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Sony HX80 vs Sony W550

Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Expand 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
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Released July 2011
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Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Overview

Its time to look more in depth at the Sony HX80 and Sony W550, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are created by Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the HX80 (18MP) and W550 (14MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The HX80 was launched 4 years after the W550 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a short summary of how the HX80 grades against the W550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Sony W550

 HX80 W550 
ReleasedMarch 2016July 2011Newer by 57 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony HX80

 W550 HX80 

Common features in the Sony HX80 and Sony W550

 HX80 W550 
Focus manually No manual focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to travel with your camera regularly, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Sony HX80 provides physical measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) and the Sony W550 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") having a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony HX80 and Sony W550 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the HX80 and the W550.

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the HX80 and W550 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the HX80 and W550.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony HX80 to provide extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more modern HX80 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony HX80
Portrait photography with Sony W550
39
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
no manual focus
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony HX80 Street photography advice
Sony W550 Street photography advice
70
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony HX80 Sports photography advice
Sony W550 Sports photography advice
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery (390 CIPA)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sony HX80 Travel photography information
Sony W550 Travel photography information
76
better than average battery (390 CIPA)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
65
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sony HX80
Landscape photography with Sony W550
49
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
better than average battery (390 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
42
pretty wide (26mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX80 Vlogging highlights
Sony W550 Vlogging highlights
75
fairly wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (245 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external mic port
29
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
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Sony HX80 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX80 and Sony W550
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Launched 2016-03-07 2011-07-24
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X BIONZ
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.4 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 3.80 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 245g (0.54 pounds) 110g (0.24 pounds)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
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 390 shots -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-BN1
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One -
Launch price $368 $119