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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Olympus TG-310 front
Portability
94
Imaging
37
Features
33
Overall
35

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Olympus TG-310
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 155g - 96 x 63 x 23mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Overview

Here is a extensive review of the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-310, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the TG-310 (14MP) is very comparable and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was launched 16 months prior to the TG-310 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SD980 IS scores vs the TG-310 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Olympus TG-310

 SD980 IS TG-310 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-310 over the Canon SD980 IS

 TG-310 SD980 IS 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011August 2009Fresher by 16 months

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-310

 SD980 IS TG-310 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry your camera, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD980 IS comes with outer 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 TG-310 has dimensions of 96mm x 63mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Compare the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-310 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the SD980 IS compared to the TG-310.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and TG-310 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to picture the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specifications. The graphic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD980 IS and TG-310.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Olympus TG-310 to show more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography highlights
Olympus TG-310 Portrait photography highlights
21
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
33
MP count decent (14MP)
features face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography highlights
Olympus TG-310 Street photography highlights
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (155g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography info
Olympus TG-310 Sports photography info
25
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (150 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography advice
Olympus TG-310 Travel photography advice
58
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition in class (155g)
environment proof
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (150 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography factors
Olympus TG-310 Landscape photography factors
38
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
39
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
environment proof
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery (150 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus TG-310 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
32
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (155g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-310 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-310
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISOlympus TG-310
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus TG-310
Alternative name Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Announced 2009-08-19 2011-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 TruePic III+
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 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-102mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 4.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150 gr (0.33 pounds) 155 gr (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 96 x 63 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.5" x 0.9")
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 - 150 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LI-42B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost - $0