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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Olympus TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Successor is Olympus TG-4
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Olympus. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and TG-3 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was announced 5 years prior to the TG-3 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SD980 IS scores vs the TG-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Olympus TG-3

 SD980 IS TG-3 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Canon SD980 IS

 TG-3 SD980 IS 
LaunchedMarch 2014August 2009Fresher by 56 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-3

 SD980 IS TG-3 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SD980 IS features outside dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Olympus TG-3 has proportions of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") having a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the SD980 IS against the TG-3.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and TG-3 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching specifications. The visual below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and TG-3.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Olympus TG-3 to provide you with more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-3
21
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
37
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Street photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Street photography camera
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (247g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography info
Olympus TG-3 Sports photography info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
environment proofing
great battery (330 CIPA)
slow fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
great battery (330 CIPA)
environment proofing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than average (247 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
38
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
56
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery (330 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging factors
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging factors
31
reasonably wide (24mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic port
34
relatively wide (25mm)
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing microphone socket
more heavy than average (247 grams)
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Olympus TG-3
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISOlympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus Tough TG-3
Also called as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2009-08-19 2014-03-31
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 grams (0.33 pounds) 247 grams (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 330 pictures
Form of battery - 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 type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing - $350