Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3
95 Imaging
34 Features
28 Overall
31
96 Imaging
39 Features
29 Overall
35
Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 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
- Introduced August 2009
- Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
- 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
- Announced January 2013
Mastering Nature Photography with a Digital Microscope Camera Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview
The following is a in depth assessment of the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic SZ3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").
Photography GlossaryThe SD980 IS was revealed 4 years earlier than the SZ3 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).
Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the SD980 IS grades versus the SZ3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SD980 IS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3. The full galleries are available at Canon SD980 IS Gallery & Panasonic SZ3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic SZ3
| SD980 IS | SZ3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen dimension | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Touch friendly screen | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Canon SD980 IS
| SZ3 | SD980 IS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | January 2013 | August 2009 | Newer by 41 months |
Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic SZ3
| SD980 IS | SZ3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual focus | No manual focus | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Screen resolution | 230k | 230k | Equal screen resolution | |
| Selfie screen | Neither contains selfie screen |
Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison
If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in 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") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ3 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).
Analyze the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic SZ3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SD980 IS against the SZ3.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and SZ3 is 95 and 96 respectively.
Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison
Normally, its difficult to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specs. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and SZ3.
As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Panasonic SZ3 to show greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.
Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications
| Canon PowerShot SD980 IS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Manufacturer | Canon | Panasonic |
| Model type | Canon PowerShot SD980 IS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 |
| Other name | Digital IXUS 200 IS | - |
| Class | Small Sensor Compact | Small Sensor Compact |
| Introduced | 2009-08-19 | 2013-01-07 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Processor 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 surface area | 28.1mm² | 27.7mm² |
| Sensor resolution | 12MP | 16MP |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | - |
| Full resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 4608 x 3456 |
| Max native ISO | 1600 | 6400 |
| Min native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW photos | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| Continuous AF | ||
| Single AF | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| AF selectice | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| AF multi area | ||
| Live view AF | ||
| Face detection focusing | ||
| Contract detection focusing | ||
| Phase detection focusing | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 23 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | 24-120mm (5.0x) | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
| Highest aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | f/3.1-5.9 |
| Macro focusing range | 3cm | 5cm |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Screen | ||
| Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Screen size | 3 inch | 2.7 inch |
| Screen resolution | 230 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch display | ||
| Screen tech | - | TFT LCD |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Slowest shutter speed | 15s | 60s |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/3000s | 1/1600s |
| Continuous shooting rate | 1.0fps | 1.0fps |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Exposure compensation | Yes | - |
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 6.50 m | 4.10 m |
| Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro |
| External flash | ||
| Auto exposure bracketing | ||
| White balance bracketing | ||
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment exposure | ||
| Average exposure | ||
| Spot exposure | ||
| Partial exposure | ||
| AF area exposure | ||
| Center weighted exposure | ||
| 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) |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
| Video file 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) | 126 gr (0.28 lb) |
| Dimensions | 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") | 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO All around 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 | - | 250 photos |
| Battery style | - | 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 | One | One |
| Price at launch | - | $150 |