Sony HX80 vs Canon G5 X Comparison

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Sony HX80

18 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Canon G5 X

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Sony HX80 vs Canon G5 X Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing HX80 and G5 X, two Compact cameras from Sony and Canon. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 is a Small Sensor Superzoom class camera and Canon PowerShot G5 X is a Large Sensor Compact class camera.

Sony HX80 was introduced to market in March 2016 and Canon G5 X was launched in September 2015. There is only 6 months difference between HX80 and G5 X so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony HX80 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2016-03-07

18MP - 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 3200 ( expands to 12800)

24-720 mm F3.5-6.4 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Tilting Screen

Electronic viewfinder

10.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

245g. 102 x 58 x 36 mm

Canon G5 X Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2015-09-11

20MP - 1″ BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 125 - 12800

24-100 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3.00" Fully Articulated Screen

2360k dot Electronic viewfinder

5.9fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

353g. 112 x 76 x 44 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 over Canon PowerShot G5 X

Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 5.9fps	4.1 fps faster
Battery Life	390 shots vs 210 shots	180 more frames with a single charge
Weight	245 g vs 353 g	108 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele	720mm vs 100mm	620 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	30x vs 4.2x	more flexible focal coverage

CHECK HX80 PRICE

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G5 X over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support	Yes vs No	Better image quality
Max Sensor Resolution	20 MP vs 18 MP	11% more pixels
Max ISO	12.800 vs 3.200	300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Resolution	1.040k dots vs 922k dots	12% higher resolution screen
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 3.50	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	2.80 vs 6.40	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	7.0m vs 5.4m	1.6m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	5.82µm² vs 1.56µm²	273% larger pixel area
Built-in ND Filter	3.0-stops vs No	Use larger aperture under strong light

CHECK G5 X PRICE

Common Strengths of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 and Canon PowerShot G5 X

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fully Articulated	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Viewfinder	Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic)	Better framing and control
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	18 MP vs 20 MP	Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution	922k dots vs 1.040k dots	High resolution screens
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 5.9fps	Fast shooting speeds
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD	Yes vs Yes	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection	Yes vs Yes	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs Yes	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Weaknesses of Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 and Canon PowerShot G5 X

Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Sony HX80 vs Canon G5 X: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sony HX80 has external dimensions of 102 x 58 x 36 mm (4.02 x 2.28 x 1.42″) and weighs 245 g (0.54 lb / 8.64 oz) (including batteries). Canon G5 X has external dimensions of 112 x 76 x 44 mm (4.41 x 2.99 x 1.73″) and weighs 353 g (0.78 lb / 12.45 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X. Sony HX80 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 10mm narrower, 18mm shorter and 8mm thinner than Canon G5 X.

Comparison image of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X.

Comparison image of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X.

Top View Comparison image of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony HX80 is significantly lighter (108g ) than the Canon G5 X which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

HX80

G5 X

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

HX80

G5 X

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 nor Canon PowerShot G5 X provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Sony HX80 features a Tilting only screen which is mostly only good for shooting from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Canon G5 X sports a Fully Articulated screen which is more flexible and useful especially for taking Selfie shots and video.

Sony HX80 vs Canon G5 X: Sensor Comparison

Sony HX80 has a 18.0MP 1/2.3 (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor. On the other hand, Canon G5 X has a 20.0MP 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 6 processor.

Below you can see the HX80 and G5 X sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X Cameras

As seen above, Canon G5 X has a 4.1x Larger sensor area than Sony HX80. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Sony HX80 vs Canon G5 X Lens Specs Comparison

Sony HX80 features a 24-720 mm F3.5-6.4 30x zoom lens whereas Canon G5 X features a 24-100 mm F1.8-2.8 4.2x zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Canon G5 X is faster than Sony HX80 at this focal length. On the tele end, Sony HX80 has 620mm longer reach than the Canon G5 X. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Canon G5 X is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

HX80

G5 X

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Large sensor compact Cameras

HX80

G5 X

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Large sensor compact Cameras

HX80

G5 X

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Large sensor compact Cameras

HX80

G5 X

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sony HX80 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon G5 X for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Exposure Mode
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details

Sony HX80 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon G5 X for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Read the details

Sony HX80 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon G5 X for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
720 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
31 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.9fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
100 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Sony HX80 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon G5 X for Daily Photography

GOOD

Compact Body
245g
30.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
4.2X Optical Zoom
353g
Body Thickness 44mm
Read the details

Sony HX80 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon G5 X for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3 sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Sony HX80 vs Canon G5 X: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sony HX80 and Canon G5 X scores compare:

Sony HX80

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #73 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #533 out of 1242 in all Cameras

Canon G5 X

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #9 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #177 out of 1242 in all Cameras

Canon G5 X is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sony HX80 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sony HX80. Otherwise, Canon G5 X is the better camera overall.

Canon G5 X vs Sony HX80 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80	Canon PowerShot G5 X
Brand	Sony	Canon
Announced	2016-03-07	2015-09-11
Body Type	Compact	Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/2.3	1″
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	28.07mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	18 megapixels	20 megapixels
Max Resolution	4896 x 3672	5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity	3,200 ISO	12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	12800 ISO	-
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	125 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	n/a	31
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-720 mm (30x)	24-100 mm (4.2x)
Max Aperture	F3.5-6.4	F1.8-2.8
Macro Focus Range	5cm	5cm
Screen
Type	Tilting	Fully Articulated
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	922k dots	1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Electronic	Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution	n/a	2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	100%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.40 m (with Auto ISO)	7.00 m (at Auto ISO)
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	5.9 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	245g	353g
Dimensions	102 x 58 x 36mm	112 x 76 x 44mm
Battery Life	390 shots	210 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested	62
DxO Color Depth	not tested	21.4
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested	12.3
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested	471
	Report a correction	Report a correction