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Canon S120 vs Sony S980

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon S110
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
  • Released February 2009
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Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Canon S120 vs Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The resolution of the S120 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very close but the S120 (1/1.7") and S980 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was released 4 years after the S980 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the S120 matches up against the S980 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Sony S980

 S120 S980 
ReleasedNovember 2013February 2009Newer by 59 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution922k230kCrisper display (+692k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon S120

 S980 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Sony S980

 S120 S980 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Canon S120 provides external dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S120 vs Sony S980 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the S120 compared to the S980.

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and S980 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by researching technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the S120 and S980.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses the exact same MP but not the same sensor dimensions. The S120 offers the larger sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field easier. The newer S120 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography factors
Sony S980 Portrait photography factors
42
focusing manually
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
27
you can focus manually
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S120 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
65
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
offers touch to focus
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (217 grams)
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography highlights
Sony S980 Sports photography highlights
38
image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
17
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography details
Sony S980 Travel photography details
67
offers touch to focus
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competition in class (217g)
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Sony S980 Landscape photography info
57
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
27
you can focus manually
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon S120
Vlogging with Sony S980
35
decently wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f1.8)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competition in class (217 grams)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
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Canon S120 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot S120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot S120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-11-26 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 922 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 12.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off 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
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 217 gr (0.48 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $449 $300