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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Olympus Stylus SH-2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
51
Overall
44

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 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
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Olympus SH-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Introduced March 2015
  • Superseded the Olympus SH-1
  • Successor is Olympus SH-3
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Overview

Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Olympus. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and SH-2 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was brought out 6 years before the SH-2 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the SD980 IS scores against the SH-2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Olympus SH-2

 SD980 IS SH-2 

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-2 over the Canon SD980 IS

 SH-2 SD980 IS 
IntroducedMarch 2015August 2009More recent by 67 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus SH-2

 SD980 IS SH-2 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SD980 IS comes with exterior measurements of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Olympus SH-2 has proportions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

See the Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SD980 IS compared to the SH-2.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and SH-2 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by reading specs. The visual here should give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD980 IS and SH-2.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Olympus SH-2 to offer more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The older SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography advice
Olympus SH-2 Portrait photography advice
20
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
44
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW files
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD980 IS
Street photography with Olympus SH-2
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
lighter than competition (271g)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SH-2 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 shots)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD980 IS
Travel photography with Olympus SH-2
58
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
no Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
good battery life (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition (271g)
features focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography factors
Olympus SH-2 Landscape photography factors
38
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse function
54
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging advice
Olympus SH-2 Vlogging advice
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone support
34
really wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (271g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus SH-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Olympus SH-2
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISOlympus Stylus SH-2
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus Stylus SH-2
Also called Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2015-03-11
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing 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 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 11.5 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.50 m 8.30 m (at ISO 3200)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 H.264
Microphone 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 grams (0.33 pounds) 271 grams (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7")
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 - 380 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L LI-92B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots One One
Cost at release - $399