After launching a pair of compact cameras with 30X zoom lenses last year, Sony has just unveiled another easy-to-carry camera that picks things up for 2016. The HX80 compact camera packs a 30X zoom lens developed by ZEISS, as well as Sony's 1/2.3-inch 18.2-MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor and a BIONZ X processor. According to Sony, the HX80 is the world's smallest camera with a 30x optical zoom lens.
The camera also packs a five-axis image stabilisation system, which was also seen in the HX90V, along with a 927k-dot 3-inch LCD screen that can flip up a full 180 degrees, making it perfect for capturing selfies. Like the HX90V, the HX80 also packs a retractable electronic viewfinder and shoots Full-HD video and is compatible with Wi-Fi and NFC.
Touted to be an appealing and flexible camera best suited for travel and family photos and videos, the HX80 has a zoom lens that should cover a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 24mm to 720mm.
Capable of capturing images in a variety of shooting modes, including manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, program and iAuto, as noted by dpreview, the ultra-compact camera should fulfil the desires of photography enthusiasts who want a little more control over their images. The camera's ISO ranges from 80 to 3,200 and can be bumped up to 12,800 in Multi-Frame NR mode. It also packs a pop-up flash and measures 102mm x 58mm x 36mm.
Expected to hit the stores in the U.S. in April 2016, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 will be launched with a sticker price of about $350.
