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Sony HX80

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
 
  • 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
  • Revealed March 2016
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
60
Overall
50

Sony HX80 overview

Sony HX80 is Sony's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera initially revealed on March of 2016. It uses a 18 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 4896 x 3672.

The HX80 stands at #18 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and all around #427 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. You can check out our Advanced camera filter to find camera results based on your custom requirements.

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Below is a chart of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Sony HX80 history

The Sony HX80 comes with a history of related cameras. Down below, you can view all past and newer models along with main specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX350 front thumbnailSony HX350
HX80 vs HX350
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2016
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX80 front thumbnailSony HX8024-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX90V front thumbnailSony HX90V
HX80 vs HX90V
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H300 front thumbnailSony H300
HX80 vs H300
25-875mm
F3-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H400 front thumbnailSony H400
HX80 vs H400
25-1550mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX400V front thumbnailSony HX400V
HX80 vs HX400V
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
Photography Glossary
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX50V front thumbnailSony HX50V
HX80 vs HX50V
24-720mm
F3.5 - 6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX300 front thumbnailSony HX300
HX80 vs HX300
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H200 front thumbnailSony H200
HX80 vs H200
24-633mm
F3.1-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX20V front thumbnailSony HX20V
HX80 vs HX20V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX200V front thumbnailSony HX200V
HX80 vs HX200V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
18MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX10V front thumbnailSony HX10V
HX80 vs HX10V
24-400mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX30V front thumbnailSony HX30V
HX80 vs HX30V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H90 front thumbnailSony H90
HX80 vs H90
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX100V front thumbnailSony HX100V
HX80 vs HX100V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX7V front thumbnailSony HX7V
HX80 vs HX7V
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX9V front thumbnailSony HX9V
HX80 vs HX9V
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H70 front thumbnailSony H70
HX80 vs H70
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H55 front thumbnailSony H55
HX80 vs H55
25-250mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2010
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H20 front thumbnailSony H20
HX80 vs H20
38-380mm
F3.5-4.4
10MP1/2.3"2009
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H50 front thumbnailSony H50
HX80 vs H50
31-465mm
F2.7-4.5
9MP1/2.3"2009

Sony HX80 Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of pros and cons of the Sony HX80 based on aspects which are typically seen as necessary in a digital camera.

above average min ISO (80)
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built-in flash
comes with HDMI socket
features face detect focus
features tracking focus
good battery power (390 CIPA)
good resolution screen (921 k dots)
has a tilting screen
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
NFC connection
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
selfie friendly screen
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have headphone socket
does not have microphone socket
does not have Timelapse function
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of manual focus
lack of phase detect auto focus
lack of RAW files
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
slow at full zoom (f6.4)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Sony HX80 Sensor details

The Sony HX80 features the Bionz X processor. The sensor dimension on the Sony HX80 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the ability to resolve 4896 x 3672 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera has got Image Stabilization (Optical). Sensor stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 18 megapixels and supports a standard ISO range of 80 to 3200. This ISO can also be expanded electronically to a high of 12800. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved which means that the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath displays the HX80's sensor dimensions in comparison to other popular sizes. The HX80 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is presented in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 sensor size Cutting-edge AI developed by Apple deciphers subtle nuances in pixels

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony HX80 dimensions

Sony HX80 has a weight of 0.54 lb (245g or 8.64 ounces) and features outside size of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4"). The weight of general Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Sony HX80 is lighter when compared to various rivals.

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Underneath is a picture of the Sony HX80 with a softdrink to help you have a sense of its scale.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will provide the button layout on the HX80.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 topview buttons dials

Sony HX80 Lens specs

The HX80 provides a fixed lens featuring a focal range of 24-720mm giving it a 30.0 x zoom which is very good and does make it easier to zoom all the way in.

At the widest 24mm, it provides an aperture of f3.5 and that's really slow and not the best in low light events and you might struggle to capture good bokeh. You could also have to boost the ISO setting giving you noisy images. For the tele end, 720mm is brilliant zoom and comes with f6.4 which is fairly slow and you may need to use slower shutter speeds.

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Sony HX80 Connectivity

The HX80 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which include NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly by smartphones. You can transfer files and sometimes alter settings with no need to connect straight to the camera.

Several applications even stream a Liveview and press the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery with the USB port.

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Sony HX80 Video specs

The highest video resolution on the Sony HX80 is 1920 x 1080 and it can shoot in MPEG-4, AVCHD and XAVC S file format. 1080p resolution is an excellent balance for video quality versus file sizes but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with much room to downsample. The camera doesn't include a mic or headphone socket which means you have got little control over your audio. It is perhaps best to look into a different model in case you need decent audio in your videos.

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Sony HX80 Weather Sealing

Sony HX80 doesn't include weather sealing so damp conditions could affect the camera.

Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder

The Sony HX80 houses a 3" tilting display screen supporting a resolution of 921k dots.

It possesses a selfie friendly screen to shoot self portraits and even group shots if required. Please note that the display offers no touch support.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The View Finder specifications regarding Sony HX80 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent

Viewfinders can be rather helpful for sunny outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and hard to view.

Sony HX80 Shutter specs

Sony HX80 continuous shooting rate is 10.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/2000s.

Photography Glossary

Sony HX80 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Sony HX80 has got only built-in flash lacking external flash ability.

Sony HX80 Autofocus specs

Sony HX80 has got just Contrast Detect AF and does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster and accurate when compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera boasts Face detection which is useful for portraits.

It also includes Tracking AF for moving subjects. Sony HX80 lacks manual focus. Manual focus ability can be useful for low light conditions or you want more precise focusing control.

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Sony HX80 Battery life

The battery power (NP-BX1) for the Sony HX80 is made to last for 390 photographs according to the CIPA standards which is higher than average ın comparison with its class. The typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR features the highest (600) battery life for this category of cameras.

Following is a listing of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that come with the strongest battery life:

Sony HX80 for different styles of photography

The following bar chart displays a overview of the Sony HX80 for different styles of photography. To learn more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Portrait photography with Sony HX80

The Sony HX80 has a points tally of 39 which is terrible, and means the camera is not really acceptable to use for portrait photography. Photographing portrait images favors greatly towards sensor resolution, RAW support in addition to the potential to use off-camera flash.

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decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
no manual focus
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support

Street photography with Sony HX80

With a very good points tally of 70, the Sony HX80 is a very decent fit to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera gives a perfect balance of picture quality plus portability.

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has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (245g)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format

Sony HX80 Sports photography details

A modest sports photography points tally of 57 indicates the Sony HX80 is somewhat acceptable for shooting sports. A camera really should have very good focusing plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (390 per charge)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus

Sony HX80 Travel photography information

Portability is really critical in buying a travel camera. Over-all, the Sony HX80 gets a fantastic 76 for a travel camera which makes it a great option to take on your journeys.

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great battery power (390 per charge)
lighter than others (245 grams)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
slow max aperture (f3.5)

Sony HX80 Landscape photography advice

If you find yourself looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most important factor will be image quality. The Sony HX80 with it's modest grade of 49 for a landscape camera is somewhat adequate compared to it's competitors.

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really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
great battery life (390 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode

Sony HX80 Vlogging info

A vlogging camera should come with a articulating display screen, mic port and ideally image stabilization. Taking all things into account, the Sony HX80 is a fine option for vlogging as it comes to a nice score of 75.

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relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no microphone jack

Sony HX80 Alternatives

If you are looking for alternatives to the HX80, here is a collection of the top scored cameras which fall under the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line graph down below shows you an overview of the HX80 compared to it's highest rated competitors listed earlier.

Here are a handful of other cameras you might check out as alternate options. To check out a detailed comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Type
Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed
2016-03-07
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor
Bionz X
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
4896 x 3672
RAW photos
Highest native ISO
3200
Highest boosted ISO
12800
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance
5cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Type of screen
Tilting
Screen diagonal
3"
Resolution of screen
921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Lowest shutter speed
30 seconds
Highest shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes
Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video file format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
245g (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions
102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
Other
Battery life
390 pictures
Battery type
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-BX1
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
1
Cost at launch
$368