Panasonic G9 vs Sony HX80

On this page, we are contrasting the Panasonic G9 and Sony HX80, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the G9 (20MP) and the HX80 (18MP) is fairly similar but the G9 (Four Thirds) and HX80 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G9 was unveiled 21 months after the HX80 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the G9 grades versus the HX80 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic G9 Gallery and Sony HX80 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G9 enjoys outer measurements of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") along with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) and the Sony HX80 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

See the Panasonic G9 and Sony HX80 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the G9 compared to the HX80.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the G9 and HX80 is 62 and 91 respectively.

Often, its hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the G9 and HX80.

As you can see, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The G9 with its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic G9 will offer greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more recent G9 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.