Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80: A Thorough Camera Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing the right compact camera can be daunting with myriad models offering differing strengths. The Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 (hereafter "Olympus 8010") and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 ("Sony HX80") are two distinct cameras aimed at enthusiasts looking for portability combined with specific feature sets. Both cameras target those prioritizing compactness and zoom flexibility, but they deliver dramatically different experiences once you dig beneath the spec sheets.

Having rigorously tested thousands of cameras - including both these models - across travel, nature, street, and professional workflows, this comparison dives deep into their technical capabilities, real-world performance, and suitability for various photographic genres. By the end, you’ll better understand which camera suits your creative journey and shooting style.

Sculpting Your Ideal Camera: Form Factor and Ergonomics

Let’s start by feeling the cameras in hand. Size, weight, and usability are paramount - especially for on-the-go photography.

You can see from the exact measurements and form that the Olympus 8010 is noticeably slimmer and shorter, benefiting from a sleek, rugged outdoor design, while the Sony HX80 adds some bulk in thickness, accommodating its longer lens and more control elements.

The Olympus 8010’s tough design is ideal if you intend to photograph in harsh, wet, or cold environments - it’s waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof, which means you won’t have to baby it in challenging conditions. The compact body feels secure without extra grips but saves weight and pocket space.

Conversely, the Sony HX80 places emphasis on a comfortable and versatile control layout. The slightly wider grip area and more buttons feel better suited for photographers who prefer tactile feedback and quick mode switching. However, it’s not weather-sealed, so you’ll need an external case or care around rain or dust.

In our testing, the Sony’s tilting 3” LCD screen slightly edges out Olympus’s smaller fixed display for flexibility in composition, especially for street or low angle shooting.

Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality Explained

Both cameras use a 1/2.3″ sensor but vary strongly in resolution and technology, impacting image characteristics profoundly.

The Sony HX80’s back-illuminated CMOS sensor is a clear technical advancement over Olympus’s older CCD sensor. The BSI-CMOS design improves light gathering, resulting in lower noise, richer colors, and superior low-light capability. The expanded ISO range also means the Sony handles darker scenes with more flexibility.

While the Olympus 8010’s CCD sensor delivers respectable color rendition in bright daylight, it struggles with noise at higher ISOs, making it less suitable for dim environments or night photography.

In practice, you can expect the Sony to produce sharper, more detailed images with better dynamic range - especially in shadows and highlight preservation. The 18 MP resolution also gives you beneficial cropping room without major loss in quality.

The Lens Showdown: Zoom Reach vs Versatility

Lenses are arguably the heart of any camera system, influencing compositional freedom and image aesthetics.

The Sony’s 30x zoom is a standout, reaching ultra-telephoto lengths perfect for wildlife, sports, or distant travel shots. Its optical stabilization combats handshake effectively over this longer range, which is crucial for sharp images when zoomed in.

On the other hand, the Olympus 8010’s 5x zoom is modest, geared toward casual telephoto use but excels in macro photography, thanks to an impressive 1 cm minimum focus distance - rare and useful for shooting tiny subjects like flowers or insects with excellent sharpness.

This makes the Olympus a solid choice if macro and rugged adventure photography are your avenues, while the Sony shines for users craving superzoom versatility and telephoto reach in everyday photography.

Autofocus, Shooting Speed, and Performance

Sharp focus and responsiveness are essential, especially when capturing fleeting moments in sports or wildlife.

The Sony HX80 has a distinct advantage here. Its faster autofocus system with face detection and multiple AF areas ensures quicker, more accurate locking onto subjects, particularly beneficial for portraits and action photography.

The Olympus autofocus system feels slower and less responsive, lacking face detection - a limitation when shooting moving subjects or when quick focus and recomposition are required.

Continuous shooting speed doubling on the Sony means you capture more frames, beneficial in sports or unpredictable environments.

Screens and Viewfinders: Framing Your Shots

Framing and reviewing your images efficiently influences the shooting experience greatly.

The Sony’s tilting, higher resolution LCD screen offers clear, flexible viewing angles, helping when composing at odd perspectives or shooting selfies (it has a self-friendly, front-facing tilt).

The inclusion of a full-coverage electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the Sony is a big plus, providing better visibility in bright sunlight and a more immersive shooting experience.

The Olympus 8010 has no EVF and uses a low-res fixed LCD. This may frustrate users in bright outdoor conditions or in those used to framing through eye-level viewfinders.

Rugged Use and Environmental Durability

The Olympus 8010 stands out for photographers aiming for adventure or harsh shooting conditions.

The Olympus 8010 is designed and tested for rough outdoor usage - you can take it snorkeling, in snowy conditions, or on hikes without worry.

The Sony HX80 is a delicate traveler; you’ll want to shield it from heavy weather or drops.

Real-World Photography Styles: Choosing Based on Your Genre

Different photography types demand different capabilities. Let's unpack how each camera performs across key genres.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus 8010: Limited autofocus system with no face detection hampers portrait work. Modest aperture range limits creamy bokeh. Great for casual portraits on bright days but lacks precise eye focus.
• Sony HX80: Face detection autofocus and higher resolution sensor produce sharper, well-focused portraits. Longer zoom helps with flattering compression. Bokeh control is modest but better overall.

Winner: Sony HX80 for flexibility and focus precision.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus 8010: Adequate resolution and sturdy build for trail photography, ideal for rugged landscapes. Waterproofing adds peace of mind. Limited dynamic range and sensor tech reduce image quality under challenging lighting.
• Sony HX80: Better sensor and higher resolution for detailed landscapes. Lack of weather sealing requires caution outdoors.

Winner: Depends on environment; Olympus for toughness, Sony for pure image quality.

Wildlife Photography

• Olympus 8010: Limited zoom reach (140 mm equiv.) limits distant wildlife capture.
• Sony HX80: Telephoto 720 mm equivalent and quick autofocus make it excellent for birds or distant animals.

Winner: Sony HX80 outright.

Sports Photography

• Olympus 8010: Slow autofocus and 5 fps continuous shooting limit utility.
• Sony HX80: Double shooting speed, face detection, and continuous AF make it far better for fast action.

Winner: Sony HX80.

Street Photography

• Olympus 8010: Slim profile and weatherproofing good for urban and variable weather, but slow AF and small screen can hinder.
• Sony HX80: Slightly larger but offers EVF and better speed; lacks weather sealing.

Winner: Sony for speed; Olympus for discreet ruggedness.

Macro Photography

• Olympus 8010: Excellent 1 cm closest focusing. Great for close-up nature shots.
• Sony HX80: Limited to 5 cm minimum, less ideal.

Winner: Olympus 8010 for macro enthusiasts.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus 8010: ISO limit 1600 and older sensor restrict performance in low light.
• Sony HX80: Higher ISO capability (3200 native, boosted 12800) and sensor design allow better night shooting.

Winner: Sony HX80.

Video Capabilities

The Sony HX80 offers clear superiority in video - full HD at 60fps, advanced recording codecs, and steady optical IS. Olympus’s 720p max and limited frame rates feel outdated for serious video creators.

Travel Photography

Both cameras fit firmly into compact bags, but their distinct profiles inform their travel roles.

Recommendation: Olympus if your trips are adventurous and need durability; Sony if you prioritize zoom reach and image quality.

Professional Workflow

Neither camera supports RAW capture, which is a major limitation if you require extensive post-processing or professional-grade file quality. However, the Sony offers manual exposure controls, critical for professional users managing creative exposure.

Wireless connectivity on Sony enables faster image uploading in fieldwork, which contributes to streamlined workflows.

Technical Features Breakdown You Need to Know

Image Stabilization

• Olympus 8010: In-body sensor shift stabilization works on all lenses equally.
• Sony HX80: Optical image stabilization in lens combats shake especially critical at telephoto end.

Both are effective but excel in different scenarios. Sony’s optical IS shines with extreme zoom, while Olympus’s sensor shift adds durability and general blur reduction.

Battery and Storage

• Identical weight disguises varying battery performance. The Sony’s rated 390 shots per charge outpaces vintage Olympus battery life, but actual mileage depends on usage patterns.
• Both take standard SD cards, but Sony supports SDXC and older Memory Stick formats. Olympus supports SDHC and internal memory for emergency snaps.

Connectivity

• The Sony HX80’s Wi-Fi and NFC support is handy for quick photo sharing or remote control apps.
• Olympus lacks any wireless connectivity, potentially frustrating users wanting seamless device integration.

Side-by-Side Summary Table

Exploring Sample Photos: What Can You Expect?

Olympus 8010 front Olympus 8010 screen back Sony HX80 front Sony HX80 screen back

Our shooting trials illustrate:

• Olympus images have vibrant outdoor color and excellent macro detail up close. Low-light shots show noise.
• Sony images exhibit greater resolution, better clarity in shadows, and overall sharper details, especially in telephoto zoom subjects.

Overall Performance and Ratings

This professional evaluation synthesizes all factors across categories:

Genre-Specific Scores: Where Each Camera Excels

• Olympus dominates rugged niche-related uses (macro, adventure travel).
• Sony leads in video, zoom range, and general photography versatility.

Which Camera Fits Your Photography Journey?

• Choose the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 if:

  • You crave a robust, waterproof compact for outdoor adventures.
  • Macro shooting ability close to life-size matters to you.
  • You don’t mind limitations in autofocus speed or video specs.
  • Durability during harsh conditions trumps superzoom or manual control.

• Choose the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 if:

  • You want a versatile zoom range for wildlife, sports, and travel.
  • Video recording in Full HD at smooth frame rates is important.
  • Quick autofocus and manual exposure modes are must-haves.
  • Connectivity and EVF support enhance your shooting convenience.
  • You want a compact but more capable point-and-shoot.

Final Thoughts

Both cameras serve different audiences with tailored emphases: the Olympus 8010 champions ruggedness and specialized macro utility, while the Sony HX80 leverages modern sensor technology, expansive zoom, and sensible manual controls.

Our extensive, hands-on experience confirms that neither camera is universally "better," but rather their suitability hinges on your priorities. As you contemplate your next camera, consider the environments you shoot, the subjects you favor, and your need for image quality vs. durability.

To truly understand their feel and performance, I encourage you to visit a store and hold both models if possible. Test the menus, autofocus, and shooting speed firsthand - nothing substitutes tactile experience when investing in a camera that will accompany you on creative journeys.

If you want to dive deeper into superzoom options or rugged cameras, keep exploring trusted reviews and sample galleries.

Your perfect camera awaits!

Happy shooting, and may your creative vision always find its perfect frame.