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Sony A550 vs Sony HX80

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Key Specs

Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched March 2016
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Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Overview

The following is a in-depth overview of the Sony A550 vs Sony HX80, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and HX80 (18MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and HX80 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The A550 was manufactured 7 years earlier than the HX80 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the A550 scores against the HX80 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony HX80

 A550 HX80 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution922k921kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Sony A550

 HX80 A550 
LaunchedMarch 2016December 2009Newer by 76 months
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony HX80

 A550 HX80 
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony A550 features external measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) whilst the Sony HX80 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the A550 against the HX80.

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and HX80 is 63 and 91 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and HX80.

As you can see, each of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The A550 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX80 will produce more detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A550 Portrait photography features
Sony HX80 Portrait photography features
72
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focus
saves RAW files
39
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography info
Sony HX80 Street photography info
74
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
70
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony A550
Sports photography with Sony HX80
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
terrible battery (480 CIPA)
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery life (390 CIPA)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A550 Travel photography highlights
Sony HX80 Travel photography highlights
52
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (480 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
76
good battery life (390 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Landscape photography camera
66
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
terrible battery (480 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
49
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
good battery life (390 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 Vlogging info
Sony HX80 Vlogging info
9
no video
75
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have external mic port
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Sony A550 vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony HX80
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Class Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-12-09 2016-03-07
Body design Compact SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Bionz Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 632 grams (1.39 pounds) 245 grams (0.54 pounds)
Physical dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 photos 390 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-FM500H NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $749 $368