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Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
52
Features
68
Overall
58

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini 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
  • Revealed August 2009
  • Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Revealed March 2014
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Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini Overview

In this write-up, we are looking at the Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Canon and Samsung. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the SD980 IS (1/2.3") and NX mini (1") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The SD980 IS was released 5 years earlier than the NX mini which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Canon SD980 IS being a Compact camera and the Samsung NX mini being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SD980 IS matches up versus the NX mini in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Samsung NX mini

 SD980 IS NX mini 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Canon SD980 IS

 NX mini SD980 IS 
RevealedMarch 2014August 2009Newer by 55 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Samsung NX mini

 SD980 IS NX mini 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SD980 IS provides physical dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) and the Samsung NX mini has proportions of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") and a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Examine the Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the SD980 IS vs the NX mini.

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD980 IS and NX mini is 95 and 93 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by looking at a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD980 IS and NX mini.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SD980 IS due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF trickier and the Samsung NX mini will give greater detail as a result of its extra 8.5 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography highlights
Samsung NX mini Portrait photography highlights
21
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
71
you can focus manually
decent MP (20.5MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
81
tilting screen
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
offers focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (196g)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography details
Samsung NX mini Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
54
high shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (20.5MP)
good sensor size (1")
good battery (650 shots)
max frames per second very slow (6.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography advice
Samsung NX mini Travel photography advice
58
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
good battery (650 CIPA)
lighter than competitors in class (196 grams)
offers focus by touch
decent MP (20.5 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Landscape photography camera
38
decently wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse mode
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent MP (20.5MP)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
good battery (650 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX mini as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
38
touch screen
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic support
lighter than competitors in class (196g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
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Canon SD980 IS vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Samsung NX mini
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISSamsung NX mini
General Information
Brand Canon Samsung
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Samsung NX mini
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-08-19 2014-03-19
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20.5MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 160
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 21
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Samsung NX-M
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Available lenses - 2
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 461 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000s 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 6.0 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 -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/200s
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) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 150g (0.33 lbs) 196g (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" 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 - 650 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing - $530