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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX3
  • New Model is Panasonic LX7
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is pretty close but the SD980 IS (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") offer different sensor sizes.

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The SD980 IS was launched 3 years earlier than the LX5 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a thorough comparison, here is a brief view of how the SD980 IS matches up against the LX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic LX5

 SD980 IS LX5 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Canon SD980 IS

 LX5 SD980 IS 
RevealedDecember 2011August 2009More recent by 28 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic LX5

 SD980 IS LX5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SD980 IS enjoys outside 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 LX5 has specifications of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Examine the Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SD980 IS against the LX5.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and LX5 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic underneath might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and LX5.

Clearly, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SD980 IS featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Canon SD980 IS will render extra detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography advice
20
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
41
you can focus manually
supports RAW formats
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography info
Panasonic LX5 Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
59
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
more heavy than average in class (271g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography features
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography features
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography features
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography features
58
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
59
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (271g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
38
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
52
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/1.63")
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging information
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging information
30
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
fairly wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
does not feature selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than average in class (271 grams)
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic LX5
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Also called Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-08-19 2011-12-15
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine FHD
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
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 3.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 7.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
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 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 AVCHD Lite
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 lbs) 271 gr (0.60 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 41
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 132
Other
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost - $294