You’ve seen them in junk drawers and at thrift stores. Small, rectangular, and surprisingly heavy for their size. The Sony WX300 digital camera was a bit of a marvel when it hit the scene back in 2013. Sony basically looked at a credit card and said, "Let's put a 20x zoom lens in that."
And they did.
It was the world’s smallest and lightest camera to boast that kind of reach at the time. Honestly, it’s still pretty impressive. We’re talking about a focal length that stretches from a wide 25mm all the way to a massive 500mm equivalent. You can fit it in a shirt pocket. That’s the "wow" factor that sold a million units.
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What Actually Is the Sony WX300?
Technically, it's a point-and-shoot from the Cyber-shot line. It uses an 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor. That "R" is important—it means back-illuminated, which helps the sensor grab more light in dim settings.
The heart of the beast is the BIONZ processor. This chip handles everything from the 10-frames-per-second burst mode to the "Superior Auto" logic that tries to guess if you're shooting a sunset or a plate of pasta.
The Build and Feel
The design is minimal. Almost too minimal.
There's no rubber grip. If your hands are sweaty, it feels like a bar of wet soap.
You get a 3-inch LCD on the back with 460,800 dots. By 2026 standards, that's not exactly "Retina" quality, but it gets the job done for framing.
Why People Still Hunt for the Sony WX300
Why bother with a decade-old camera? Your phone probably has more megapixels.
Optical zoom. That’s the answer.
Most smartphones use digital cropping or "periscope" lenses that still can't quite match the physics of a real Sony G Lens moving glass elements. When you're at a concert or a zoo, that 20x optical zoom is a lifesaver. It doesn't just enlarge the pixels; it actually brings the light closer.
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Then there's the battery. Sony used the NP-BX1 battery pack here. It’s rated for roughly 500 shots per charge. That is nearly double what most modern "vlog" cameras manage today because the WX300 isn't wasting power on a massive 4K processor or a giant touchscreen.
The Connectivity Quirk
It has Wi-Fi. In 2013, this was high-tech.
You use the PlayMemories Mobile app (now called Creators' App or Imaging Edge, depending on your luck with updates) to beam photos to your phone. It’s clunky. It drops connection. But it works.
The Problems Nobody Mentions
I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's perfect. It isn't.
Image noise is a real "thing" here. Once you climb past ISO 800, things get crunchy. The sensor is tiny—only 1/2.3 inches. That’s the same size sensor found in an iPhone 5 or 6. If you’re shooting in a dark basement, the photos will look like oil paintings. Not in a cool way. In a "where did the detail go?" way.
Then there's the lens speed.
At the wide end, it's f/3.5.
At the telephoto end? f/6.5.
That's "slow" in photography terms. It means the lens doesn't let much light in when you're zoomed all the way out. You’ll need a steady hand or a lot of sunlight to get a sharp shot at 500mm.
The "Death Loop" Risk
Some users have reported a "bootloop" issue over time. The camera turns on, the lens extends, and then it immediately shuts off. This is often caused by a failing internal ribbon cable or a motherboard glitch. If you're buying one used, always ask for a video of it zooming in and out multiple times.
Getting the Most Out of It
If you have a Sony WX300 digital camera, don't just leave it on "Green" Auto mode.
Try the Program Auto (P) mode. It gives you control over the ISO and White Balance. Keep the ISO at 80 or 100 whenever possible. This camera thrives in daylight.
Use the Optical SteadyShot. Sony’s stabilization in this era was actually ahead of the curve. It helps mask the jitters when you're trying to photograph a bird two blocks away.
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Pro Tip: Use a high-speed SD card. Even though it's an old camera, the 10fps burst mode fills the buffer fast. A slow card will leave you staring at a "Processing..." screen for ten seconds while the action passes you by.
Is It Worth It Today?
If you can find one for under $100, yes. It’s a fantastic "beater" camera for travel. You won't cry if you lose it, but it gives you shots your phone simply cannot reach.
If you want professional portraits with blurry backgrounds? Look elsewhere.
If you want 4K video? This only does 1080/60i.
But for a pocketable telescope that fits in your jeans? The WX300 still holds a weird, specific crown in the tech world.
To keep this camera running, ensure you charge the battery via the Micro-USB port regularly, as letting these older lithium-ion packs hit zero for months can kill them permanently. Check the lens barrel for "grit" sounds—if you hear crunching, stop zooming and use a blower to clean the gaps. It’s a precision instrument, even if it feels like a toy.