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Canon A1200 vs Sony S980

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon A1200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 98 x 63 x 31mm
  • Released January 2011
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
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Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Canon A1200 versus Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The resolution of the A1200 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty similar and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was manufactured 23 months later than the S980 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the A1200 grades versus the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Sony S980

 A1200 S980 
ReleasedJanuary 2011February 2009More recent by 23 months

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon A1200

 S980 A1200 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Sony S980

 A1200 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon A1200 features exterior dimensions of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") having a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Canon A1200 versus Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view size comparison of the A1200 and the S980.

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A1200 and S980 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by going over technical specs. The visual below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A1200 and S980.

As you have seen, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels so you should expect similar quality of images however you would want to take the production date of the products into consideration. The newer A1200 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
26
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
focusing manually
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
46
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A1200
Sports photography with Sony S980
23
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography advice
Sony S980 Travel photography advice
55
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery life (200 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
27
quite wide (28mm)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery life (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 Vlogging highlights
Sony S980 Vlogging highlights
27
quite wide (28mm)
offers face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Canon A1200 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot A1200Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A1200 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-05 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs -
Battery type AA -
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $109 $300