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Sony Cyber-shot HX300 (hands-on pictures)

Take a look at Sony's new top megazoom, the 50x HX300.

Joshua Goldman
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Joshua Goldman
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1 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

It goes to 1,200mm

The new $500 Sony Cyber-shot HX300 features a 50x f2.8-6.3 24-1,200mm lens. Despite the digital SLR-like appearance, though, the camera packs a small 1/2.3-inch 20-megapixel Exmor R backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, so don't expect SLR-quality photos.
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2 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

My, what a long lens you have

To go with the HX300's mighty lens is some pretty powerful optical image stabilization that's been designed specifically to handle the extra shake when the lens is extended.
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3 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

Few extras here

Though Sony packs in a whole lot of shooting modes and controls (you can turn on and off the neutral density filter, for example), it lacks some things that the competition has, such as a hot shoe or mic input.
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4 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

Nice, big grip

The HX300's grip is very comfortable, and the size allows for a big mode dial and buttons for focus, switching between the LCD and electronic viewfinder, and a custom preset.
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5 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

Tilting LCD

The 921K-dot-resolution 3-inch tilting LCD is very nice.
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6 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

Ports

On the left side you'll find Micro-HDMI and Micro-USB ports, with the latter being used for charging, transfers, and AV.
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7 of 7 Lori Grunin/CNET

Ring around the lens

There's a grippy ring around the lens, which is used to control the zoom lens. Flip the switch on the lens barrel from autofocus to manual and the ring handles focusing instead.

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