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Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S3600 front
Portability
96
Imaging
44
Features
29
Overall
38

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Nikon S3600
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.7-6.6) lens
  • 125g - 97 x 58 x 20mm
  • Announced January 2014
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Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Canon SD980 IS and Nikon S3600, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and S3600 (20MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was brought out 5 years prior to the S3600 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SD980 IS grades versus the S3600 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Nikon S3600

 SD980 IS S3600 
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon S3600 over the Canon SD980 IS

 S3600 SD980 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014August 2009Fresher by 53 months

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Nikon S3600

 SD980 IS S3600 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SD980 IS offers 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 S3600 has specifications of 97mm x 58mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Check the Canon SD980 IS and Nikon S3600 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the SD980 IS vs the S3600.

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD980 IS and S3600 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through specs. The photograph below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and S3600.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Nikon S3600 to provide you with greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography details
Nikon S3600 Portrait photography details
20
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
37
MP count good (20MP)
provides face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography information
Nikon S3600 Street photography information
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (125g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD980 IS
Sports photography with Nikon S3600
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
provides tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography info
Nikon S3600 Travel photography info
58
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition (125 grams)
MP count good (20MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography info
Nikon S3600 Landscape photography info
38
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
40
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S3600 as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (24mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
33
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (125 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.7)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
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Canon SD980 IS vs Nikon S3600 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Nikon S3600
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISNikon Coolpix S3600
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Nikon Coolpix S3600
Alternate name Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-19 2014-01-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 5152 x 3864
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 99
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.7-6.6
Macro focusing distance 3cm 2cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000s 1/1500s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280x720p (30fps) , 1280x720 (25p), 640x480 (30fps )
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150 grams (0.33 pounds) 125 grams (0.28 pounds)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 97 x 58 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L EN-EL19
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing - $200