A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Canon SX420 vs Sony HX80

The Canon PowerShot SX420 IS and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2016 and March 2016. Both the SX420 and the HX80 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 19.9 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 18 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon SX420
versus
Sony HX80
Canon SX420   Sony HX80
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
24-1008mm f/3.5-6.6 24-720mm f/3.5-6.4
19.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 18 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
720/25p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 80-3,200 (80 - 12,800)
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (638k dots)
3.0" LCD – 230k dots 3.0" LCD – 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting screen (no touchscreen)
0.5 shutter flaps per second 10 shutter flaps per second
195 shots per battery charge390 shots per battery charge
104 x 69 x 85 mm, 325 g 102 x 58 x 36 mm, 245 g
logo
Check SX420 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check HX80 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX420 IS and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

ad

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon SX420 and the Sony HX80 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX420 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the HX80 is only available in black.

Size Canon SX420 vs Sony HX80
Compare SX420 versus HX80 top
Comparison SX420 or HX80 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony HX80 is notably smaller (18 percent) than the Canon SX420. Moreover, the HX80 is markedly lighter (25 percent) than the SX420. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX420 nor the HX80 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the SX420 gets 195 shots out of its Canon NB-11LH battery, while the HX80 can take 390 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the HX80 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX420 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 195 n Jan 2016 299ebay.com
2.
 
Sony HX80 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 390 n Mar 2016 349ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX430 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 323 g 195 n Jan 2017 299ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX730 110 mm 64 mm 40 mm 300 g 250 n Apr 2017 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX620 97 mm 57 mm 28 mm 182 g 295 n May 2016 279ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX720 110 mm 64 mm 36 mm 270 g 250 n Feb 2016 379ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX410 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 185 n Feb 2015 279ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX610 105 mm 61 mm 27 mm 191 g 270 n Jan 2015 249ebay.com
11.
 
Canon SX710 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 230 n Jan 2015 349ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70 112 mm 67 mm 41 mm 322 g 380 n Apr 2017 449ebay.com
13.
 
Sony WX800 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 233 g 370 n Oct 2018 399ebay.com
14.
 
Sony RX100 V 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 299 g 220 n Oct 2016 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX90V 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 360 n Apr 2015 429ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SX420 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 14 percent) than the HX80, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Canon SX420 and Sony HX80 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the SX420 offers a higher resolution of 19.9 megapixels, compared with 18 MP of the HX80. This megapixels advantage translates into a 5 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the SX420 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.19μm versus 1.25μm for the HX80). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon SX420 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the SX420 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.8 x 19.3 inches or 65.4 x 49.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.6 x 15.5 inches or 52.3 x 39.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.2 x 12.9 inches or 43.6 x 32.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony HX80 are 24.5 x 18.4 inches or 62.2 x 46.6 cm for good quality, 19.6 x 14.7 inches or 49.7 x 37.3 cm for very good quality, and 16.3 x 12.2 inches or 41.5 x 31.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX420 IS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-12800.

In terms of underlying technology, the SX420 is build around a CCD sensor, while the HX80 uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

SX420 versus HX80 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon SX420 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.311.780648
2.
 
Sony HX80 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.411.882248
3.
 
Canon SX430 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/25p20.511.990049
4.
 
Canon SX730 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.511.992450
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
6.
 
Canon SX620 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.411.883849
7.
 
Canon SX720 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.311.881748
8.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
9.
 
Canon SX410 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.211.672047
10.
 
Canon SX610 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.211.671247
11.
 
Canon SX710 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.211.671247
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p19.110.610636
13.
 
Sony WX800 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36724K/30p20.612.2107051
14.
 
Sony RX100 V 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.458670
15.
 
Sony HX90V 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.211.673847
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
padding

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the HX80 provides a better video resolution than the SX420. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the Canon is limited to 720/25p.

ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the HX80 has an electronic viewfinder (638k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the SX420 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon SX420 and Sony HX80 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon SX420none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony HX80638 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon SX430none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon SX730none n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX620none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/2000s 2.5/s Y Y
7.
 
Canon SX720none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 5.9/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon SX410none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
10.
 
Canon SX610none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/2000s 2.5/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon SX710none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 6.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Panasonic ZS701166 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony WX800none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony RX100 V2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony HX90V638 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding
The HX80 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the SX420 does not have a selfie-screen.

Both the SX420 and the HX80 have zoom lenses built in. The SX420 has a 24-1008mm f/3.5-6.6 optic and the HX80 offers a 24-720mm f/3.5-6.4 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Canon and Sony provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the Sony has less tele-photo reach at the long end. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

The SX420 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the HX80 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The HX80 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the SX420 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

ad

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX420 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon SX420-mono / mono---2.0YY-
2.
 
Sony HX80-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon SX430-mono / mono---2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon SX730-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon SX620-mono / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon SX720-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon SX410-stereo / mono---2.0---
10.
 
Canon SX610-- / ---micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon SX710-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
13.
 
Sony WX800-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony RX100 V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony HX90V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
padding

Both the SX420 and the HX80 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX420 was replaced by the Canon SX430, while the HX80 was followed by the Sony HX90. Further information on the features and operation of the SX420 and HX80 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX420 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony HX80 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon SX420 better than the Sony HX80 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

ilogo

Advantages of the Canon PowerShot SX420 IS:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (19.9 vs 18MP) with a 5% higher linear resolution.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (14 percent cheaper at launch).

ilogo

Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60p vs 720/25p).
  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 230k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 0.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (102x58mm vs 104x69mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 80g or 25 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (390 versus 195) out of a single battery charge.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the HX80 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 4 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

SX420 04:11 HX80

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX420 and the Sony HX80 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX420 or the HX80. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon SX420..........3/5 Jan 2016 299ebay.com
2.
 
Sony HX80............ Mar 2016 349ebay.com
3.
 
Canon SX430........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2017 299ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SX730..+....4/54/5 Apr 2017 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX620..........4/5 May 2016 279ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX720..+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2016 379ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon SX410..o........ Feb 2015 279ebay.com
10.
 
Canon SX610........4/54/5 Jan 2015 249ebay.com
11.
 
Canon SX710..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2015 349ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic ZS70..+ +....4/54/5 Apr 2017 449ebay.com
13.
 
Sony WX800............ Oct 2018 399ebay.com
14.
 
Sony RX100 V4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Oct 2016 999ebay.com
15.
 
Sony HX90V4/5+ +....4/54.5/5 Apr 2015 429ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

logo
Check SX420 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check HX80 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Canon SX420 vs Sony HX80

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon SX420 Sony HX80
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-1008mm f/3.5-6.6 24-720mm f/3.5-6.4
    Launch Date January 2016 March 2016
    Launch Price USD 299 USD 349
    Sensor Specs Canon SX420 Sony HX80
    Sensor Technology CCD BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 19.9 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5152 x 3864 pixels 4896 x 3672 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.19 μm 1.25 μm
    Pixel Density 70.91 MP/cm2 64.04 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 720/25p Video 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 80 - 3,200 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 80 - 12,800 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4+ BIONZ X
    Screen Specs Canon SX420 Sony HX80
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 638k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Tilting screen
    Shooting Specs Canon SX420 Sony HX80
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 0.5 shutter flaps/s 10 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon SX420 Sony HX80
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Canon SX420 Sony HX80
    Battery Type Canon NB-11LH Sony NP-BX1
    Battery Life (CIPA)195 shots per charge390 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 104 x 69 x 85 mm
    (4.1 x 2.7 x 3.3 in)
    102 x 58 x 36 mm
    (4.0 x 2.3 x 1.4 in)
    Camera Weight 325 g (11.5 oz) 245 g (8.6 oz)
    logo
    Check SX420 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check HX80 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Canon SX420 vs Sony HX80