Sony HX80 vs Sony W230

In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Sony HX80 versus Sony W230, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both offered by Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the HX80 (18MP) and W230 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The HX80 was manufactured 7 years later than the W230 and that is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise overview of how the HX80 scores vs the W230 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230. The entire galleries are available at Sony HX80 Gallery & Sony W230 Gallery.

If you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony HX80 features physical dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony W230 has dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Check out the Sony HX80 versus Sony W230 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the HX80 against the W230.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the HX80 and W230 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Usually, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The graphic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the HX80 and W230.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony HX80 to give greater detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots far more aggressively. The newer HX80 provides an edge in sensor technology.