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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
39
Overall
37

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 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 ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

The following is a thorough analysis of the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic ZS8, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty close and they feature the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SD980 IS was manufactured 23 months prior to the ZS8 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SD980 IS scores vs the ZS8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Panasonic ZS8

 SD980 IS ZS8 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Canon SD980 IS

 ZS8 SD980 IS 
IntroducedJuly 2011August 2009Newer by 23 months

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic ZS8

 SD980 IS ZS8 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SD980 IS comes with external dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS8 has specifications of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") having a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

See the Canon SD980 IS versus Panasonic ZS8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at the time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SD980 IS versus the ZS8.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD980 IS and ZS8 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions purely by viewing specs. The pic here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SD980 IS and ZS8.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Panasonic ZS8 to render more detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
20
no manual focus
external flash not possible
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
29
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography highlights
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD980 IS
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS8
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
46
excellent zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD980 IS
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
58
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low MP (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (210g)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Landscape photography information
38
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
43
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
30
decently wide (24mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
30
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (210 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Canon SD980 IS vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Panasonic ZS8
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-08-19 2011-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
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 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
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 150g (0.33 lb) 210g (0.46 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 - 340 pictures
Style 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 One One
Price at release - $275