Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony RX100 V: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Powerhouses

When it comes to choosing a versatile camera that balances portability, image quality, and functionality, enthusiasts often find themselves torn between radically different designs and sensor sizes. Today, I’m comparing two intriguing contenders in the compact and bridge camera arena: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 (aka FZ82) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V.

The Panasonic FZ80 is a classic bridge cam with a monster 60x zoom lens promising everything from 20mm wide angles to an astonishing 1200mm telephoto reach. The Sony RX100 V, on the other hand, sits firmly in the premium compact category, boasting a 1-inch sensor and high-end autofocus technology packed into a pocketable form factor.

Over my 15 years of hands-on camera experience, I’ve put both models through their paces across portraiture, landscapes, wildlife, and video. This review is tailored to help you understand their real-world performance differences, technical strengths, and which might fit your photography style best.

Let’s begin by sizing them up - literally - and then drill down into their nuanced capabilities.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics and Handling

Right off the bat, the Panasonic FZ80 is notably larger and heavier at 616 grams compared to Sony’s compact 299 grams for the RX100 V. The Panasonic’s DSLR-like shape and grip give it a more substantial feel, which many will find reassuring for extended shooting, especially at long zoom ranges. Its flare for ergonomics includes a decent-sized thumb rest and plenty of control dials - helpful for those who prefer tactile adjustments over menus.

The Sony RX100 V, with dimensions just 102x58x41 mm, is pocketable and stealthy, perfect for street shooters and travelers keen on light packing. Its minimalist grip and compact control layout speed up casual shooting but come at the cost of reduced button real estate and potentially less intuitive manual operation for some users.

Looking at the top plates, the FZ80 offers dual dials for aperture and shutter control, plus a zoom lever integrated around the shutter button, reinforcing its bang-for-your-buck bridge camera vibe. The Sony packs advanced autofocus triggers with a custom function button but relies heavily on menu navigation for less commonly adjusted settings.

In my workflow, I find the Panasonic’s physical controls more approachable during fast-paced shooting, while the Sony rewards familiarity with its streamlined interface once you master its menus. Your preferred style - do you like instant dial access or compact minimalism? - will guide this choice.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size Matters, But How Much?

Sensor technology often dictates image quality boundaries, so let’s unpack the sensor specs here.

The Panasonic FZ80 uses a tiny 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17x4.55 mm covering 18MP. This is a sensor size you’ll find in many point-and-shoots, which is a limitation for noise performance and dynamic range. That said, the FZ80 leverages Panasonic’s Venus Engine to crunch JPEGs and stop noise reasonably at base ISOs. The 60x zoom lens is its headline feature but compromises image sharpness notably once you get past 300mm equivalent.

Meanwhile, the Sony RX100 V boasts a sizable 1" BSI CMOS sensor of 13.2x8.8 mm delivering 20MP native resolution. This sensor diameter is roughly four times the surface area of the Panasonic’s sensor. You immediately see benefits in low-light capabilities, dynamic range, and color depth. According to DxOMark, the RX100 V scores an overall 70 points with standout color depth (22.8 bits) and dynamic range (12.4 EV stops), whereas the FZ80 remains untested officially but is generally behind in low-light and dynamic range by a wide margin.

In practice, this means panorama shots, landscape hues, and low-light portraits will favor the Sony, not just by numbers, but visibly in cleaner shadows and richer colors. The FZ80 still produces decent daylight images but demands careful technique and often lowering expectations on noise past ISO 800.

The Art of Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus prowess can make or break usability across genres - wildlife, sports, or street photography all have their demands.

The Panasonic FZ80 is equipped with a contrast-detection AF system and 49 focus points but lacks phase detection and on-sensor PDAF. Its autofocus feels decent for static subjects but struggles with fast-moving targets, especially at extreme telephoto zooms where focus hunting becomes common. The camera offers face detection and focus tracking, but results can be inconsistent under challenging light or rapid action.

The Sony RX100 V, on the other hand, shines here with a hybrid autofocus system featuring 315 phase-detection points combined with contrast detection, granting blisteringly fast lock-on speeds and intelligent subject tracking - especially useful for sports and wildlife. Burst shooting at 24 fps with continuous AF tracking is a standout feature that can capture fleeting moments others miss.

Summing up, if AF speed and accuracy are critical - you want the Sony RX100 V every time. The Panasonic is better suited for casual shooting and subjects with slower motion.

Versatility in Lenses: Zoom Reach vs Optical Quality

Let’s talk optics because what you shoot with shapes how you shoot.

The Panasonic FZ80’s pièce de résistance is its fixed 20-1200mm equivalent lens with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8-5.9. This is a rare zoom range that will satisfy travelers, birders, and outdoor photographers who want to avoid swapping lenses or carrying heavy gear. Its macro focus capability down to 1 cm also opens up close-up creative possibilities.

However, such a vast zoom range inevitably entails compromises: wide-open sharpness tapers off in the tele range, and image quality suffers from chromatic aberrations and distortion in certain focal lengths. That said, the image stabilization built into the lens is effective, giving you several stops for handheld telephoto shooting.

On the flip side, the Sony RX100 V has a fixed 24-70mm F1.8-2.8 Zeiss-branded lens offering superb sharpness, creamy bokeh thanks to its bright aperture, and minimal distortion. It's not a zoom monster but the focal range covers most day-to-day and portraiture needs excellently.

For macro, the Sony focuses down to 5 cm, which is enough for casual close-ups but won’t match the Panasonic’s ultra-close minimum focusing distance.

I personally appreciate the Panasonic’s reach for everything-from-far-away shooting, while the Sony’s lens excels at clarity, background separation, and low-light shooting.

Powering Through: Battery Life and Storage Considerations

Battery life often gets overlooked but can make a huge difference on trips or events.

The Panasonic FZ80 boasts a respectable 330-shot CIPA rating, comfortably above average for bridge cameras at this zoom range. This makes it reliable for full-day outings without worrying about grabbing extra batteries.

The Sony RX100 V has a more modest 220 shots per charge, constrained by its compact size and high-performance processor demanding more juice, especially during continuous burst or video. If you’re shooting high volume, consider carrying backup batteries.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot supporting SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, though the Sony also supports Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick format - mostly irrelevant unless you are already in their ecosystem.

User Interface and Display: Touch, Tilt, and Viewfinders

The Panasonic’s 3-inch, 1040k-dot fixed LCD screen supports touch operation, easing focus selection and menu navigation. However, the screen is fixed, which can hamper awkward-angle shooting.

The Sony RX100 V provides a slightly higher resolution 3-inch LCD with a tilting mechanism, invaluable for creative compositions - think over crowds or low ground-level portraits. Unfortunately, it lacks touchscreen, which might be a drawback if you prefer tap focus.

Both cameras have electronic viewfinders, but the Sony’s EVF is notably crisper at 2.36 million dots versus Panasonic’s 1.16 million dots. This makes composing in bright light and manual focus work more reliable on the Sony.

Image Stabilization and Video: Steady Shots & 4K Footage

Both cameras feature optical image stabilization, a must-have for handheld telephoto photography and video.

The Panasonic FZ80 supports 4K video recording at 3840x2160 30p, h.264 codec at 100 Mbps, and interestingly includes 4K photo modes - allowing you to extract high-res stills from video clips. You also get slow-motion capture at 1080p 60fps and basic timelapse recording features baked in.

The Sony RX100 V also shoots 4K video at the same resolution and frame rate using the superior XAVC S codec with Linear PCM audio for better sound quality. It lacks 4K photo modes but features high-speed autofocus during video - a big plus for run-and-gun shooting.

Neither camera offers mic or headphone jacks, a clear limitation for serious videographers.

Between the two, the Panasonic’s longer zoom range gives you flexible framing for video, but the Sony offers better video codec quality and autofocus during recording.

Special Features: Focus Bracketing, Wifi, and Connectivity

The Panasonic FZ80 includes focus bracketing and stacking methods - features more common on mirrorless and DSLRs - extremely useful for macro photography to enhance depth-of-field. It also sports built-in Wi-Fi for handy remote control and image transfer, but no Bluetooth or NFC.

Sony’s RX100 V also has Wi-Fi plus NFC for quick pairing with smartphones but lacks Bluetooth. It’s more limited in focus stacking functionality and relies on downloadable apps for time-lapse recording.

For external flash, Panasonic supports hot-shoe mounted flashes, whereas the Sony includes a built-in popup flash and no external flash compatibility, nudging you toward third-party lighting solutions when supplemental illumination is needed.

Putting It to the Test: How Do These Cameras Perform in Real-World Genres?

Panasonic FZ80 front Panasonic FZ80 screen back Sony RX100 V front Sony RX100 V screen back

I tested both cameras under a variety of scenarios. Here are illustrative sample images you can preview to see the differences in color rendition, noise, and sharpness.

• Portraits: The Sony RX100 V’s large sensor and bright lens deliver natural skin tones and creamy bokeh, especially on the 70mm end for flattering compression. The Panasonic lacks the same creamy background separation, and skin tones can look a bit flat or oversharpened at 100% zoom.

• Landscapes: Sony has the edge in dynamic range and detail resolution, capturing textures and subtle light gradations beautifully. Panasonic’s small sensor shrinks the tonal headroom, which you’ll notice in shadow areas.

• Wildlife: Panasonic’s 1200mm equivalent reach means you get subject fill frame at extraordinary distances, while Sony hits a focusing speed sweet spot but limited zoom forces closer proximity or cropping.

• Sports: The RX100 V’s 24 fps burst and AF tracking outclass Panasonic’s 10 fps and contrast AF hunting - making Sony a clear winner here.

• Street: The RX100 V’s small size, quick AF, and quiet shutter make it less conspicuous and more responsive for candid shots.

• Macro: Panasonic’s 1cm macro focusing distance outperforms RX100V’s 5cm minimum.

• Night/Astro: Sony’s sensor handles high ISO with less noise, usable up to ISO 3200 and beyond, translating to cleaner nightscapes.

• Video: Both deliver competent 4K footage; Sony edges it with superior codec and continuous AF.

• Travel: Panasonic’s zoom versatility covers many situations with less gear but weighs nearly twice as much. Sony’s pocketability and superior image quality make it compelling for light packers.

Overall Performance and Scorecard

According to my hands-on testing and corroborating DxOMark figures, here is a balanced summary score:

How They Match Up by Photography Genre

Breaking down their suitability:

• Portraits: RX100 V excels with better bokeh and color; FZ80 good for casual portraits.
• Landscape: RX100 V preferred for dynamic range; FZ80 usable with careful exposure.
• Wildlife: FZ80’s extreme zoom wins for reach, but RX100 V AF speed impresses.
• Sports: RX100 V guns it with fast burst and tracking.
• Street: RX100 V’s discreteness and responsiveness favored.
• Macro: FZ80 better for close focus flexibility.
• Night/Astro: RX100 V delivers cleaner, usable images.
• Video: Slight edge to RX100 V for codec and AF.
• Travel: Depends on priority - FZ80’s zoom or RX100V’s pocketability.
• Professional Use: RX100 V’s higher image quality and advanced AF make it the sensible pick; FZ80 remains a budget zoom alternative for fun shooting.

Recommendations: Which Should You Choose?

• For Enthusiasts Who Want an All-In-One Travel Zoom (Budget ~$400):
  Panasonic FZ80 shines. You get incredible reach, acceptable image quality, a touch screen, and focus stacking features that are rare at this price point. If your photography is casual wildlife spotting, travel landscapes, or macro fun, this camera offers tremendous value. Just temper expectations for image quality at high ISOs or tight crops.

• For Professionals and Serious Enthusiasts Prioritizing Image Quality, Speed, and Video (Budget ~$1000):
  The Sony RX100 V is highly recommended. Its large sensor, superior AF system, excellent video codec, and pocketable design make it a superb everyday carry camera. It handles portraits, sports, street, and night shots with more finesse. Yes, the zoom range is less ambitious, but image output is cleaner and more versatile.

• For Hybrid Shooters Craving Both Zoom and High Image Quality:
  Neither camera fully delivers. Consider stepping up to an interchangeable lens mirrorless camera or DSLR where lenses can adapt to your needs. But if your budget is tight or you value convenience, the FZ80’s zoom is unmatched in this price bracket.

Final Thoughts: Two Cameras, Different Missions

Throughout my thorough testing, it’s clear these cameras occupy fundamentally different niches despite some overlap.

The Panasonic FZ80 is a bridge camera for the adventurous, zoom-hungry photographer who wants a versatile tool all-in-one without changing lenses. It’s perfect for family vacations, casual wildlife portraits, or macro play at a budget.

The Sony RX100 V caters to those who prize image quality, autofocus performance, and compact portability. It’s especially strong for street, event, and professional casual work where image fidelity and fast shooting matter.

Panasonic FZ80 front Panasonic FZ80 screen back Sony RX100 V front Sony RX100 V screen back

In the end, your choice boils down to zoom range vs sensor size, price vs performance, and how much weight or size you’re willing to carry.

I hope this comprehensive comparison, grounded in extensive personal testing and objective metrics, helps you pinpoint the perfect fit.

Happy shooting!

If you enjoyed this in-depth comparison, do check out my full video reviews linked above, where you’ll find side-by-side sample shots, AF tests, and more detailed demonstrations.