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Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Raise to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Revealed October 2019
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched March 2016
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Overview

Below is a comprehensive comparison of the Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the Z50 (21MP) and the HX80 (18MP) is pretty comparable but the Z50 (APS-C) and HX80 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The Z50 was released 3 years later than the HX80 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise overview of how the Z50 matches up versus the HX80 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Sony HX80

 Z50 HX80 
LaunchedOctober 2019March 2016More recent by 44 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Nikon Z50

 HX80 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Sony HX80

 Z50 HX80 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and volume. The Nikon Z50 offers outer dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") having a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Sony HX80 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the Z50 vs the HX80.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the Z50 and HX80 is 74 and 91 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by checking out specs. The photograph below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the Z50 and HX80.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The Z50 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Nikon Z50 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger Z50 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX80 Portrait photography advice
80
you can focus manually
MP count good (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
39
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
includes face detection focusing
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon Z50 Street photography info
Sony HX80 Street photography info
73
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
supports touch to focus
weather proof
above average high ISO (51,200)
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
70
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (245g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z50
Sports photography with Sony HX80
75
MP count good (21MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery power (390 shots)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Travel photography camera
77
weather proof
has bluetooth
supports touch to focus
MP count good (21MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (397 grams)
76
great battery power (390 shots)
lighter than average in class (245 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse mode
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Landscape photography camera
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inch)
MP count good (21 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
does not have image stabilization
49
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
great battery power (390 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon Z50 Vlogging info
Sony HX80 Vlogging info
71
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
features face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397 grams)
75
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (245g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no external mic jack
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Nikon Z50 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Sony HX80
 Nikon Z50Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Z50 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2019-10-10 2016-03-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5568 x 3712 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 51200 3200
Highest boosted ISO 204800 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 209 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 1,040k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 397 grams (0.88 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 shots 390 shots
Style of battery Built-in Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL25 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $857 $368