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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980

Portability
86
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX150 IS
  • Replacement is Canon SX170 IS
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Canon SX160 IS and Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was revealed 4 years later than the S980 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX160 IS matches up against the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Sony S980

 SX160 IS S980 
IntroducedJune 2013February 2009More recent by 53 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon SX160 IS

 S980 SX160 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Sony S980

 SX160 IS S980 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon SX160 IS offers exterior dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX160 IS and Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SX160 IS and the S980.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and S980 is 86 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX160 IS and S980.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Canon SX160 IS to offer you greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more modern SX160 IS is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography factors
Sony S980 Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Street photography info
Sony S980 Street photography info
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (291g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
51
excellent zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
17
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
69
better than average battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than average in class (291g)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great zoom (448mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX160 IS
Landscape photography with Sony S980
51
focusing manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX160 IS
Vlogging with Sony S980
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
lighter than average in class (291g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Canon SX160 IS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-06-21 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 291 grams (0.64 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 life 380 pictures -
Style of battery AA -
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $199 $300