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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Launched January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic FH3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the FH3 (14MP) is fairly well matched and they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was launched 4 months before the FH3 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SD980 IS grades versus the FH3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic FH3

 SD980 IS FH3 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Canon SD980 IS

 FH3 SD980 IS 

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic FH3

 SD980 IS FH3 
LaunchedAugust 2009January 2010Similar age
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Canon SD980 IS has got physical 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) and the Panasonic FH3 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic FH3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the SD980 IS compared to the FH3.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and FH3 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SD980 IS and FH3.

As you can see, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic FH3 to give you greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FH3 Portrait photography factors
20
no manual focus
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography details
Panasonic FH3 Street photography details
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
56
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography info
Panasonic FH3 Sports photography info
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow fps (6.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography factors
Panasonic FH3 Travel photography factors
58
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
64
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD980 IS
Landscape photography with Panasonic FH3
38
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
37
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD980 IS
Vlogging with Panasonic FH3
30
relatively wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
29
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic support
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic FH3
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 200 IS Lumix DMC-FS11
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-19 2010-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.50 m 6.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 lb) 165g (0.36 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Price at launch - $160