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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
60
Overall
49

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Launched July 2012
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released March 2016
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Panasonic SZ5 versus Sony HX80, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the SZ5 (14MP) and HX80 (18MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ5 was manufactured 4 years before the HX80 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the SZ5 matches up versus the HX80 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Sony HX80

 SZ5 HX80 

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Panasonic SZ5

 HX80 SZ5 
ReleasedMarch 2016July 2012More modern by 44 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX80

 SZ5 HX80 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic SZ5 has got outside dimensions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony HX80 has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic SZ5 versus Sony HX80 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SZ5 and the HX80.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SZ5 and HX80 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The image below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ5 and HX80.

As you can tell, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX80 to provide you with greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots more aggressively. The more aged SZ5 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Portrait photography info
Sony HX80 Portrait photography info
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
39
MP count good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Street photography camera
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
69
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (245 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX80 Sports photography highlights
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery pack (390 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Travel photography camera
70
lighter than competition (136 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
76
good battery pack (390 per charge)
lighter than competitors (245g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse function
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX80 Landscape photography highlights
42
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
49
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
good battery pack (390 per charge)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX80 Vlogging highlights
32
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition (136 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
75
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (245 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
missing external mic socket
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Panasonic SZ5 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ5 and Sony HX80
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-07-18 2016-03-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-250mm (10.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.60 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136 grams (0.30 lbs) 245 grams (0.54 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 shots 390 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $195 $368