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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Olympus XZ-1 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
51
Overall
41

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 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
  • Also Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Olympus XZ-1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 275g - 111 x 65 x 42mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Photography Glossary

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Olympus. The image resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the XZ-1 (10MP) is very comparable but the SD980 IS (1/2.3") and XZ-1 (1/1.63") enjoy different sensor sizing.

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The SD980 IS was revealed 17 months prior to the XZ-1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the SD980 IS scores against the XZ-1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Olympus XZ-1

 SD980 IS XZ-1 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus XZ-1 over the Canon SD980 IS

 XZ-1 SD980 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2011August 2009More recent by 17 months
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display resolution614k230kClearer display (+384k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Olympus XZ-1

 SD980 IS XZ-1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD980 IS offers outside dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Olympus XZ-1 has dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 275 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SD980 IS vs the XZ-1.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD980 IS and XZ-1 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and XZ-1.

As you can tell, both of the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SD980 IS having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh harder and the Canon SD980 IS will produce greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography info
Olympus XZ-1 Portrait photography info
20
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
45
focusing manually
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography information
Olympus XZ-1 Street photography information
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography advice
Olympus XZ-1 Sports photography advice
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
38
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
better than average battery power (320 shots)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Travel photography camera
58
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
62
better than average battery power (320 shots)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (275g)
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD980 IS
Landscape photography with Olympus XZ-1
38
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
54
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (320 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Olympus XZ-1 as a Vlogging camera
30
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect focusing
screen is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (275 grams)
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Canon SD980 IS vs Olympus XZ-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Olympus XZ-1
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISOlympus XZ-1
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Olympus XZ-1
Alternate name Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-08-19 2011-01-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 TruePic V
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3664 x 2752
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - OLED
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 8.60 m (ISO 800)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 gr (0.33 pounds) 275 gr (0.61 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 111 x 65 x 42mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 34
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 18.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 117
Other
Battery life - 320 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L Li-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch - $567