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Canon A800 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
19
Overall
27
Canon PowerShot A800 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon A800
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 186g - 94 x 61 x 31mm
  • Introduced 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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Overview

Here is a in-depth analysis of the Canon A800 and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Sony. The resolution of the A800 (10MP) and the S980 (12MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A800 was launched 23 months later than the S980 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the A800 grades versus the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A800 over the Sony S980

 A800 S980 
IntroducedJanuary 2011February 2009Fresher by 23 months

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon A800

 S980 A800 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k115kSharper screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A800 and Sony S980

 A800 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon A800 features exterior measurements of 94mm x 61mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 186 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon A800 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A800 compared to the S980.

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the A800 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor sizing simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the A800 and S980.

Clearly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Sony S980 to show extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern A800 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A800 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
25
provides face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A800 Street photography advice
Sony S980 Street photography advice
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A800 Sports photography highlights
Sony S980 Sports photography highlights
29
provides tracking autofocus
good battery pack (300 per charge)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A800 Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
55
good battery pack (300 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A800 Landscape photography features
Sony S980 Landscape photography features
26
good battery pack (300 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A800 Vlogging info
Sony S980 Vlogging info
24
provides face detection focusing
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Canon A800 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A800 and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot A800Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot A800 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-01-05 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 3 -
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 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 186g (0.41 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 61 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 300 shots -
Form of battery AA -
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at release $90 $300