Canon A800 vs Sony HX9V: The Compact Camera Showdown You Didn’t Know You Needed

For photography enthusiasts juggling daily snapshots and occasional creative pursuits, compact cameras remain a surprisingly relevant choice - especially for those who don’t want to lug around a DSLR or mirrorless system gear everywhere. Today, I’m diving deep into two classic compact models introduced close to each other in 2011: the Canon PowerShot A800 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V. They occupy similar small sensor categories, but differ meaningfully in core features, user experience, and intended use cases.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras over the past decade and a half, I’ll break down these two cameras through every major photography lens - portrait, landscape, wildlife, and beyond. Expect a clear-eyed, no-hype appraisal grounded in hands-on experience and technical insight, so you can decide which (if either) deserves a place in your collection.

Let’s get started.

Size and Ergonomics: Can Small Cameras Offer Big Comfort?

Both cameras are decidedly compact, designed for easy pocket carry - but when you pick them up, the differences start to show. The Canon A800 is lighter and pocket-friendlier at just 186 grams, housed in a 94 x 61 x 31 mm body. By contrast, the Sony HX9V is a bit heftier at 245 grams and larger with a 105 x 59 x 34 mm footprint.

The Canon feels more toy-like - simple, plastic, and borderline minimalist. It’s easy to manipulate but the controls are sparse and not especially intuitive. The Sony, meanwhile, strikes a nicer balance in hand with a grippier front and more serious design cues reminiscent of higher-end compacts. Key buttons have spacing and feedback more suited to building muscle memory. Plus, the HX9V offers manual focus rings - a feature the Canon skips entirely - providing better creative control right at your fingertips.

If you prioritize sheer portability with a no-fuss approach, the Canon wins. But if intuitive ergonomics and a more confident grip enhance your shooting joy, Sony’s slightly bigger shell is well worth the extra ounces.

Outfitted Above: Controls and Top-View Design Speak Volumes

Sometimes the true DNA of a camera is best revealed by looking from above - the control layout, dials, and how these impact quick access.

The Canon A800 relies heavily on a point-and-shoot mentality: no dedicated mode dials, no physical exposure controls, just a power button, shutter release, and a zoom toggle. You’ll find exposure adjustment via menus but no manual shutter priority or aperture priority modes.

Sony’s HX9V, by contrast, offers a manual exposure mode and exposure compensation dial, letting you dial in more creative decisions on the fly. The zoom toggle is smooth and paired with an optical stabilization lever (absent on the Canon), helping steady shots during telephoto stretches. There’s a well-placed playback button, raw access buried in menus, and a discreet yet accessible movie record button for quick switches between stills and video.

If your shooting style leans toward manual control and quick adjustments, the HX9V’s interface caters far better than Canon’s stark simplicity.

The Heart of the Image: Sensor Tech and Raw Output Potential

Sensors are the “truth teller” inside any camera. Both the Canon A800 and Sony HX9V share the same sensor size of 1/2.3” (approx. 6.17 x 4.55 mm), but where the Sony shines is in sensor type and resolution.

• Canon A800: Uses a 10MP CCD sensor paired with Canon's DIGIC 3 processor. CCDs, while historically popular for color depth and smooth tonal transitions, are more power-hungry and prone to noise at higher ISOs.
• Sony HX9V: Features a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor with the BIONZ processor. Backside illumination dramatically improves light gathering efficiency, resulting in better low-light performance and finer details even at 1600 ISO.

Now, neither camera supports RAW shooting, which hurts the enthusiast and pro user looking to unlock maximum post-processing flexibility. Canon's no-RAW stance is typical for budget point-and-shoots, but Sony surprisingly keeps RAW off the table as well, limiting editing latitude.

Image quality wise, the HX9V’s higher resolution and modern sensor tech equate to finer detail, superior dynamic range, and improved high ISO performance. The Canon’s CCD gives respectable daylight images but struggles in shadows and dim conditions with flatter tone curves and noise creeping in early.

Viewing and Interface: Composing Made Slightly Easier

Looking through the camera means relying on the rear LCD. Neither the Canon nor Sony offers a viewfinder, so screen quality takes center stage.

The Canon's 2.5-inch TFT LCD has a paltry 115k-dot resolution - noticeably grainy and less sharp, making it tougher to check focus accurately or confirm image details before capture.

Sony’s HX9V steps up with a 3-inch XtraFine LCD sporting 921k-dots and TruBlack tech, delivering vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and far crisper previews. This is invaluable for street shooting or precise macro focusing.

The Canon’s menu system feels dated and sluggish, with less customization and buried settings. Sony’s UI, while admittedly packed, gives quicker access to things like ISO, white balance, and exposure compensation.

For any photographer who relies on the rear screen for critical focus and composition, Sony’s display is the clear front-runner in this face-off.

Let’s Talk Lenses: Zoom Ranges and Flexibility

With fixed lenses on both cameras, what you get out of the box is what you carry for every shoot - no lens swaps here!

• Canon A800: Offers a 37-122mm equivalent (3.3x zoom), max aperture f/3.0–5.8
• Sony HX9V: Packs a 24-384mm equivalent (16x zoom), max aperture f/3.3–5.9

The Sony’s wide 24mm setting makes it an easy choice for landscapes, architecture, and group shots where you want a wider field. And that 16x telephoto reach makes it handy for wildlife and distant subjects - the HX9V is very versatile.

The Canon's more limited 3.3x zoom, starting at 37mm, leans more toward typical snapshot framing. You’ll miss out on ultra-wide expanses and extended telephoto ability here.

In practical use, I've found the Canon good for indoor portraits and quick snaps but often cramped when trying for dynamic compositions. The HX9V’s flexible zoom lends itself well to travel kits that want “one lens to cover it all.”

Autofocus Mechanics: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Having tested these cameras in real scenarios, autofocus performance can be a frustrating bottleneck on compacts.

• Canon A800: Employs 9 AF points with contrast detection. It supports face detection and continuous AF, though without sophisticated tracking.
• Sony HX9V: Also has 9 AF points, uses contrast detection, but lacks continuous AF during burst shooting and does not incorporate face detection.

Interestingly, Canon’s face detection autofocus works reasonably well under good light, making portrait shoots easier for novices. The HX9V’s AF is quick but more generic - its lack of face detection paired with autofocus limited to single shot mode means you’re often manually deciding focus, especially in dynamic scenes.

For sports and wildlife - where snappy AF and tracking matter - the HX9V’s 10 fps burst mode is a real advantage over Canon’s single frame per second. That said, the AF system’s slow reaction in low light can hamper both shooters.

If fast autofocus burst shooting is on your checklist, Sony edges ahead here, but neither camera delivers truly professional AF tracking.

Low Light and High ISO Behavior: When the Sun Goes Down

I’ll be honest: neither camera is stellar in dim conditions, but expectations should align with the segment and sensor tech.

The Canon’s CCD sensor noticeably struggles past ISO 400, with images showing significant noise and detail loss. Lack of image stabilization compounds this - handheld shots become blurry as shutter speeds lengthen in shade or indoor scenes.

Sony’s BSI-CMOS and optical image stabilization help the HX9V keep images crisp at higher ISOs - ISO 800 is usable with noise reduction applied, and even ISO 1600 produces respectable results for small prints or social use.

If night photography or low light indoor shooting matters deeply, the HX9V is the better compact option by a wide margin, though neither challenges mirrorless or DSLRs.

Image Stabilization: Steady Shots or Missed Opportunities?

Here, the gap is stark: the Canon A800 does not have any form of image stabilization. I found this a dealbreaker for casual handheld shooting at zoom or in low light.

Sony’s HX9V features optical image stabilization, noticeably reducing camera shake effects especially when zoomed in or shooting video handheld. This feature translates into more confident shooting in less-than-ideal lighting.

For travel or street photographers who shoot fast and on the go, having this built-in on the HX9V makes a practical difference you feel with every frame.

Video Capabilities: Can They Cut It for Moving Pictures?

Video might not be the primary aim for these older compacts, but it’s a useful bonus to consider.

• Canon A800: Maxes out at VGA 640x480 resolution at 30fps, recorded in Motion JPEG. Frankly, dated and lacking sharpness or smoothness by contemporary standards.
• Sony HX9V: Supports Full HD 1080p at 60fps in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, plus 720p and lower. This is surprisingly capable for the era, delivering respectable sharpness and fluidity.

No external mic input on either, so audio recording is limited to built-in mics. The Sony’s optical image stabilization really helps keep video footage steadier when walking or panning, a plus the Canon can't match.

If you want your compact to double as a video recorder feasible for casual sharing and home movies, the HX9V delivers the goods rather well.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Canon uses two AA batteries with an estimated 300 shots per charge - widely convenient for travelers who can swap batteries anywhere but requires carrying spares and disposes more often.

The Sony HX9V uses a proprietary NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery. While I couldn’t find Canon’s official battery life numbers for the Sony, experience dictates it can shoot around 300-350 shots on one charge depending on settings. It’s rechargeable via USB, more environmentally friendly, and lighter long term but needs access to power or spares.

Storage-wise, Canon supports SD/SDHC/SDXC, the Sony is more versatile, adding Memory Stick Pro Duo support too. Both only offer single card slots.

Toughness and Build: Any Weather Sealing?

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedness features, typical of compact consumer models. If you work in moderate environmental conditions, both are fragile compared to enthusiast mirrorless or rugged compacts.

Wireless and Extras: GPS, HDMI, and Connectivity

The Sony HX9V gets a small edge with built-in GPS for geotagging, HDMI output for direct connection to HDTVs, and “Eye-Fi Connected” wireless capability to transfer images through compatible cards.

Canon’s A800 offers no wireless features or HDMI output, just USB 2.0 connectivity.

For travel photography enthusiasts who value location data and seamless sharing, Sony offers better utility here.

Putting It All Together: Real World Sample Images

I captured side-by-side images under various lighting and shooting conditions to compare color rendition, detail, and dynamic range.

Canon A800 front Canon A800 screen back Sony HX9V front Sony HX9V screen back

You can see the Sony HX9V deliver noticeably sharper details, richer tone gradation, and less noise in low light scenes. Skin tones on the Canon tend to be softer but sometimes washed out, while the Sony handles contrast better without over-saturating.

Canon struggles with texture rendering at its native 10MP resolution, making it less appealing to print large or crop aggressively.

Scoring the Cameras: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

After comprehensive testing, I've assigned comparative ratings summarizing their strengths and weaknesses.

And breaking down by photographic genres:

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Who Should Buy What?

Canon PowerShot A800 - Best For:

• Absolute budget buyers wanting a straightforward, pocketable point-and-shoot for casual portraits and snapshots.
• Users who prefer AA batteries for easy replacements worldwide.
• Beginners uninterested in manual controls or advanced features.

Pros: Affordable, compact, simple to use, decent daylight images.
Cons: No image stabilization, low-res screen, poor low-light capabilities, no manual control or RAW.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V - Best For:

• Enthusiasts seeking a versatile all-in-one compact with long zoom reach and manual exposure options.
• Travelers who benefit from GPS, wider zoom range, and better image stabilization.
• Casual wildlife, landscape, and street shooters wanting superior image quality in a small package.
• Video shooters wanting HD at 60fps with stabilization.

Pros: High-res backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, excellent zoom range, optical stabilization, 1080p HD video.
Cons: No RAW support, slightly heavier, limited continuous AF, proprietary batteries.

Wrapping Up: Contextual Thoughts From My Experience

When I first tested these cameras back in 2011, the Sony HX9V felt like a small revolution for compacts - delivering DSLR-inspired features in a pocket-ready design. The Canon A800, meanwhile, was a budget throwback, designed simply for people who want to point, shoot, and share basic photos without fuss.

If you’re upgrading a decade-old compact for better versatility, looking to experiment with manual control, or want hybrid photo/video use on a travel budget, the HX9V remains a surprisingly capable contender today.

If your budget is strict, and you want an undemanding camera for ease of use with occasional family photos where supreme quality isn’t the objective, the Canon A800 is serviceable.

Dear Canon, if you’re listening, I’d love to see a modern A800 that fixes stabilization and adds a GOOD screen. That could be a killer simple compact.

Ultimately, the Sony HX9V is my preferred pick for enthusiasts who want small size paired with technical competence and creative freedom, while the Canon A800 serves a niche as a no-brainer starter. Knowing their limits lets you pick the right tool - because every camera is a compromise.

Happy shooting!

If you want to see more sample images, test shot crops, and video clips, check my full gallery and hands-on review videos linked above in the article. And if you’d like suggestions on modern alternatives with similar characteristics, just ask.