Olympus VR-320 vs Sony HX80: The Ultimate Small Sensor Superzoom Showdown

Choosing a compact superzoom camera can feel like walking into a candy store where every sweet promises a different flavor, but only a few deliver the kind of lasting satisfaction you crave. Today, we're peeling back the wrapper on two contenders in the small-sensor superzoom compact category - the Olympus VR-320 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 - to find out which deserves a spot in your camera bag. I’ve spent considerable hands-on time with both cameras, putting their specs, ergonomics, image quality, and real-world usability through the wringer, so you don’t have to.

Grab your favorite drink and settle in as we traverse everything from sensor tech and autofocus wizardry to landscape vistas, wildlife chases, and street photography escapades. Let’s dive headfirst into this nuanced comparison that balances the enthusiasm of a tech aficionado with the grounded perspective of a seasoned shooter.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: How These Cameras Feel in Your Hands

Compact superzooms often try to pack versatility into pocket-sized bodies but sometimes at the cost of comfort or usability. Handling these two is a classic tale of “old school meets modern.”

The Olympus VR-320 is a 2011 design with modest dimensions (101 x 58 x 29 mm) and lightweight construction (just 158g). It fits snugly into serious-pocket territory. That small size is great for travel or street photography where you want minimal footprint - but the tradeoff is in control intuitiveness. Its fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with a resolution of just 230k dots lacks flexibility and brightness, and there is no electronic viewfinder (EVF), forcing you to rely exclusively on the rear screen for framing. No touchscreen either, so navigation takes some patience, especially when setting exposure or focus options without manual dials.

By contrast, the Sony HX80 - released five years later - carries a more robust feel in hand, understandably heavier at 245g and slightly larger (102 x 58 x 36 mm). It’s still compact but built for a slightly more serious user who appreciates a bit more heft for stability. The HX80 has a 3-inch tilting LCD with a bright, sharp 921k-dot resolution, making composing shots from awkward angles less of a headache. Notably, it sports a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) covering 100% of the frame - rare in this category - which really helps in bright outdoor conditions where glare can drown out an LCD.

Its control layout is a touch more complex but also more rewarding for those who want shutter/aperture priority or manual modes, thanks to dedicated buttons and a mode dial. The Olympus opts for simplicity but at the loss of quick tactile control.

Ergonomically, the HX80 wins if you like some muscle and control between your fingers; the VR-320 leans toward the casual snapshot crowd. Choose your fighter accordingly: do you want pocket convenience or thoughtful control?

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Peeling Back the Layers

Both cameras revolve around a small 1/2.3-inch sensor format, a very popular size for superzooms balancing compactness with acceptable quality. However, subtle technical differences reveal a lot about imaging potential.

The Olympus VR-320 employs a 14-megapixel CCD sensor - a tech tried and tested a decade ago. CCDs often provide nice color rendition but tend to struggle with noise at higher ISOs and slower readout speeds. The VR-320’s max native ISO caps out at 1600, which rarely gives great results in low light, and no RAW support means you’re stuck with JPEG processing baked into the camera.

Opposite, the Sony HX80 opts for an 18-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with the newer Bionz X image processor. This sensor type is notably better at gathering light efficiently, translating to improved dynamic range, reduced noise at elevated ISOs, and sharper images overall. The HX80 supports ISO up to 3200 natively, expandable to 12800, although you definitely pay in noise when pushing those extremes. It also shoots in multiple aspect ratios (including 16:9 and 1:1) for framing versatility, which the Olympus doesn’t.

In real-world tests - running landscapes and portraits side by side - the HX80’s sensor delivered crisper details and punchier colors, with much lower noise at ISO 800 than the Olympus. The VR-320’s images felt softer and less vibrant, particularly in shadow regions where dynamic range was limited.

If image quality is king for your photography, the Sony’s sensor and processor duo bring that extra oomph modern shooters want.

Autofocus Systems: Fast, Slow, or Somewhere in Between?

Autofocus matters - especially in genres like wildlife, sports, and street photography where split seconds count. Let’s see how these two cameras stack up behind the lens.

The Olympus VR-320 pivots on a relatively basic contrast-detection AF system - no phase-detection, no hybrid focus - choosing among multi-area or face detection with a single-shot AF mode only (no continuous AF). Average focusing speed is acceptable indoors or on still subjects, but tracking moving subjects proved unnecessarily slow and at times prone to hunting. This limits its utility for capturing action or unpredictable street scenes.

Meanwhile, the Sony HX80 sports a more sophisticated contrast detection system augmented by clever algorithms enabling continuous AF and subject tracking with face detection and selective AF point control. Although not phase-detection, the real-world performance for moving targets is surprisingly reliable, especially for stills at 10 fps burst (the HX80’s continuous shooting mode) which almost feels sport-camera-like in responsiveness.

While neither camera can claim professional-grade AF speed, the HX80 clearly is the better choice for anyone serious about capturing wildlife or sports moments. The Olympus calls for patience and steady subjects.

Lens Versatility and Zoom Range: The Reach Matters

Superzoom cameras live and die by their zooms - the more reach without sacrificing sharpness or speed, the more compelling the package.

The Olympus VR-320 offers a 24-300mm equivalent zoom (12.5x), which covers a broad range of shooting scenarios - from environmental portraits to moderate telephoto. Its max aperture ranges from f/3.0 wide open to f/5.9 tele, typical for a compact lens at this zoom length. Interestingly, its macro focus range hits as close as 1 cm, excellent for close-up enthusiasts.

Compare that to the Sony HX80’s longer 24-720mm equivalent lens boasting a whopping 30x optical zoom. That extra focal length opens up serious possibilities for wildlife or distant landscape details. Aperture ranges a bit narrower, f/3.5 to f/6.4, indicating a slight compromise in light gathering at the extremes, but this is expected with such a vast zoom ratio. The minimum focus is 5 cm, decently close, but not quite macro territory like the Olympus.

In practical shooting, the extra reach on the HX80 shines in wildlife and travel scenarios, though image quality at the far edge of the zoom tends to soften slightly - a common tradeoff. Olympus holds its own with tighter optics providing sharpness and better macro close-ups.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Ready for Adventure?

Neither camera boasts dedicated weather sealing, dustproofing, or ruggedization, so neither is tailor-made for rough outdoor fieldwork or adverse conditions. Olympus is lighter and more delicate-feeling; the Sony, with its bulkier body, gives a more reassuring grip but isn’t rugged either.

If you’re hiking through drizzle or navigating dusty trails, take additional precautions regardless of choice. You won’t find dustproof or waterproof magic in this category - but when it comes to everyday use, both are hardy enough for casual travel shoots.

User Interface and Display: Navigating the Menu Maze

A compact with an unintuitive interface can quickly sour your shooting experience.

The Olympus VR-320 relies on a fixed, non-touch TFT LCD at 230k dots - a low resolution for today’s standards - that can feel visually underwhelming. No touchscreen means button navigation through nested menus, which gets tedious, especially for exposure settings that you can’t lock manually due to lack of priority modes.

The Sony HX80 raises the bar with a tilting 3-inch LCD at 921k dots. This screen is bright and flexible for creative angles (think overhead crowd shots or ground-level street scenes). Although it doesn’t have touchscreen capabilities, the interface runs on Sony’s tried and tested Cyber-shot menu system, complete with exposure compensation, aperture/shutter priority, and manual exposure modes accessible via intuitive dials and buttons.

And of course, the HX80’s EVF comes into play when the sun is aggressively reflecting off your LCD - crucial for consistent framing outdoors.

The Sony’s interface strikes the sweet balance between advanced features and ease of use, while the Olympus feels stuck in a more rudimentary era.

Battery Life and Storage Options: How Long Can They Go?

Nothing kills a great photo excursion faster than a dead battery or storage hiccup.

The Olympus VR-320 uses a proprietary Li-42B battery, but official battery life is not prominently documented (a possible downside). Anecdotally, it delivers a moderate number of shots per charge - around 200 is reasonable, but heavy-use days require backups.

The Sony HX80, with its NP-BX1 battery, advertises 390 shots per charge, which aligns with my field experience - plenty to last a day’s shooting with judicious use of the EVF and LCD.

Both models support SD cards, with the Sony adding compatibility with Memory Stick Pro Duo (Sony proprietary) and SDXC in addition to SDHC, giving a bit more storage flexibility.

Bottom line? Sony’s battery performance gives the edge for longer travel or event shooting days.

Video Capabilities: When Stills Just Aren’t Enough

Many photographers want a hybrid tool for both stills and video, so what do these models offer?

The Olympus VR-320 records HD video at 1280 x 720p, capped at 30fps, encoded in Motion JPEG format - old-school and resulting in bulky file sizes. No external mic input or advanced modes, and image stabilization is sensor-shift.

The Sony HX80 steps it up with full HD 1080p recording at 60p, 60i, 30p, and 24p framerates in MPEG-4, AVCHD, and the more modern XAVC S codec. There’s no mic input, sadly, but optical image stabilization paired with advanced codec support yields better quality footage suitable for casual vlogging or holiday movies.

If video is part of your photography mix, the HX80’s significantly better specs win - and the tilting screen makes framing video shots easier.

Performance in Popular Photography Genres: Which Camera Fits Where?

Let’s summarize how each fares across key use cases.

Olympus VR 320 front Olympus VR 320 screen back Sony HX80 front Sony HX80 screen back

• Portrait Photography: Sony’s better sensor resolution, face detection AF, and superior color depth make it the clear winner. Olympus’s bokeh is limited by aperture and sensor size.

• Landscape: Both have limited dynamic range due to sensor size, but Sony’s improved processing extracts more detail and minimizes noise, especially in shadows.

• Wildlife: Sony’s longer 30x zoom and faster, continuous autofocus reach out to distant subjects effectively - beyond Olympus’s 12.5x zoom and slower AF.

• Sports: Neither is a pro sports shooter, but Sony’s 10 fps burst and AF tracking outperform Olympus’s slower, single-shot AF.

• Street: Olympus’s compactness and lightweight body offer greater discretion, but Sony’s EVF and faster AF can capture fleeting moments better. Tough call depending on your style.

• Macro: Olympus edges out with a closer minimum focus distance (1 cm vs 5 cm), ideal for extreme close-ups.

• Night/Astro: Sony’s improved high ISO performance wins in low light; Olympus struggles with noise and lack of manual controls.

• Video: Sony takes the cake hands down with 1080p60 and better codecs.

• Travel: Sony’s battery life and lens versatility win for long trips; Olympus gets points for pocketability.

• Professional Work: Neither replaces a DSLR or mirrorless, but Sony’s manual modes and file quality give it a mild edge for casual pro use.

Price and Value: What Are You Paying For?

Olympus VR-320 launched around $179 and now tends to be found only as a bargain or used. Sony HX80 originally retailed near $368, reflecting its newer tech and improved specs.

For budget-minded shooters prioritizing portability and casual snapshots, the Olympus remains a valid choice - it packs a decent zoom, basic image stabilization, and is user-friendly, if somewhat dated.

However, if you want a more versatile camera with better image quality, zoom range, battery life, and video, the Sony HX80 justifies its premium, even in the secondhand market.

Wrapping up: Which Camera Should You Buy?

Both cameras occupy the same small sensor superzoom compact niche but cater to different types of shooters.

• Go Olympus VR-320 if:
  You crave pocketable convenience, super-close macro shooting, light travel without fuss, and mostly casual snapshot use. Its lower price and simplicity appeal to beginners or those wanting a grab-and-go compact with a decent zoom.

• Choose Sony HX80 if:
  You value image quality, longer zoom reach, faster and smarter autofocus, manual exposure control, better video recording, and a more flexible in-field experience. It suits seasoned enthusiasts wanting a compact backup or primary travel camera.

Final Thoughts

Selecting between the Olympus VR-320 and Sony HX80 boils down to balancing shooting style, image quality expectations, and budget. While both are compact superzooms, the five-year technology gap gives Sony’s HX80 a noticeable advantage across almost every parameter - albeit at a higher price and size.

If anything, this comparison perfectly illustrates how far small sensor superzooms evolved between 2011 and 2016. The HX80, with its thoughtful controls, long zoom, bright EVF, and improved processor, feels like a modern compact that still fits in the palm but performs well beyond the basics.

I recommend handling both if you can (especially to feel the ergonomics) and thinking about what kinds of photos you crave most. For casual outings with minimal effort, Olympus still has charm. For those who cherish flexibility and quality in a compact shell, Sony’s HX80 is the smarter bet.

Happy shooting - and may your next camera be the one that keeps making you smile every time you press the shutter!

If you want to dig deeper, my full test suites and galleries are available for both models, helping you visualize strengths and weaknesses with sample images at various focal lengths and lighting conditions. Until next time!