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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic SZ8, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was brought out 5 years before the SZ8 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SD980 IS grades against the SZ8 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic SZ8

 SD980 IS SZ8 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Canon SD980 IS

 SZ8 SD980 IS 
LaunchedJanuary 2014August 2009Fresher by 53 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic SZ8

 SD980 IS SZ8 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD980 IS has 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 SZ8 has dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic SZ8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the SD980 IS vs the SZ8.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and SZ8 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and SZ8.

Clearly, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic SZ8 to offer you greater detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon SD980 IS
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
20
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
34
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography info
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (159g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography features
25
image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
33
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography features
58
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography information
38
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
41
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging details
Panasonic SZ8 Vlogging details
30
decently wide (24mm)
touch screen
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
32
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than average in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic SZ8
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Also called as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-08-19 2014-01-06
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Venus Engine
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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.50 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
WB 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 file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 lbs) 159g (0.35 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 life - 200 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 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 Single Single
Cost at launch - $275