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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 front
Portability
67
Imaging
45
Features
35
Overall
41

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 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
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Panasonic LZ40
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Raise to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 22-924mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 524g - 126 x 87 x 94mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LZ30
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic LZ40, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and LZ40 (20MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was unveiled 5 years before the LZ40 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Canon SD980 IS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic LZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the SD980 IS scores vs the LZ40 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic LZ40

 SD980 IS LZ40 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ40 over the Canon SD980 IS

 LZ40 SD980 IS 
RevealedJanuary 2014August 2009More modern by 53 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic LZ40

 SD980 IS LZ40 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD980 IS offers outer dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Panasonic LZ40 has dimensions of 126mm x 87mm x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7") and a weight of 524 grams (1.16 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic LZ40 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the SD980 IS versus the LZ40.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and LZ40 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The pic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD980 IS and LZ40.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different resolution. You can anticipate the Panasonic LZ40 to show greater detail having an extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ40
21
no manual focus
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
40
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography information
Panasonic LZ40 Street photography information
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
45
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competition in class (524g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography highlights
Panasonic LZ40 Sports photography highlights
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (22-924mm 42.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
slow fps (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Travel photography camera
58
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (22mm)
long reach (924mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (524 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Landscape photography camera
38
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
44
rather wide (22mm)
screen size is decent (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ40 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic socket
27
rather wide (22mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
has external mic socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than competition in class (524g)
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic LZ40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic LZ40
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
General Information
Brand Name Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40
Also called Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 22-924mm (42.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.0-6.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 10.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 grams (0.33 lbs) 524 grams (1.16 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 126 x 87 x 94mm (5.0" x 3.4" x 3.7")
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 - 320 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release - $219