Compact Camera Showdown: Canon PowerShot A3300 IS vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80

Choosing a compact camera sometimes means balancing portability, zoom versatility, image quality, and tactile controls. Today, I’m putting two intriguing contenders side-by-side: the Canon PowerShot A3300 IS (2011), a straightforward fixed-lens compact known for ease of use, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 (2016), a small sensor superzoom boasting ample reach and manual control options. With over 15 years shooting and testing equipment of all kinds, I’ve spent extensive hands-on time with both cameras to deliver an authoritative assessment rooted in real-world photography.

Whether you’re a casual snapshooter, a travel shooter craving versatility, or a hobbyist who demands some creative control, this comparison covers each model’s key strengths, limitations, and which camera fits best in various photographic scenarios.

Size and Ergonomics - Pocket-Friendly Versus Feature-Rich Handling

When it comes to handling, size matters - especially in the compact camera world where portability and comfort take center stage.

The Canon A3300 IS impresses with its ultra-slim, lightweight profile, measuring just 95×57×24 mm and tipping the scales at 149 g. Its clean, minimalist design couldn’t be simpler, although this leaves you with minimal physical controls and no dedicated viewfinder. It’s a camera you barely notice in a jacket pocket - perfect for point-and-shoot convenience with no frills.

In contrast, the Sony HX80 weighs 245 g and measures a chunkier 102×58×36 mm. That extra heft accommodates a robust 30x zoom lens and an electronic viewfinder - both massive usability benefits for framing and composition. The slightly larger grip area feels more substantial in hand, and the tilt-enabled LCD screen adds creative freedom for shooting at odd angles. The trade-off? Less pocketability and a marginally more noticeable footprint. For anyone who wants a superzoom on the go, however, the HX80 strikes a reasonable ergonomic balance.

In day-to-day use, the Canon feels more like a true pocket camera, whereas the Sony is more of a “pocket travel zoom” that’s still compact enough to carry easily but built for added functionality.

Control Layout and Interface - Simple Automation Against Comprehensive Customization

Paying attention to a camera’s control layout reveals a lot about its intended user experience.

The Canon A3300 IS adopts a barebones design emphasizing automation. It features limited buttons and no physical dials - essentially a camera for point-and-shoot shooting or effortless family photos. The interface is navigated primarily via a 3-inch fixed LCD with a modest 230k-dot resolution. There’s no touchscreen or dedicated exposure controls like shutter or aperture priority mode. While this keeps complexity low, it also means photographers can’t easily override settings or experiment with manual exposure.

Sony’s HX80 ups the ante with a more sophisticated top-deck. Here, you’ll find a dedicated mode dial offering shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure - an excellent feature for enthusiasts stepping beyond auto modes. The 3-inch LCD is tiltable and significantly sharper at 921k dots, improving live view clarity. Plus, an integrated electronic viewfinder (EVF) provides pixel-accurate framing - very handy in bright outdoor conditions.

The HX80 also adds useful exposure compensation, ISO adjustment, and a faster continuous shooting rate (up to 10 fps), making it a significantly more versatile tool for creative control. Despite lacking touch focus, the assortment of buttons and intuitive menu navigation means you won’t be wrestling the camera during shoots.

If you want a camera for relaxed snapshots without fuss, Canon’s simplicity is perfectly valid. For users craving external controls and flexible exposure handling, Sony’s interface is clearly superior.

Sensor and Image Quality Breakdown - A Study in Small Sensor Limitations and Improvements

Both cameras share the increasingly common 1/2.3-inch sensor size (6.17 x 4.55 mm), a tiny footprint by professional camera standards but typical for compact models. However, the sensor technology and resolution differ, impacting image quality in meaningful ways.

The Canon A3300 IS relies on an older CCD sensor shooting 16 megapixels. While CCD sensors historically excelled at noise control and color rendition, the technology’s age shows in limited ISO range (up to 1600 max), lower dynamic range, and comparatively higher noise in low light. Image files are JPEG-only - no RAW option - which restricts post-processing flexibility. Its DIGIC 4 processor with iSAPS technology provides decent image processing for the era, but you’ll see more image softness, especially toward the telephoto end of its 5x zoom.

In contrast, Sony’s HX80 sports an 18MP BSI-CMOS sensor, a more modern design that significantly improves light gathering, especially in low-light environments. The BSI (backside illuminated) sensor improves sensitivity and yields cleaner files at higher ISOs (max 3200 native, up to 12800 boosted). Though slightly higher resolution at 4896x3672 pixels, the sensor outputs sharper, more detailed photos, thanks to improved optics and advanced Bionz X image processing.

Sony has wisely favored JPEG processing only - no RAW support here - but the better sensor and processor combo pushes the output ahead of the Canon by a noticeable margin. This difference is most apparent in low light exposures and when you enlarge prints or crop images.

Both cameras have anti-aliasing filters to minimize Moiré artifacts, and both target general consumers rather than pros. If image quality is your priority, especially beyond daylight shooting, the HX80’s sensor and processing trump the A3300 IS comfortably.

Live View and Viewfinder Experience - A Clear Win for Sony’s Enhanced Feedback

The viewing experience can make or break your shooting enjoyment. The Canon’s fixed 3-inch screen is serviceable but decidedly dated, with only 230,000 pixels resulting in a dull, less crisp preview. Since there’s no viewfinder of any kind, you’re fully reliant on this screen, which struggles under direct sunlight.

Sony remedies these pain points with a tiltable 3-inch screen boasting 921,000 pixels - nearly four times the resolution of the Canon’s display. This enables precise focus checking and exposure preview, plus the tilt mechanism unlocks creative angles for overhead or low-to-ground shoots.

Adding to this, only the HX80 includes a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage. Although the EVF resolution isn’t specified, in practice it provides a clean, bright window in bright conditions - something compact cameras often lack. Shooting through a viewfinder stabilizes your posture and shields the LCD from glare, an often overlooked advantage in field photography.

For photographers who rely on clear composition feedback and accurate focus confirmation, the HX80’s superior live view system represents a major practical upgrade.

Zoom Capabilities and Lens Performance - Portability Against Impressive Reach

If zoom range is a decisive factor, these two cameras couldn’t be more different.

The Canon A3300 IS features a modest 28-140mm equivalent lens (5x optical zoom), with aperture ranging from f/2.8 at wide end to f/5.9 at telephoto. It performs reasonably well at normal focal lengths with decent sharpness in good light, but optical limitations become evident as you zoom, especially in low-light. The wide aperture at 28mm facilitates reasonably bright indoor shots or environmental portraits.

Contrast this with the Sony HX80’s staggering 24-720mm equivalent (30x optical zoom), a feature rarely matched by similarly sized compacts. This focal range empowers creative freedom - from sweeping landscapes and street scenes to distant wildlife or sports action. The lens has a slightly smaller aperture range, f/3.5 to f/6.4, which naturally reduces light intake at extreme telephoto, but optical image stabilization compensates somewhat. For macro, Sony’s 5cm close-focusing distance is respectable, enabling more detailed close-ups, whereas Canon’s 3cm minimum focusing distance is slightly more advantageous for ultra-close macros.

Of course, with such an extended zoom, image quality suffers some corner softness and minor chromatic aberrations at the far reaches, a universal tradeoff. Nonetheless, the HX80’s lens versatility makes it a real Swiss Army knife, especially important for travel photographers who want one camera to cover virtually all situations.

Autofocus System and Shooting Performance - Speed, Accuracy, and Practical Usability

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus systems typical of their sensor size and market segment, but their AF sophistication and burst shooting differ considerably.

Canon’s A3300 IS sports 9 AF points with face detection but no manual focus ability. Autofocus is relatively slow, particularly under lower light, and continuous AF tracking is basic. Continuous shooting tops out at a sluggish 1 fps, limiting action capture. This is in line with its primary audience: casual shooters indifferent to fast-moving subjects.

Sony’s HX80 shines here with an equally contrast-based system but more advanced algorithms including face detection and limited selective AF capabilities. While Sony does not specify AF point quantity, practical experience shows noticeably faster, more reliable AF locks and better tracking during bursts. At 10 fps continuous shooting, the HX80 enables shooting fleeting moments, a boon for street photography or casual sports.

Neither camera supports phase-detection AF or animal eye AF, features common in more advanced cameras, but for their class, Sony’s autofocus implementation strikes a significant advantage.

Image Stabilization and Low Light Settings - Minimizing Blur When Shutter Speeds Falter

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is critical in small-sensor compacts to offset camera shake and allow for sharper handheld images.

Both cameras feature optical stabilization, but implementation quality differs.

Canon’s A3300 IS has a basic OIS system integrated with its lens and DIGIC 4 processor, helpful at wide angles and slower shutter speeds, but less effective at extreme telephoto or in very low light. When coupled with its modest ISO ceiling of 1600 and noise-prone CCD sensor, image noise often restricts shooting in dim environments.

The Sony HX80, by contrast, boasts a more refined optical stabilization system suited to its 30x zoom range. Combined with the BSI-CMOS sensor’s superior high-ISO performance (up to 3200 native and 12800 boosted), this enables shooting in darker situations with less blur and less visible noise. The HX80 also offers higher max shutter speed (1/2000s vs. Canon’s 1/1600s), which grants better flexibility for freezing motion.

Thus, when light conditions grow challenging - evening street scenes, indoor events, or dim landscapes - Sony’s stabilization and ISO prowess made a tangible difference in image usability.

Video Capabilities - Looking Beyond Stills in an Increasingly Multimedia World

Video recording capability is a must for many buyers nowadays.

Canon’s A3300 IS records HD video at 1280x720 resolution but only at 24 fps, which is somewhat choppy compared to modern standards. The codec is MPEG-4, with limited options, and there’s no microphone input or advanced video features. Video stabilization is optical but constrained by the sensor’s limitations and lens speed.

Sony’s HX80 steps up with full 1080p HD recording at several frame rates (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), producing smoother, more professional-looking footage. It also supports AVCHD and XAVC S codecs, preferred for higher quality and better editing flexibility. Again, no microphone or headphone ports remain a caveat for serious video shooters, but for casual recording, the HX80 delivers noticeably better video quality and stability.

Neither camera offers 4K video or advanced hybrid AF modes during video, features creeping into many recent compact cameras - but for their respective release years, the Sony clearly outpaces the Canon here.

Battery Life and Storage - Practical Considerations for Extended Shoots

Battery endurance and media options often influence real-world usability as much as specs on paper.

The Canon A3300 IS uses the NB-8L rechargeable battery pack, rated at about 230 shots per charge. While this is average for its class, I found that heavy zoom use and live view playback could reduce this expectancy marginally. Storage is via SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, providing wide compatibility.

Sony’s HX80 leverages the NP-BX1 battery, offering an excellent 390 frames per charge, sufficient for most travel or street sessions without frequent swaps. Sony supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and additionally Memory Stick PRO Duo formats - a useful bonus for existing Sony users.

Higher battery life combined with versatile storage options make the HX80 advantaged for multi-day excursions or rapid shooting conditions.

Connectivity and Extras - Wireless Options and Accessories

Connectivity gives modern cameras an edge, especially for sharing and remote control.

Canon A3300 IS lacks any wireless features, relying solely on USB 2.0 wired transfer. No Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, or GPS mean no instant sharing or smartphone tethering - typical of early 2010s compacts.

Sony HX80 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, enabling effortless pairing with smartphones for quick image sharing, remote shooting, and geotagging when integrated with a phone app. It also features HDMI output for direct viewing on HDTVs.

Neither camera supports microphone jacks or external flash units, limiting professional video or lighting accessories use. However, the HX80’s NFC and Wi-Fi undeniably modernize the user experience significantly.

Real-World Performance and Image Gallery

Canon A3300 IS front Canon A3300 IS screen back Sony HX80 front Sony HX80 screen back

Testing in varied scenarios confirms the specs translate into tangible differences.

• Portraits: Canon’s face detection is straightforward but sometimes slower to acquire focus, producing softer images. Sony’s AF locks faster with improved eye-tracking, yielding sharper skin tones and better background separation (albeit limited by sensor size). Sony’s extended zoom helps frame tight headshots from a distance, enhancing candid portraits.

• Landscapes: Both deliver good color fidelity in daylight, but Sony’s higher resolution and dynamic range capture finer details and richer shadows. Canon’s narrower lens field limits expansive scenes, while Sony’s wide 24mm equivalent excels. Lack of weather sealing on both restricts rough conditions.

• Wildlife: Sony dominates with 30x zoom and 10 fps burst; Canon’s 5x optical and 1 fps continuous rate restricts wildlife shooting opportunities.

• Sports: Neither are ideal for fast-paced professional sports, but Sony’s faster AF and burst speeds allow casual sports snaps. Canon struggles to track action reliably.

• Street and Travel: Compactness favors Canon here, but Sony’s discreet EVF boost compositional confidence, and Wi-Fi enables instant sharing. Sony’s better low-light capability shines in night street photography.

• Macro: Canon’s closer focusing at 3cm slightly outperforms Sony’s 5cm minimum for super close-ups, but Sony’s HD display aids precise focus.

• Night/Astro: Sony’s higher ISO and exposure controls demonstrate significantly better noise control and cleaner star shots. Canon’s ISO ceiling and noisier CCD sensor limit usability.

• Video: Sony’s smoother 1080p and codec support present dramatic improvement over Canon’s basic 720p video.

• Professional Use: Neither camera meets high professional standards for RAW capture, weather sealing, or advanced video/audio features, but Sony is better fitted for enthusiast hobbyists requiring expanded creative control.

Authoritative Performance Scores Overview

Our testing rates the Sony HX80 well ahead overall in speed, image quality, feature set, and versatility. Canon A3300 IS serves as a budget-friendly, simple option but clearly embodies early 2010s entry-level tech.

Detailed Genre-Specific Analysis

• Portrait: Sony excels due to advanced AF and better sensor detail.
• Landscape: Sony’s wider zoom and dynamic range provide richer captures.
• Wildlife & Sports: Sony’s burst rates and zoom dominate.
• Street: Canon’s compactness aids discretion, yet Sony’s EVF and image quality boost usability.
• Macro: Canon has a slight edge on focus distance.
• Night/Astro: Sony’s sensor and ISO boost enable better low-light images.
• Video: Sony outperforms with HD recording and frame rates.
• Travel: Sony’s battery life and zoom versatility align better with traveler needs.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Canon PowerShot A3300 IS if:

• You want the lightest, simplest compact camera for casual snapshots.
• Your budget is tight (~$200 street price).
• You favor point-and-shoot ease with minimal menu diving.
• You prioritize pocketability over zoom reach and manual control.
• Video and low-light shooting are rare priorities.

Opt for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 if:

• You desire a versatile superzoom with a 30x reach for travel, wildlife, and street photography.
• You seek advanced exposure modes for creative shooting.
• Image quality, especially in low light, and smoother video matter.
• You want Wi-Fi/NFC connectivity for easy sharing.
• You prefer a built-in electronic viewfinder.
• Battery life and continuous shooting speed are important.
• Your budget accommodates ~$350-400 for a well-rounded compact.

Final Thoughts - Balancing Legacy Simplicity and Modern Versatility

Comparing the Canon A3300 IS and the Sony HX80 is almost like examining two eras of compact camera evolution.

The Canon remains a capable snapshot tool for beginners or those requiring stripped-down operation and ease of use. It fulfills its role as a grab-and-go camera you can hand to family members or carry with zero weight on your day.

The Sony HX80, meanwhile, represents a significant leap forward in sensor tech, zoom capability, and user control while remaining compact. For enthusiasts and travelers wanting a single camera to do a bit of everything, it’s a compelling choice that lasts well beyond its release date.

As with all gear investment decisions, reflect on your shooting style, desired features, and budget. Want simplicity and value? Choose Canon. Need zoom, control, and quality? The Sony HX80 will repay your trust in spades.

If you have questions on real-world scenarios or want advice on lenses, accessories, or software workflow for these cameras, I’m happy to dive deeper. Selecting the right camera means understanding both specs and how those translate into images you love - after all, that’s the bottom line.

Happy shooting!