Both Sony RX1R and Canon 80D have 24.0 MP resolution sensors but Sony RX1R's sensor is Full frame (35.8 x 23.9 mm ) and Canon 80D's sensor is APS-C (22.5 x 15 mm ).
Since Sony RX1R's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Canon 80D.
Another difference between these two cameras is that Sony RX1R's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.
Below you can see the RX1R and 80D sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sony RX1R and Canon 80D Cameras
As seen above, Sony RX1R has a 2.5x Larger sensor area than Canon 80D. 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.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
Both Sony RX1R and Canon 80D sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, RX1R has scored 91, 12 points higher than 80D.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Sony RX1R
91
25.0 bits
13.6 Evs
2537 ISO
Canon 80D
79
23.6 bits
13.2 Evs
1135 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Sony RX1R
or the
Canon 80D ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(Full frame versus APS-C),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
