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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
28
Overall
31
Canon PowerShot SD980 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
60
Overall
49

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 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
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 200 IS
Sony HX80
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Raise to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed March 2016
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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the SD980 IS (12MP) and HX80 (18MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SD980 IS was revealed 7 years prior to the HX80 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SD980 IS matches up vs the HX80 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon SD980 IS over the Sony HX80

 SD980 IS HX80 
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX80 over the Canon SD980 IS

 HX80 SD980 IS 
RevealedMarch 2016August 2009More modern by 79 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Canon SD980 IS and Sony HX80

 SD980 IS HX80 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon SD980 IS offers external measurements 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 Sony HX80 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the SD980 IS against the HX80.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SD980 IS and HX80 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reviewing technical specs. The image below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SD980 IS and HX80.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Sony HX80 to offer greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images far more aggressively. The more aged SD980 IS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 sensor size comparison

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Portrait photography information
Sony HX80 Portrait photography information
20
no manual focus
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
39
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Street photography advice
Sony HX80 Street photography advice
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
69
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (245g)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Sports photography details
Sony HX80 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
offers tracking focus
better than average battery life (390 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD980 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX80 as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
better than average battery life (390 CIPA)
lighter than others (245 grams)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD980 IS Landscape photography info
Sony HX80 Landscape photography info
38
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
49
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
better than average battery life (390 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD980 IS
Vlogging with Sony HX80
30
quite wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone socket
75
reasonably wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (245 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
no mic socket
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Canon SD980 IS vs Sony HX80 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD980 IS and Sony HX80
 Canon PowerShot SD980 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80
Also referred to as Digital IXUS 200 IS -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-08-19 2016-03-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
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 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/3000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.50 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, on, slow sync, off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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 150 grams (0.33 pounds) 245 grams (0.54 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 53 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.1" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 390 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing - $368