Clicky

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Introduced March 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX270 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
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SX280 HS (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very similar and they come with the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The SX280 HS was brought out 4 years after the S980 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SX280 HS grades against the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Sony S980

 SX280 HS S980 
ReleasedMarch 2013February 2009Newer by 50 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon SX280 HS

 S980 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Sony S980

 SX280 HS S980 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX280 HS has got physical measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX280 HS versus the S980.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the SX280 HS and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The image here will give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX280 HS and S980.

As you have seen, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements and the same exact resolution so you can expect similar quality of pictures however you may want to take the age of the products into consideration. The more modern SX280 HS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography information
Sony S980 Portrait photography information
34
has manual focus
provides face detection focusing
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
27
you can focus manually
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography factors
Sony S980 Street photography factors
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX280 HS
Sports photography with Sony S980
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
17
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography factors
Sony S980 Travel photography factors
61
lighter than competition (233g)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
missing Timelapse function
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX280 HS
Landscape photography with Sony S980
41
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
27
you can focus manually
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging highlights
Sony S980 Vlogging highlights
34
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
missing external microphone jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon SX280 HS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-03-21 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
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
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233g (0.51 lbs) 167g (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 210 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $325 $300