Canon PowerShot S120 vs. Canon PowerShot SD980 IS: A Thorough Compact Camera Showdown

In the world of compact cameras, Canon has long held court with a range of models appealing to beginners, enthusiasts, and budget-conscious shooters alike. Today, I’m pitting two popular Canon small sensor compacts against each other: the Canon PowerShot S120 (2013) and the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS (2009). While both share some specs on paper - fixed 24-120mm equivalent zooms, 12-megapixel sensors - the half-decade gap between their launches translates into notable differences, both in tech and real-world performance.

Having spent countless hours putting both through their paces in diverse shooting scenarios, I’ll draw on my hands-on experience to help you decide which one, if either, suits your photographic ambitions or budget. So, whether you’re a cheapskate looking for decent image quality without breaking the bank, or a photographer seeking a compact backup with dependable controls, buckle up - this comparison goes deep.

Size, Handling & Design: Pocketability vs. Pocket Fits

Physically, both cameras cater to that “take anywhere” compact ethos, but there are measurable distinctions beyond just millimeters and grams.

The Canon PowerShot S120 sports a body roughly 100x59x29 mm, weighing in at 217 grams with battery and card. It feels solid but remains pocketable in loose coat pockets or roomy bags. The grip is modest but present, lending reasonable confidence - especially when shooting one-handed.

Meanwhile, the Canon SD980 IS is smaller and lighter at 100x53x23 mm and only 150 grams, slipping easily into slimmer pockets or purses. However, it also feels somewhat more delicate and less substantial in hand. You might find yourself yearning for a proper thumb rest or something more tactile to stop the camera from sliding in moist or cold conditions.

These measurements and ergonomics matter because they influence comfort during extended shooting sessions and spontaneous photo ops (hello, street and travel shooters!). The S120's slightly chunkier build means better handling and fewer camera-shakes, whereas the SD980 IS wins in sheer portability.

Controls & Interface: Clarity and Speed in Your Hands

Handling is not just about size but also control layout and responsiveness - key when the moment’s fleeting.

Here, the PowerShot S120 takes a clear lead with its more evolved control scheme and upgraded DIGIC 6 processor. The S120 offers more physical buttons, including dedicated dials for aperture and shutter priority modes, plus a responsive touchscreen that supports touch autofocus. These features invite quicker, more intuitive adjustments - especially crucial for enthusiasts attempting manual exposure or creative autofocus selections.

On the other hand, the SD980 IS feels more basic and geared towards point-and-shoot simplicity. It offers fewer physical controls and lacks touch AF functionality, forcing you to rely predominantly on menus for settings changes. Manual focus? Sorry, no can do - it’s locked to auto-focus modes only. Those used to tinkering with exposure parameters or requiring tactile feedback might find this camera frustratingly limited.

For fast-paced shooting, customizability, and an interface that respects experienced users, the S120 is the winner. Beginners wanting a camera that mostly “just works” without fuss could still prefer the SD980 IS, but be aware you’re sacrificing quick access to creative features.

Sensor and Image Quality: It’s What’s Inside That Counts

Now, let’s get to the heart of any camera - the sensor and resulting images. I don’t rely on spec sheets alone; I’ve tested both cameras shooting identical scenes across multiple lighting conditions, evaluating noise performance, dynamic range, color rendering, and sharpness.

The PowerShot S120 boasts a 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS sensor measuring approximately 7.44 x 5.58 mm, covering 41.52 mm², delivering 12.1 megapixels. The sensor technology upgrade to backside illumination (BSI) and pairing with the DIGIC 6 processor significantly improves low-light capabilities, dynamic range, and color depth compared to earlier Canon compacts.

Conversely, the SD980 IS uses a smaller and older 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm²). CCD sensors generally had good color science in their day but lagged behind CMOS when it comes to noise suppression and high ISO performance.

Here are some practical takeaways grounded in real shooting tests:

• Low Light & Noise: The S120 maintains cleaner images up to ISO 800, with usable ISO 1600 for certain prints, while the SD980 IS starts showing heavy noise and loss of detail beyond ISO 400.
• Dynamic Range: The S120’s sensor offers about 11.9 EVs (per DxO Mark data), genuinely useful in capturing shadow and highlight detail in landscapes and tricky lighting. The older CCD sensor in the SD980 IS can’t match this, limiting recovery options in post.
• Color Depth: The Canon S120’s sensor can reproduce finer, richer color gradients (21.3 bits vs. untested/older tech in SD980 IS), which improves portraits and nature scenes.
• Resolution & Sharpness: Both cameras offer 12 MP resolution at 4000 x 3000 pixels. The S120’s lens and processing yield crisper images, especially towards telephoto and wide open apertures.

Overall, while the SD980 IS can still deliver decent daylight snaps, the S120’s improved sensor and processor combo represent a significant leap in image quality, especially under challenging conditions.

Screens and Viewfinders: Seeing is Believing (or Framing)

Neither model sports a viewfinder, relying fully on LCD framing. But the quality of the rear screen impacts composition and review.

The SD980 IS has a 3-inch screen with rather low resolution (~230k dots). It was pretty standard for its time but can feel grainy and washed out under bright sun or checking fine detail.

In contrast, the S120 features a more refined 3-inch, 922k dot TFT PureColor II G touchscreen. The improved brightness, higher pixel density, and touchscreen responsiveness make composing and navigating menus much easier. The touch AF capability, for example, turn that screen into a crucial tool for creative control.

This difference is palpable in the field: I found the SD980 IS’s screen hard to check immediate focus accuracy or subtle exposure variations (especially outdoors), whereas the S120 made critical focus checks and menu dives less frustrating.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching Your Moment

Autofocus performance often makes or breaks a camera’s utility in everyday photography - especially action, wildlife, and street shooting.

• PowerShot S120: Contrast-detection autofocus with nine focus points, touch AF, face detection, continuous AF, and tracking - an impressive kit for a compact. It shoots bursts at 12 fps, excellent for fleeting action or wildlife sequences. Touch AF means rapid focus shifts simply by tapping the screen.

• Canon SD980 IS: Nine focus points, contrast-detection AF only, no face or tracking detection, no continuous AF, and meager 1 fps burst shooting. Autofocus feels slower and occasionally hunts in low light or complex scenes.

Hence, if you’re shooting action, wildlife, or need reliable focusing in busy scenes, the S120 offers a league above the SD980 IS. The older camera remains fine for static subjects in good light but showing its age where speed and precision matter.

Lens and Zoom: Similar Reach, Different Brightness

Both cameras have the same nominal zoom range: 24-120mm equivalent (5x zoom). However, maximum aperture and sensor size mean different practical results.

• S120: Faster lens at f/1.8 wide, narrowing to f/5.7 telephoto, great for low light and artistic bokeh at 24mm.
• SD980 IS: Slower lens, f/2.8 to f/5.9; the narrower aperture limits low-light capability and depth of field control.

In the field, that faster wide aperture on the S120 means better subject isolation in portraits and smarter low-light exposures without ISO penalty. The SD980 IS’s slightly longer focal length multiplier (5.8x vs. 4.8x) theoretically gives a bit more reach but this is overwhelmed by sensor and processing benefits of the newer model.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Everyday Practicalities

• Battery Life: The S120-rated at about 230 shots per charge - typical for compacts with reasonably bright sensors – while the SD980 IS doesn’t specify but likely less efficient given its older sensor and design.
• Storage: Both use SD cards with a single slot, compatible with SDHC and SDXC (S120) and additional MMC formats (SD980 IS).
• Connectivity: The S120 has built-in Wi-Fi for easy wireless sharing and remote control - a huge plus for modern shooters. The SD980 IS has no wireless features, relying on USB 2.0 and HDMI ports only.
• Ports: Both have mini-HDMI and USB 2.0 ports but lack microphone inputs or external flash sockets.

Modern conveniences like Wi-Fi put the S120 ahead for social media enthusiasts or those needing quick offload and remote shooting. More “old-school” users might not mind the SD980 IS’s barebones options but miss out on today’s streamlined workflows.

Video Capabilities: Casual Clips or Pro Vlogs?

Video is modest on both:

• PowerShot S120: Full HD 1080p at 60fps or 30fps, H.264 codec, optical IS stabilization. Smooth motion capture and decent image quality with sharp AF transitions using touch control. No microphone jack lowers audio flexibility.

• SD980 IS: HD 720p max resolution, 30fps, H.264 codec. Video quality fine for home movies but noticeably less crisp, less fluid, and lacking the advanced stabilization.

For casual video creators or travel vloggers prioritizing compactness plus HD capture, the S120 easily wins. The SD980 IS is no match if you want immersive video performance beyond basic recordings.

Real-world Photography Use Cases: Who Benefits from What?

Every photographer has different priorities. Let’s see which camera aligns best with various photography disciplines:

Canon S120 front Canon S120 screen back Canon SD980 IS screen back

Portrait Photography

The faster lens and superior sensor of the S120 deliver better skin tones, fine detail, and more pleasing background blur in portraits. Touch and face detection AF help nail critical focus on eyes in tricky lighting. SD980’s slower lens and weaker AF limit its appeal here.

Landscape Photography

S120’s better dynamic range and higher resolution screen aid landscape shooters, capturing nuanced shadow details and vibrant colors. The SD980 IS’s sensor struggles to preserve highlight/shadow info, making post-processing a challenge.

Wildlife & Sports

Fast burst shooting (12 fps), continuous focus, and tracking on the S120 vastly outperform SD980 IS’s 1 fps and sluggish AF. While neither is a full pro sports camera, the S120 is a nimble, affordable wildlife option; the SD980 IS is impractical here.

Street Photography

The SD980 IS wins slightly on discretion with its smaller footprint and lighter weight, although limited AF modes hurt its responsiveness. The S120’s faster lens and touch AF create more opportunities in varied light but at the cost of slightly more weight.

Macro Photography

Both perform similarly with a 3cm macro focus range, but the S120’s finer AF control and stabilization result in sharper close-ups.

Night & Astro Photography

The S120’s BSI sensor and lower noise allow shooting at higher ISOs with less grain. The SD980 IS is constrained to low ISO settings and noisier results. Neither offers bulb mode, but S120’s 15-second shutter limit suffices for many night scenes.

Video

S120 is the clear choice for Full HD at 60fps with stabilization; SD980 IS video is limited to 720p 30fps.

Travel Photography

Balancing size, weight, image quality and versatility, the S120 suits travelers wanting quality shots and Wi-Fi sharing. The SD980 IS is ultra-portable but compromises image quality and features.

Professional Work

Neither camera replaces professional equipment, but the S120’s RAW support, manual modes, and better file quality make it a viable backup or walk-around. The SD980 IS’s lack of RAW and limited control reduce its professional appeal.

Durability and Build Quality: Everyday Survivability

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized; both should be handled with care in adverse environments. Build quality favors the S120’s slightly more robust construction, beneficial in real-world wandering or hustling.

Pricing and Value: Spending Wisely

As of now, both models primarily circulate as used, budget buys:

• Canon PowerShot S120: Typically found in the $200-$300 range on resale markets.
• Canon SD980 IS: Can be snagged for under $100, sometimes less secondhand.

If you’re tight on dollars and want a capable, pocket-sized vacation camera, the SD980 IS offers a plausible entry point. But if image quality, features, and usability matter, investing in an S120 even used is worthwhile. The jump in sensor tech, controls, and Wi-Fi connectivity justify paying more.

Scores at a Glance

In summary, the S120 leads in almost every technical performance metric, from sensor and AF system to ergonomics and video capability.

Genre-Specific Performance Chart

The S120 excels particularly in portrait, wildlife, landscape, and video-oriented use, while the SD980 IS is best suited for casual snapshots, travel discretion, and budget-limited users.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Canon PowerShot S120

Pros:

• Superior 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS sensor with excellent image quality
• Faster lens aperture (f/1.8 wide) for low light and artistic control
• Advanced autofocus: touch AF, continuous AF, tracking
• Full manual exposure modes with intuitive control dials
• Full HD 1080p video at 60/30 fps with stabilization
• Higher resolution, responsive touchscreen
• Built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing and remote shooting
• RAW image support for post-processing flexibility

Cons:

• Slightly larger and heavier than typical pocket cameras
• Limited to fixed lens zoom (no interchangeable lens options)
• No external microphone input for video

Canon PowerShot SD980 IS

Pros:

• Very compact and lightweight; excellent for discretion and portability
• Simple, point-and-shoot design great for absolute beginners
• Fixed 24-120mm zoom in small form factor
• Affordable, easy to find secondhand

Cons:

• Older CCD sensor with less dynamic range and poorer low light performance
• Slower lens aperture limits creative control and shooting in dim light
• No manual focus or advanced autofocus modes
• Very limited burst rate (1 fps) and no continuous AF
• Low resolution, non-touchscreen LCD
• No RAW capture, restricting post-editing
• No wireless connectivity

Final Thoughts: Which Canon Compact Fits Your Needs?

In my professional, hands-on experience, the Canon PowerShot S120 stands out as the more versatile, powerful camera. Its technological improvements in sensor design, autofocus, and controls mean real benefits you’ll notice in your photos and videos. For photographers who want creative control, decent low-light handling, and the convenience of wireless connectivity, the S120 is a solid recommendation - even if you’re a bit budget-conscious.

The Canon SD980 IS is best reserved for absolute newcomers looking for a simple, inexpensive point-and-shoot who values portability above everything else. While it can still deliver acceptable casual snaps in good light, it shows its age in nearly every other regard - and you might quickly outgrow it.

So, if you have the option, grab the S120 to future-proof your compact camera needs. If the price difference is a barrier and you mostly shoot in bright daylight with few expectations, the SD980 IS could still serve you well. But considering the S120 models’ prices nowadays, it’s difficult to recommend the older camera to anyone who values image quality and versatility.

Hopefully, this comparison gives you the clarity and confidence to pick the right Canon compact for your photography adventures. Feel free to drop me questions or share your experience with either of these models - I’m always eager to hear from fellow enthusiasts and pros!

Happy shooting!