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Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2013
Canon SD980 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 100 x 53 x 23mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
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Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Overview

Here is a complete assessment of the Canon A3500 IS versus Canon SD980 IS, both Small Sensor Compact cameras and both are offered by Canon. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the A3500 IS (16MP) and SD980 IS (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was introduced 3 years later than the SD980 IS and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the A3500 IS matches up versus the SD980 IS with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Canon SD980 IS

 A3500 IS SD980 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2013August 2009Fresher by 42 months

Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Canon A3500 IS

 SD980 IS A3500 IS 

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Canon SD980 IS

 A3500 IS SD980 IS 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon A3500 IS offers physical measurements of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Canon SD980 IS has measurements of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A3500 IS versus Canon SD980 IS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have at the time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the A3500 IS versus the SD980 IS.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the A3500 IS and SD980 IS is 96 and 95 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to picture the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through a spec sheet. The visual below will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A3500 IS and SD980 IS.

As you can see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Canon A3500 IS to provide more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos more aggressively. The more recent A3500 IS should have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Portrait photography features
Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography features
34
good resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
20
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A3500 IS
Street photography with Canon SD980 IS
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
lighter than competition (135 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Sports photography features
Canon SD980 IS Sports photography features
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Travel photography advice
Canon SD980 IS Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition (135 grams)
has focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A3500 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SD980 IS
41
fairly wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
38
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SD980 IS Vlogging advice
34
fairly wide (28mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than competition (135 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
30
decently wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone jack
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Canon A3500 IS vs Canon SD980 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Canon SD980 IS
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISCanon PowerShot SD980 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Canon PowerShot SD980 IS
Also Known as - Digital IXUS 200 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-07 2009-08-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 Digic 4
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 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/3000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 6.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135g (0.30 lbs) 150g (0.33 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" 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 200 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-11L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $115 -