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Canon S95 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
42
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot S95 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon S95
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-105mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 195g - 100 x 58 x 30mm
  • Launched November 2010
  • Old Model is Canon S90
  • Later Model is Canon S100
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Overview

The following is a extensive assessment of the Canon S95 and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S95 (10MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly similar but the S95 (1/1.7") and S980 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizing.

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The S95 was manufactured 22 months after the S980 making them a generation away from one another. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the S95 scores versus the S980 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon S95 over the Sony S980

 S95 S980 
AnnouncedNovember 2010February 2009Newer by 22 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon S95

 S980 S95 

Common features in the Canon S95 and Sony S980

 S95 S980 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Canon S95 offers outer dimensions of 100mm x 58mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") having a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon S95 and Sony S980 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view size comparison of the S95 and the S980.

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S95 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S95 and S980.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The S95 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony S980 will offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics more aggressively. The more modern S95 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S95 Portrait photography advice
Sony S980 Portrait photography advice
40
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/500s)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon S95 Street photography info
Sony S980 Street photography info
65
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon S95 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
27
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S95 Travel photography information
Sony S980 Travel photography information
64
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon S95
Landscape photography with Sony S980
52
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse mode
27
you can focus manually
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S95 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
32
decently wide (28mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
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Canon S95 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S95 and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot S95Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot S95 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-11-23 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD 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 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-105mm (3.8x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 2s
Highest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.50 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195 gr (0.43 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 58 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.2") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 153 not tested
Other
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots - One
Launch cost $495 $300