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Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
24
Overall
30
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S8000 front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
31
Overall
34

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Key Specs

Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also referred to as Digital IXUS 990 IS
Nikon S8000
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 183g - 103 x 57 x 27mm
  • Revealed June 2010
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Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Overview

Let's look closer at the Canon SD970 IS versus Nikon S8000, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SD970 IS (12MP) and the S8000 (14MP) is relatively similar and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD970 IS was launched 16 months earlier than the S8000 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SD970 IS matches up versus the S8000 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Nikon S8000

 SD970 IS S8000 

Reasons to pick Nikon S8000 over the Canon SD970 IS

 S8000 SD970 IS 
RevealedJune 2010February 2009More recent by 16 months
Screen resolution921k461kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD970 IS and Nikon S8000

 SD970 IS S8000 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon SD970 IS has physical dimensions of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Nikon S8000 has sizing of 103mm x 57mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.2" x 1.1") with a weight of 183 grams (0.40 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SD970 IS versus Nikon S8000 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SD970 IS and the S8000.

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD970 IS and S8000 is 94 and 93 respectively.

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor measurements only by reviewing technical specs. The graphic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD970 IS and S8000.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Nikon S8000 to offer more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SD970 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 sensor size comparison

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography info
Nikon S8000 Portrait photography info
26
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
28
good MP (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Street photography highlights
Nikon S8000 Street photography highlights
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD970 IS
Sports photography with Nikon S8000
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Travel photography information
Nikon S8000 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
61
good MP (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
very long zoom (300mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD970 IS Landscape photography highlights
Nikon S8000 Landscape photography highlights
32
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
37
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD970 IS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S8000 as a Vlogging camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
wide angle not great (37mm)
slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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Canon SD970 IS vs Nikon S8000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD970 IS and Nikon S8000
 Canon PowerShot SD970 ISNikon Coolpix S8000
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Nikon Coolpix S8000
Also Known as Digital IXUS 990 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-02-18 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Expeed C2
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-185mm (5.0x) 30-300mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.7 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focus distance 2cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 160 gr (0.35 lb) 183 gr (0.40 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 103 x 57 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.2" x 1.1")
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 model NB-5L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (3 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release - $300