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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
42
Features
50
Overall
45

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V 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
  • Released August 2009
  • Also referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Old Model is Sony HX20V
  • Successor is Sony HX50V
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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V Overview

Its time to look closer at the Canon SD980 IS and Sony HX30V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Canon and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and HX30V (18MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was launched 3 years prior to the HX30V which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SD980 IS grades vs the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Sony HX30V

 SD980 IS HX30V 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Canon SD980 IS

 HX30V SD980 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2012August 2009More modern by 30 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution922k230kCrisper screen (+692k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Sony HX30V

 SD980 IS HX30V 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Canon SD980 IS offers outside dimensions of 100mm x 53mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") along with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD980 IS and Sony HX30V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SD980 IS vs the HX30V.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SD980 IS and HX30V is 95 and 90 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The image underneath will offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD980 IS and HX30V.

As you can see, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX30V to give you more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Portrait photography camera
21
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
45
has manual focus
good MP (18MP)
supports face detect focusing
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography highlights
Sony HX30V Street photography highlights
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography advice
Sony HX30V Sports photography advice
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
49
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Travel photography details
Sony HX30V Travel photography details
58
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
good MP (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (500mm)
no Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography details
Sony HX30V Landscape photography details
38
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
50
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX30V as a Vlogging camera
31
rather wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
display isn't selfie friendly
no microphone jack
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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Sony HX30V
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Also called Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-08-19 2012-02-28
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-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 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/3000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.50 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150g (0.33 lbs) 254g (0.56 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 - 320 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch - $420