Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II vs Sony Cyber-shot HX80: An Expert Photographer’s In-Depth Comparison

Choosing the right camera can feel overwhelming when faced with options as diverse as a pro-level mirrorless system like the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and a compact travel superzoom like the Sony Cyber-shot HX80. Both cameras were announced in 2016 but address very different user needs, technological ambitions, and price points. Drawing on our extensive hands-on experience testing over a thousand cameras across genres, this article demystifies their core differences. We’ll unpack sensor tech, autofocus performance, image quality, ergonomics, and real-world versatility - all crucial factors for you, whether you’re an advanced enthusiast or a professional upgrading your gear.

Sculpting the Perfect Tool: Size, Ergonomics & Handling

Handling your camera is more than just comfort - it’s about confidence and creative flow. The Olympus E-M1 Mark II embodies a classic SLR-style mirrorless design, offering a thoughtfully contoured grip and extensive manual controls that invite you to explore every photographic parameter intuitively.

By contrast, the Sony HX80 is a true compact superzoom pocket camera, designed for travel-light scenarios where portability trumps all else.

• Olympus E-M1 II: Measures 134 x 91 x 67 mm, weighs 574g (battery & memory cards included). The magnesium alloy body features weather sealing - dust and splash-proof - making it rugged for outdoor and professional use.
• Sony HX80: A compact 102 x 58 x 36 mm body at just 245g, easily slips into a jacket or handbag. It lacks weather sealing but scores high for travel convenience.

You immediately notice the E-M1 II’s superior ergonomics with its deeper grip and tactile dials, perfect for manual aperture and shutter controls common in advanced photography. The HX80, with its small, rounded shape and tilting screen, is ideal for spontaneous shooting and selfie-friendly framing but offers fewer physical controls, relying heavily on menu navigation.

Control Layout and Top Panel Readability

Ergonomics extend to the intuitive layout of buttons and dials, especially during fast-paced shooting.

• The Olympus E-M1 II boasts multiple physical dials for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and exposure compensation. Customizable buttons and a dedicated AF joystick provide effortless focus point selection. The lack of an integrated top screen display is compensated by its bright electronic viewfinder.

• The Sony HX80’s controls are minimalist. The power button, mode dial, and zoom lever envelop the shutter button, adhering to compactness but limiting quick manual adjustments. The camera’s reliance on a menu-driven interface demands more user patience and focus on the LCD.

From a professional workflow and speed perspective, the Olympus delivers a serious advantage for intentional shooting sessions, while the Sony’s design suits casual strolls and opportunistic snaps.

Sensor and Imaging: The Heart of Your Captured Vision

Sensor size and technology dictate the physical capability to capture light, detail, and dynamic range - core factors for image quality.

The Olympus utilizes a significantly larger Four Thirds sensor, enabling better light-gathering ability, higher dynamic range, and superior noise performance at elevated ISOs. It provides 20MP - a sweet spot for balancing resolution and high ISO usability. The Olympus’ sensor omits the anti-aliasing (AA) filter, enhancing sharpness at the expense of a marginal increase in moiré, which you can control via postprocessing.

Sony’s HX80 operates with a tiny 1/2.3" sensor, typical for compact superzooms, affecting overall image quality with smaller pixels and higher potential noise levels. The inclusion of an AA filter smooths fine detail, helping to control aliasing artifacts but reducing crispness.

• Image quality takeaway: The Olympus E-M1 II can deliver professional-level noise control, color fidelity, and dynamic range. The Sony HX80 is adequate for casual photography but understandably limited in low-light or high-resolution critical situations.

Display and Viewfinder: Your Visual Window

Both cameras feature 3-inch LCDs, but differ in articulation and resolution detail.

• Olympus E-M1 II: The 3” LCD boasts 1.037 million dots and is fully articulated, great for low/high-angle shooting and video vlogging. Its electronic viewfinder (EVF) displays 2.36 million dots with 100% coverage and 0.74x magnification, offering a crystal-clear composition experience that rival optical viewfinders.

• Sony HX80: The tilting 3” screen has 921k dots but no touch capability. It lacks a built-in EVF, an omission common in compact designs, which can challenge framing in bright sunlight.

For precise manual photography or video, the Olympus’ advanced EVF and articulating screen combination is superior. The Sony’s limited screen flexibility suits casual use but may frustrate in bright or dynamic contexts.

Autofocus Systems Compared

Speed and accuracy of focus critically impact portrait, wildlife, and sports photography.

Olympus’ autofocus system is one of the most advanced for its generation, combining phase and contrast detection across a dense matrix of 121 points. If you shoot wildlife or sports, this AF system locks quickly and tracks movement reliably - critical for fast action and unpredictable subjects.

The Sony HX80’s autofocus relies purely on contrast detection, inherently slower and less reliable tracking. While sufficient in daylight and for stationary subjects, it struggles with fast motion and low-light focusing.

Photography Discipline Deep-Dive

Let’s explore how each camera performs across photography genres and situations, highlighting practical impacts from our field tests.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture rewards a sensor’s color science, skin tone rendition, and autofocus precision for sharp eyes.

• Olympus E-M1 II: Excels with natural skin tones and beautiful background bokeh when paired with Micro Four Thirds prime lenses. Eye detection and face priority AF improve subject sharpness. The 5-axis in-body stabilization helps handheld shooting in low-light, preserving crispness.
• Sony HX80: Limited by smaller sensor and zoom lens bokeh characteristics, yielding flatter background separation. Autofocus locks on faces but lacks dedicated eye AF, resulting in less precise portraits. Good for casual snaps but not professional portraits.

Landscape Photography

Landscape demands high detail, wide dynamic range, and weather resistance.

• Olympus E-M1 II: Fantastic dynamic range (DxOmark at 12.8 EV), 20MP resolution, and weather sealing make it ideal for landscapes in rough conditions. The extensive lens lineup includes sharp ultra-wide and macro lenses.
• Sony HX80: Smaller sensor limits dynamic range; high noise at elevated ISOs restricts night or shadow recovery. No weather sealing restricts rugged outdoor usage.

Wildlife and Sports

• Olympus E-M1 II: Burst shooting speeds up to 60fps (electronic shutter), rapid AF tracking, and lightweight professional telephoto lenses combine for stellar wildlife and action sports utility.
• Sony HX80: 10fps continuous shooting with slower AF means fewer keepers in action photography. The 30x zoom lens (24-720mm equiv.) is versatile but optical quality and focusing speed are modest for serious wildlife work.

Street Photography

The HX80’s compact size and discreet operation suit street shooters who prioritize portability. Olympus E-M1 II is more conspicuous but offers advanced manual controls prized by street photography purists focused on composition and exposure precision.

Macro Photography

• Olympus E-M1 II: Supports focus stacking and has compatible high-quality macro lenses with excellent close-focus capability and stabilization.
• Sony HX80: Macro mode with 5cm minimum focus distance offers basic close-ups but lacks precision focusing aids or stacking.

Night and Astro Photography

The Olympus’ Four Thirds sensor and high native ISO allow usable noise at levels up to 25600 ISO, paired with long exposure modes, giving better astro results than the HX80’s limited low-light sensitivity.

Video Capabilities: When Stills Are Not Enough

For photographers venturing into video or hybrid creators, understanding video specs is essential.

The Olympus E-M1 II stands out with genuine pro-level video features - 4K recording with high bitrates, professional audio inputs, and robust 5-axis stabilization to reduce shake. The HX80 targets casual shooters with decent full HD but without advanced video monitoring features.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

• Olympus E-M1 II: Offers a solid 350 shot battery life with a proprietary BLH-1 pack, plenty for day-long shoots. Dual SD card slots facilitate backup and overflow, plus USB 3.0 and HDMI ports cater to professional workflows.

• Sony HX80: Slightly better battery life at 390 shots but with a smaller NP-BX1 battery. Single card slot and USB 2.0 limit storage and transfer speed options. NFC built-in aids smartphone connection but lacks Bluetooth.

Price-to-Performance and Ecosystem Considerations

The Olympus demands a significant investment but rewards with professional-grade image quality, speed, and durability. Its Micro Four Thirds mount gives access to a vast lens range, from wide angles to telephotos and niche optics.

The Sony HX80 is priced for convenience, perfect for casual shooters or travelers who want a versatile focal range without changing lenses, but it will not satisfy ambitions requiring professional quality or flexible workflows.

Real-World Image Comparisons

Here are sample shots from both cameras to observe differences in detail, color, and noise handling at ISO 800:

Olympus E M1 II front Olympus E M1 II screen back Sony HX80 front Sony HX80 screen back

You can see the Olympus photos maintaining sharpness and dynamic range, while the Sony images soften in detail and exhibit more noise.

Performance Ratings Across Core Aspects

Reviewers and DxOMark consistently score the Olympus E-M1 II much higher for image quality and speed, while the HX80 stands as a competent compact.

Specialty Photography Scores Breakdown

Looking at genre-specific performance grading confirms the Olympus E-M1 II’s adaptability across all professional categories, and the Sony HX80’s specialization as a travel-friendly, casual superzoom.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II if you:

• Are a serious enthusiast or professional who demands pro-level image quality and reliability.
• Need a rugged camera system with weather sealing for outdoor and travel photography.
• Require high-speed autofocus and burst shooting for wildlife or sports.
• Want extensive lens choices and aspire toward macro, portraits, landscapes, and video in one package.
• Value advanced video features like 4K recording and external mic and headphone ports.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot HX80 if you:

• Are a casual shooter or traveler seeking an all-in-one pocketable camera with versatile zoom.
• Prioritize extreme portability and ease of use over professional image quality.
• Want a camera for daily snapshots, family events, and easy social sharing.
• Prefer a straightforward point-and-shoot workflow without the hassle of lens changes.
• Are on a tight budget but need decent image quality in good lighting conditions.

Final Thoughts: Your Next Camera, Your Creative Partner

In the evolving landscape of photography gear, both the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and Sony Cyber-shot HX80 have carved compelling niches for themselves. The Olympus is a sophisticated, comprehensive system built for creatives who take control of image-making and demand excellence under any conditions. The Sony is a convenient, versatile companion designed to simplify and enrich everyday photography without complicating your journey.

Our extensive testing confirms that neither camera is universally “better” - it truly comes down to your photographic needs, ambitions, and budget. If professional grade performance and customization are your goals, go Olympus. If travel light, shoot easy, and capture moments on the go sums up your priorities, the Sony HX80 will faithfully serve.

Explore, experiment, and find the camera that inspires you to create. Check out of course hands-on trials in stores or rentals, and invest in lenses and accessories that complement your style. Your perfect camera is not just a device - it’s a partner on your creative adventure.

We hope this detailed comparison helps you choose wisely and inspires your next photographic breakthrough!