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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80

Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Key Specs

Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Later Model is Olympus E-M5 II
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed March 2016
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony HX80, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Olympus and Sony. The sensor resolution of the E-M5 (16MP) and the HX80 (18MP) is fairly similar but the E-M5 (Four Thirds) and HX80 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The E-M5 was released 4 years earlier than the HX80 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the E-M5 scores vs the HX80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Sony HX80

 E-M5 HX80 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Olympus E-M5

 HX80 E-M5 
RevealedMarch 2016April 2012Newer by 46 months
Display resolution921k610kCrisper display (+311k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX80

 E-M5 HX80 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and volume. The Olympus E-M5 features outer measurements of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs) and the Sony HX80 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-M5 versus Sony HX80 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-M5 versus the HX80.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M5 and HX80 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The image underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M5 and HX80.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The E-M5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Sony HX80 will deliver greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged E-M5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Portrait photography camera
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
39
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Street photography factors
Sony HX80 Street photography factors
82
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
offers focus via touch
environment proofing
above average ISO range (25,600)
70
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M5 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX80 Sports photography highlights
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
lacks phase detect auto focus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (390 shots)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
Travel photography with Sony HX80
66
environment proofing
offers focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
76
better than average battery pack (390 shots)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-M5
Landscape photography with Sony HX80
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
no Timelapse recording
49
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (390 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-M5
Vlogging with Sony HX80
34
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
75
fairly wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
missing external mic support
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Olympus E-M5 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M5 and Sony HX80
 Olympus OM-D E-M5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus OM-D E-M5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-04-30 2016-03-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VI Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW images
Minimum enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 610 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels) Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 425 grams (0.94 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 826 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 390 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLN-1 NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $368