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Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980

Portability
90
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX210 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon SX210 IS
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-392mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 220g - 103 x 61 x 38mm
  • Announced June 2010
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX200 IS
  • Updated by Canon SX230 HS
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Released February 2009
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Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon SX210 IS and Sony S980, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Sony. The image resolution of the SX210 IS (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX210 IS was brought out 17 months after the S980 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the SX210 IS matches up against the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX210 IS over the Sony S980

 SX210 IS S980 
ReleasedJune 2010February 2009More modern by 17 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon SX210 IS

 S980 SX210 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX210 IS and Sony S980

 SX210 IS S980 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX210 IS comes with exterior dimensions of 103mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") and a weight of 220 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Canon SX210 IS and Sony S980 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the SX210 IS versus the S980.

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX210 IS and S980 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking specifications. The picture below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX210 IS and S980.

To sum up, each of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can anticipate the Canon SX210 IS to give you extra detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images much more aggressively. The fresher SX210 IS will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX210 IS Portrait photography advice
Sony S980 Portrait photography advice
37
manual focus
decent MP (14 megapixels)
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
focusing manually
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX210 IS Street photography features
Sony S980 Street photography features
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (220 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX210 IS as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
43
great zoom range (28-392mm 14.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
17
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX210 IS as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (220 grams)
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
great reach (392mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX210 IS Landscape photography information
Sony S980 Landscape photography information
48
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX210 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
30
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (220 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external mic socket
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic socket
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Canon SX210 IS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX210 IS and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot SX210 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX210 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2010-06-16 2009-02-17
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 14 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-392mm (14.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow 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 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 220 gr (0.49 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 61 x 38mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.5") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 ID NB-5L -
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/MMCplus HC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $226 $300