Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3
95 Imaging
34 Features
28 Overall
31


94 Imaging
36 Features
21 Overall
30
Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Key Specs
(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
(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

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").

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.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Gallery
Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SD980 IS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3. The complete galleries are provided at Canon SD980 IS Gallery & Panasonic FH3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic FH3
SD980 IS | FH3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 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 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | August 2009 | ![]() | January 2010 | Similar age |
Focus manually | ![]() | No manual focusing | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH3 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS | Panasonic 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 |