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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
23
Overall
32
Canon PowerShot SD990 IS front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A380 front
Portability
68
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Key Specs

Canon SD990 IS
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-133mm (F2.8-5.8) lens
  • 205g - 98 x 62 x 28mm
  • Released September 2008
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 980 IS
Sony A380
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 519g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A350
  • New Model is Sony A390
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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Overview

The following is a comprehensive assessment of the Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SD990 IS (15MP) and the A380 (14MP) is relatively close but the SD990 IS (1/1.7") and A380 (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The SD990 IS was revealed 11 months before the A380 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon SD990 IS being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the SD990 IS grades against the A380 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD990 IS over the Sony A380

 SD990 IS A380 

Reasons to pick Sony A380 over the Canon SD990 IS

 A380 SD990 IS 
IntroducedAugust 2009September 2008Newer by 11 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon SD990 IS and Sony A380

 SD990 IS A380 
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon SD990 IS comes with outside dimensions of 98mm x 62mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has proportions of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

See the Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the SD990 IS and the A380.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SD990 IS and A380 is 92 and 68 respectively.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching specs. The picture below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD990 IS and A380.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The SD990 IS using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Canon SD990 IS will result in more detail because of its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged SD990 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 sensor size comparison

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD990 IS Portrait photography advice
Sony A380 Portrait photography advice
37
flash sync speed is above average (1/500 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
provides face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks RAW support
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Street photography camera
Sony A380 as a Street photography camera
54
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than average (205g)
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony A380 as a Sports photography camera
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
not so great battery (500 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SD990 IS
Travel photography with Sony A380
57
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
flash built-in
more heavy than average (205g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery (500 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SD990 IS
Landscape photography with Sony A380
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/1.7")
lacks RAW support
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
not so great battery (500 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD990 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony A380 as a Vlogging camera
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focusing
wide angle not good (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone support
more heavy than average (205g)
9
can't record video
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Canon SD990 IS vs Sony A380 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD990 IS and Sony A380
 Canon PowerShot SD990 ISSony Alpha DSLR-A380
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SD990 IS Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
Also called as Digital IXUS 980 IS -
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2008-09-17 2009-08-24
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4416 x 3312 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 36-133mm (3.7x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.8 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.60 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow, Manual (Red Eye On/Off) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/500 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps), 160 x 120 (15 fps) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video file format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 205 grams (0.45 lbs) 519 grams (1.14 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 62 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.8
DXO Low light score not tested 614
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model NB-5L NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC card SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing - $899