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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 front
Portability
88
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 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
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Panasonic ZS60
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 282g - 112 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced January 2016
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ80
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS50
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS70
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic ZS60, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and ZS60 (18MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SD980 IS was unveiled 7 years prior to the ZS60 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the SD980 IS grades versus the ZS60 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic ZS60

 SD980 IS ZS60 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS60 over the Canon SD980 IS

 ZS60 SD980 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2016August 2009More recent by 77 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic ZS60

 SD980 IS ZS60 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon SD980 IS offers outer measurements of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS60 has sizing of 112mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 282 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic ZS60 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SD980 IS and the ZS60.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and ZS60 is 95 and 88 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements only by going through technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD980 IS and ZS60.

As you can tell, both of the cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Panasonic ZS60 to show more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs way more aggressively. The older SD980 IS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZS60 Portrait photography information
20
focusing manually not possible
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
52
manual focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography info
Panasonic ZS60 Street photography info
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
71
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
features touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (282 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD980 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS60
25
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
73
lighter than competition in class (282 grams)
features touch to focus
decent MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS60 Landscape photography information
38
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
59
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS60 as a Vlogging camera
30
rather wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone socket
35
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (282g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS60 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic ZS60
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60
Also Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS Lumix DMC-TZ80
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2016-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 49
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,166k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/3000s 1/2000s
Highest silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 5.60 m (at Auto ISO)
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
Auto exposure 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150g (0.33 lbs) 282g (0.62 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 112 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 37
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.3
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 109
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 3 shots / 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch cost - $248