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Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
23
Overall
30
Pentax Optio P80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Pentax P80
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.6-5.8) lens
  • 125g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched August 2009
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX20V
  • New Model is Sony HX50V
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Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Below is a complete analysis of the Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Pentax and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the P80 (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The P80 was launched 3 years before the HX30V and that is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the P80 matches up vs the HX30V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax P80 over the Sony HX30V

 P80 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Pentax P80

 HX30V P80 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012August 2009More recent by 31 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Pentax P80 and Sony HX30V

 P80 HX30V 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Pentax P80 provides exterior dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has measurements of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Check the Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the P80 and the HX30V.

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the P80 and HX30V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by checking specifications. The visual underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the P80 and HX30V.

Plainly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You should count on the Sony HX30V to give more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older P80 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax P80
Portrait photography with Sony HX30V
27
has manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
45
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax P80 Street photography features
Sony HX30V Street photography features
55
lighter than competition (125 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Pentax P80 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Sports photography camera
17
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
low fps (3.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax P80 Travel photography info
Sony HX30V Travel photography info
62
lighter than competition (125 grams)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
69
lighter than others (254 grams)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax P80 Landscape photography features
Sony HX30V Landscape photography features
32
has manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
50
you can focus manually
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax P80 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
lighter than competition (125g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
34
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone port
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Pentax P80 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax P80 and Sony HX30V
 Pentax Optio P80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sony
Model type Pentax Optio P80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-05 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Prime BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
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 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-110mm (3.9x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.6-5.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing range 10cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 4.60 m 7.10 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 125 gr (0.28 pounds) 254 gr (0.56 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" 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 - 320 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID D-LI68 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $200 $420