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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS 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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Canon SX230 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 223g - 106 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon SX210 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX240 HS
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Canon. The sensor resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the SX230 HS (12MP) is pretty close and they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was revealed 23 months prior to the SX230 HS which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SD980 IS matches up vs the SX230 HS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Canon SX230 HS

 SD980 IS SX230 HS 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX230 HS over the Canon SD980 IS

 SX230 HS SD980 IS 
RevealedJuly 2011August 2009More modern by 23 months
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX230 HS

 SD980 IS SX230 HS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SD980 IS features outer dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Canon SX230 HS has proportions of 106mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 223 grams (0.49 lbs).

Check the Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SD980 IS versus the SX230 HS.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD980 IS and SX230 HS is 95 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to see the difference in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The image here should give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and SX230 HS.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP therefore you should expect comparable quality of files although you will want to take the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged SD980 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Canon SX230 HS as a Portrait photography camera
21
manual focus not available
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
34
has manual focus
provides face detection focusing
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX230 HS as a Street photography camera
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (223g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography factors
Canon SX230 HS Sports photography factors
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
36
long zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (210 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Canon SX230 HS as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than competitors in class (223 grams)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
very long reach (392mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography info
Canon SX230 HS Landscape photography info
38
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
41
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery power (210 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging info
Canon SX230 HS Vlogging info
31
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
34
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (223g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic jack
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX230 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX230 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISCanon PowerShot SX230 HS
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
Alternate name Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-08-19 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-392mm (14.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - PureColor II TG TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/3200 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150 gr (0.33 lb) 223 gr (0.49 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 106 x 62 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 210 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch - $399