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Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix A900 front
Portability
88
Imaging
45
Features
58
Overall
50

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 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
  • Launched August 2009
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Nikon A900
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-840mm (F3.4-6.9) lens
  • 289g - 113 x 67 x 40mm
  • Revealed February 2016
  • Renewed by Nikon A1000
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Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and A900 (20MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was revealed 7 years before the A900 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the SD980 IS scores against the A900 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Nikon A900

 SD980 IS A900 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon A900 over the Canon SD980 IS

 A900 SD980 IS 
RevealedFebruary 2016August 2009More modern by 79 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Nikon A900

 SD980 IS A900 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SD980 IS has got physical dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Nikon A900 has sizing of 113mm x 67mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") and a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the SD980 IS and the A900.

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and A900 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The picture underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and A900.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon A900 to provide more detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS will be behind in sensor technology.

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography factors
Nikon A900 Portrait photography factors
20
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
40
decent megapixels (20MP)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography details
Nikon A900 Street photography details
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
69
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (289g)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon A900 as a Sports photography camera
25
image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
long zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD980 IS
Travel photography with Nikon A900
58
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
74
lighter than competitors (289 grams)
supports bluetooth
decent megapixels (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (840mm)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon A900 as a Landscape photography camera
38
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
49
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon A900 as a Vlogging camera
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
34
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competitors (289g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing external mic jack
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Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon A900 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Nikon A900
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISNikon Coolpix A900
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Nikon Coolpix A900
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2016-02-23
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-840mm (35.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-6.9
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.50 m 6.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 150 gr (0.33 lb) 289 gr (0.64 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 113 x 67 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
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 life - 300 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price - $400