Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500

The following is a complete comparison of the Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FZ80 (18MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is fairly close and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FZ80 was released 22 months after the WX500 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FZ80 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the FZ80 scores vs the WX500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic FZ80 Gallery and Sony WX500 Gallery.

If you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic FZ80 features physical dimensions of 130mm x 94mm x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") accompanied by a weight of 616 grams (1.36 lbs) whilst the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the FZ80 compared to the WX500.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FZ80 and WX500 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Usually, it's tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions just by looking through a spec sheet. The pic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ80 and WX500.

Clearly, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same MP so you should expect comparable quality of photographs though you will need to factor the production date of the cameras into account. The fresher FZ80 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.