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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Key Specs

Canon SD980 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 100 x 53 x 23mm
  • Released August 2009
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched June 2012
  • Old Model is Canon SX240 HS
  • Newer Model is Canon SX270 HS
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Overview

Following is a thorough assessment of the Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Canon. The image resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the SX260 HS (12MP) is very comparable and both cameras provide the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was introduced 3 years earlier than the SX260 HS which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SD980 IS matches up against the SX260 HS for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Canon SX260 HS

 SD980 IS SX260 HS 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Canon SD980 IS

 SX260 HS SD980 IS 
LaunchedJune 2012August 2009More modern by 34 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX260 HS

 SD980 IS SX260 HS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon SD980 IS has got exterior dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Canon SX260 HS has specifications of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the SD980 IS compared to the SX260 HS.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and SX260 HS is 95 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by checking out technical specs. The picture here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and SX260 HS.

As you have seen, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of files but you have to factor the production date of the cameras into account. The more aged SD980 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Canon SX260 HS
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
37
you can focus manually
features face detect focusing
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD980 IS
Street photography with Canon SX260 HS
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (231 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX260 HS as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
36
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (230 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography details
Canon SX260 HS Travel photography details
58
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than competition in class (231 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography advice
38
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
41
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging advice
Canon SX260 HS Vlogging advice
31
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (231 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic port
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Canon SD980 IS vs Canon SX260 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Canon SX260 HS
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISCanon PowerShot SX260 HS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Also called as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-19 2012-06-04
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Digic 5
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 12MP 12MP
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
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-6.8
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - PureColor II TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 H.264
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150g (0.33 lb) 231g (0.51 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 106 x 61 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 - 230 shots
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NB-6L
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
Storage slots One One
Price at launch - $349