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Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3400 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon A3400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 126g - 94 x 56 x 21mm
  • Announced February 2012
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Launched February 2009
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Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Overview

Here is a extended comparison of the Canon A3400 IS and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the resolutions of the A3400 IS (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A3400 IS was launched 3 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the A3400 IS matches up against the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A3400 IS over the Sony S980

 A3400 IS S980 
LaunchedFebruary 2012February 2009Fresher by 37 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon A3400 IS

 S980 A3400 IS 
Focus manually More precise focusing

Common features in the Canon A3400 IS and Sony S980

 A3400 IS S980 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A3400 IS comes with outside dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Canon A3400 IS and Sony S980 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the A3400 IS against the S980.

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A3400 IS and S980 is 96 and 94 respectively.

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A3400 IS and S980.

As you can see, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon A3400 IS to result in extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The newer A3400 IS will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3400 IS Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3400 IS Street photography factors
Sony S980 Street photography factors
67
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition in class (126g)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3400 IS Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
38
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (180 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
17
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3400 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition in class (126g)
comes with touch focus
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (180 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A3400 IS
Landscape photography with Sony S980
41
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (180 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A3400 IS
Vlogging with Sony S980
34
fairly wide (28mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (126g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
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Canon A3400 IS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3400 IS and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot A3400 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot A3400 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2012-02-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 gr (0.28 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 56 x 21mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 180 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $230 $300