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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Olympus TG-820 iHS front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS 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
  • Released August 2009
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Olympus TG-820 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 206g - 101 x 65 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2012
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-820 iHS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Olympus. The resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the TG-820 iHS (12MP) is very well matched and they come with the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was announced 3 years before the TG-820 iHS and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SD980 IS grades versus the TG-820 iHS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Olympus TG-820 iHS

 SD980 IS TG-820 iHS 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-820 iHS over the Canon SD980 IS

 TG-820 iHS SD980 IS 
LaunchedFebruary 2012August 2009Fresher by 30 months
Display resolution1030k230kSharper display (+800k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-820 iHS

 SD980 IS TG-820 iHS 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SD980 IS has got outside 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) whilst the Olympus TG-820 iHS has measurements of 101mm x 65mm x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-820 iHS in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the SD980 IS against the TG-820 iHS.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD980 IS and TG-820 iHS is 95 and 92 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at specs. The visual underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and TG-820 iHS.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same megapixels therefore you should expect similar quality of photos but you really should take the production date of the products into consideration. The older SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Portrait photography camera
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
27
provides face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-820 iHS as a Street photography camera
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD980 IS
Sports photography with Olympus TG-820 iHS
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
34
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (220 CIPA)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography factors
Olympus TG-820 iHS Travel photography factors
58
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
59
environment proofing
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (220 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography features
Olympus TG-820 iHS Landscape photography features
38
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
38
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
manual mode not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery (220 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging factors
Olympus TG-820 iHS Vlogging factors
31
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic socket
33
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-820 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-820 iHS
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISOlympus TG-820 iHS
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus TG-820 iHS
Also called Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2009-08-19 2012-02-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 TruePic VI
Sensor type CCD 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 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3968 x 2976
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,030 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - HyperCrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150 grams (0.33 lbs) 206 grams (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 101 x 65 x 26mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.0")
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 - 220 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch - $500