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Sony HX80 vs Sony A37

Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
 
Sony SLT-A37 front
Portability
67
Imaging
57
Features
65
Overall
60

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Key Specs

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
  • Revealed March 2016
Sony A37
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.6" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 506g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed May 2012
  • Replaced the Sony A35
Photography Glossary

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Sony HX80 vs Sony A37, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are produced by Sony. The image resolution of the HX80 (18MP) and the A37 (16MP) is very well matched but the HX80 (1/2.3") and A37 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The HX80 was manufactured 3 years after the A37 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A37 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the HX80 grades against the A37 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Sony A37

 HX80 A37 
RevealedMarch 2016May 2012More modern by 47 months
Display dimensions3"2.6"Larger display (+0.4")
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A37 over the Sony HX80

 A37 HX80 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Sony HX80 and Sony A37

 HX80 A37 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sony HX80 provides external measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Sony A37 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 506 grams (1.12 lbs).

Compare the Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the HX80 vs the A37.

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the HX80 and A37 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by looking at specs. The pic here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the HX80 and A37.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The HX80 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony HX80 will give greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more modern HX80 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 sensor size comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX80 Portrait photography info
Sony A37 Portrait photography info
39
decent megapixels (18MP)
supports face detection focus
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony HX80
Street photography with Sony A37
70
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
77
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX80
Sports photography with Sony A37
57
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery power (390 CIPA)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX80 Travel photography details
Sony A37 Travel photography details
76
good battery power (390 shots)
lighter than average (245g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
54
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low battery life (500 shots)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX80 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A37 as a Landscape photography camera
49
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
good battery power (390 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
64
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.6 inches)
low battery life (500 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX80 Vlogging advice
Sony A37 Vlogging advice
75
pretty wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (245 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external microphone jack
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Sony HX80 vs Sony A37 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX80 and Sony A37
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80Sony SLT-A37
General Information
Manufacturer Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Sony SLT-A37
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2016-03-07 2012-05-16
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
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
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.4 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.6 inch
Screen resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 245 gr (0.54 lb) 506 gr (1.12 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 75
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.9
DXO Low light score not tested 799
Other
Battery life 390 photographs 500 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $368 $522