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Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500

Portability
63
Imaging
44
Features
62
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 20-1200mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 616g - 130 x 94 x 119mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FZ82
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Previous Model is Sony WX350
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ80 over the Sony WX500

 FZ80 WX500 
AnnouncedJanuary 2017April 2015Newer by 22 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Display resolution1040k921kSharper display (+119k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Panasonic FZ80

 WX500 FZ80 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Panasonic FZ80 and Sony WX500

 FZ80 WX500 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

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

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

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.

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Portrait photography info
Sony WX500 Portrait photography info
58
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
39
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Street photography information
Sony WX500 Street photography information
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (616 grams)
70
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Sports photography factors
Sony WX500 Sports photography factors
57
incredible zoom range (20-1200mm 60.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Travel photography details
Sony WX500 Travel photography details
59
boasts touch to focus
decent megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (20mm)
long reach (1200mm)
heavier than others in class (616g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
71
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (236g)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX500 Landscape photography highlights
57
focusing manually
reasonably wide (20mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
49
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
better than average battery power (360 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ80 Vlogging highlights
Sony WX500 Vlogging highlights
28
reasonably wide (20mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others in class (616g)
35
really wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (236 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic socket
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Panasonic FZ80 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ80 and Sony WX500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Also called Lumix DMC-FZ82 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2017-01-04 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 3200 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 49 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 20-1200mm (60.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 14.10 m (at Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-eye Reduction, 1st Curtain Sync, 2nd Curtain Sync Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 616 grams (1.36 pounds) 236 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 130 x 94 x 119mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.7") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 360 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 images x 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $399 $348