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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 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
  • Other Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Sony H20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
  • 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
  • Launched May 2009
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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 Overview

Below is a extensive overview of the Canon SD980 IS and Sony H20, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SD980 IS (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is relatively close and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was manufactured 4 months later than the H20 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a full comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SD980 IS grades versus the H20 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Sony H20

 SD980 IS H20 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Canon SD980 IS

 H20 SD980 IS 
Manually focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Sony H20

 SD980 IS H20 
LaunchedAugust 2009May 2009Same age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Canon SD980 IS has external measurements of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony H20 has dimensions of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check out the Canon SD980 IS and Sony H20 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view size comparison of the SD980 IS and the H20.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and H20 is 95 and 87 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD980 IS and H20.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Canon SD980 IS to render greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony H20 as a Portrait photography camera
20
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
27
focusing manually
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD980 IS
Street photography with Sony H20
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
51
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than competition (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD980 IS
Sports photography with Sony H20
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
26
image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography factors
Sony H20 Travel photography factors
58
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
has built in flash
long zoom (380mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (250 grams)
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony H20 as a Landscape photography camera
38
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
36
focusing manually
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD980 IS
Vlogging with Sony H20
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
23
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic socket
heavier than competition (250g)
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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Sony H20
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
General Information
Make Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-19 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 38-380mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-4.4
Macro focus distance 3cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.50 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 -
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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 grams (0.33 lb) 250 grams (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9")
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 model NB-6L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail price - $249