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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Key Specs

Canon SD980 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 100 x 53 x 23mm
  • Launched August 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Launched June 2013
  • Older Model is Canon SX150 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX170 IS
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX160 IS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Canon. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and SX160 IS (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was announced 4 years prior to the SX160 IS and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the SD980 IS scores vs the SX160 IS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Canon SX160 IS

 SD980 IS SX160 IS 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Canon SD980 IS

 SX160 IS SD980 IS 
LaunchedJune 2013August 2009Fresher by 46 months
Focus manually More accurate focus

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX160 IS

 SD980 IS SX160 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SD980 IS has got outside measurements of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Canon SX160 IS has measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX160 IS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the SD980 IS vs the SX160 IS.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and SX160 IS is 95 and 86 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD980 IS and SX160 IS.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Canon SX160 IS to produce greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX160 IS
21
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography information
Canon SX160 IS Street photography information
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
59
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (291g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography details
Canon SX160 IS Sports photography details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
51
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 shots)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX160 IS as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
good battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than others (291 grams)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
long reach (448mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography info
Canon SX160 IS Landscape photography info
38
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse recording
51
focusing manually
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
good battery life (380 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX160 IS as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
31
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
lighter than others (291 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX160 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX160 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISCanon PowerShot SX160 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Also Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2013-06-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Digic 4
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 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-448mm (16.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150g (0.33 lb) 291g (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 380 photos
Battery type - AA
Battery ID NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at release - $199