8/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX610none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/2000s 2.5/s Y Y
4.
 
Nikon B600none n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
5.
 
Nikon A10001166 n3.0 / 1036 tilting Y 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Nikon P10002359 n3.2 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Nikon W300none n3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Nikon B700921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Nikon P900921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Nikon L840none n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 7.4/s Y Y
11.
 
Panasonic FZ801166 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony HX80638 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony HX90V638 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony HX400V210 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony H400210 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/2000s 0.7/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony H200none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/1500s 0.8/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

Both the B500 and the H300 have zoom lenses built in. The B500 has a 22.5-900mm f/3.0-6.5 optic and the H300 offers a 25-875mm f/3.4-6.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Nikon provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Sony. The B500 offers the faster maximum aperture.

The B500 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the H300 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon Coolpix B500 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon B500-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
2.
 
Sony H300-mono / mono--micro2.0Y--
3.
 
Canon SX610-- / ---micro2.0YY-
4.
 
Nikon B600-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Nikon A1000-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Nikon P1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
7.
 
Nikon W300-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
8.
 
Nikon B700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
9.
 
Nikon P900-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Nikon L840-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Panasonic FZ80Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
12.
 
Sony HX80-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony HX90V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony HX400VYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony H400-mono / mono--micro2.0Y--
16.
 
Sony H200-mono / mono---2.0---
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Both the B500 and the H300 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The B500 was replaced by the Nikon B600, while the H300 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the B500 and H300 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon B500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony H300 Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon B500 or the Sony H300 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Nikon Coolpix B500:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (921k vs 460k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/1500s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (7.4 vs 0.8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.0 vs f/3.4).
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • More compact: Is smaller (114x78mm vs 128x89mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (600 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 11 months after the H300).

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Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (19.9 vs 15.9MP), which boosts linear resolution by 12%.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (27 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2014).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the B500 is the clear winner of the match-up (13 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

B500 13:03 H300

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon B500 and the Sony H300 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the B500 or the H300. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon B500..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
2.
 
Sony H300..+....4.5/54/5 Feb 2014 219ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX610........4/54/5 Jan 2015 249ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon B600..+....3.5/53/5 Jan 2019 349ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon A1000..+ +3.5/5..3.5/53/5 Jan 2019 429ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon P1000..+3.5/573/1003.5/53.5/5 Jul 2018 999 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon W300..+....4/54/5 May 2017 389ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon B700..+....4/54/5 Feb 2016 499ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon P900......77/1004/54/5 Mar 2015 599ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon L840..+ +....3.5/54/5 Feb 2015 299ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic FZ80..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 399ebay.com
12.
 
Sony HX80............ Mar 2016 349ebay.com
13.
 
Sony HX90V4/5+ +....4/54.5/5 Apr 2015 429ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX400V4/5+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony H400..o....3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2014 319ebay.com
16.
 
Sony H200........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2013 249ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Nikon B500 vs Sony H300

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon B500 Sony H300
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 22.5-900mm f/3.0-6.5 25-875mm f/3.4-6.5
    Launch Date January 2016 February 2014
    Launch Price USD 299 USD 219
    Sensor Specs Nikon B500 Sony H300
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels 19.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4608 x 3456 pixels 5152 x 3864 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.33 μm 1.19 μm
    Pixel Density 56.73 MP/cm2 70.91 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 80 - 6,400 ISO 80 - 3,200 ISO
    Screen Specs Nikon B500 Sony H300
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder no viewfinder
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Nikon B500 Sony H300
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 7.4 shutter flaps/s 0.8 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Nikon B500 Sony H300
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in no Bluetooth
    Body Specs Nikon B500 Sony H300
    Battery Type Nikon 4xAA Sony 4xAA
    Battery Life (CIPA)600 shots per charge350 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 114 x 78 x 95 mm
    (4.5 x 3.1 x 3.7 in)
    128 x 89 x 92 mm
    (5.0 x 3.5 x 3.6 in)
    Camera Weight 541 g (19.1 oz) 590 g (20.8 oz)
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    Check H300 offers at
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