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Sony HX80 vs Sony A55

Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released March 2016
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Renewed by Sony A57
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Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below is a in-depth analysis of the Sony HX80 vs Sony A55, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and they are both manufactured by Sony. The resolution of the HX80 (18MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very similar but the HX80 (1/2.3") and A55 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The HX80 was introduced 5 years later than the A55 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Sony HX80 being a Compact camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the HX80 grades versus the A55 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Sony A55

 HX80 A55 
LaunchedMarch 2016August 2010More recent by 68 months

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Sony HX80

 A55 HX80 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display

Common features in the Sony HX80 and Sony A55

 HX80 A55 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution921k921kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and size. The Sony HX80 features external 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) while the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the HX80 versus the A55.

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the HX80 and A55 is 91 and 67 respectively.

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements just by going over specifications. The graphic below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the HX80 and A55.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The HX80 with its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony HX80 will offer you extra detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher HX80 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony HX80 Portrait photography advice
Sony A55 Portrait photography advice
39
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sony HX80 Street photography factors
Sony A55 Street photography factors
70
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (245 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sony HX80
Sports photography with Sony A55
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (390 per charge)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sony HX80 Travel photography details
Sony A55 Travel photography details
76
better than average battery pack (390 shots)
lighter than average (245g)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
62
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony HX80 Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
49
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (390 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
67
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (380 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Sony HX80 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A55 as a Vlogging camera
75
really wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (245g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external mic support
78
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic socket
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Sony HX80 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony HX80 and Sony A55
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model type Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Sony SLT-A55
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2016-03-07 2010-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz X Bionz
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 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Highest boosted ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.40 m (with Auto ISO) 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 245 gr (0.54 lb) 500 gr (1.10 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 All around rating not tested 73
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 816
Other
Battery life 390 images 380 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NP-BX1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $368 $800