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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 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
  • Announced August 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Panasonic FH6
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.5-6.4) lens
  • 119g - 96 x 56 x 20mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the FH6 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was unveiled 3 years earlier than the FH6 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summary of how the SD980 IS grades against the FH6 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic FH6

 SD980 IS FH6 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH6 over the Canon SD980 IS

 FH6 SD980 IS 
LaunchedJanuary 2012August 2009More modern by 29 months

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic FH6

 SD980 IS FH6 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SD980 IS offers physical dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Panasonic FH6 has measurements of 96mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") with a weight of 119 grams (0.26 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SD980 IS compared to the FH6.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and FH6 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The pic here should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and FH6.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Panasonic FH6 to give you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography features
Panasonic FH6 Portrait photography features
20
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography features
Panasonic FH6 Street photography features
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (119 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography details
Panasonic FH6 Sports photography details
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
39
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
great battery life (280 shots)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH6 Travel photography highlights
58
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
70
great battery life (280 shots)
lighter than competition (119g)
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH6 Landscape photography highlights
38
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
41
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
great battery life (280 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging features
Panasonic FH6 Vlogging features
30
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
32
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
lighter than competition (119 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic FH6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic FH6
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-FH6
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH6
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-08-19 2012-01-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB 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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150 gr (0.33 lb) 119 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 96 x 56 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 280 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release - $129