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Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980

Portability
81
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Launched July 2014
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 SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Canon SX400 IS and Sony S980, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX400 IS (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SX400 IS was brought out 5 years after the S980 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SX400 IS matches up vs the S980 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Sony S980

 SX400 IS S980 
IntroducedJuly 2014February 2009More modern by 67 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon SX400 IS

 S980 SX400 IS 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Canon SX400 IS and Sony S980

 SX400 IS S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon SX400 IS has got exterior measurements of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX400 IS and Sony S980 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the SX400 IS versus the S980.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX400 IS and S980 is 81 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through a spec sheet. The image here will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SX400 IS and S980.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Canon SX400 IS to provide you with more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The more recent SX400 IS provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Portrait photography features
Sony S980 Portrait photography features
35
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
52
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Sports photography information
Sony S980 Sports photography information
42
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (190 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
60
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
bad battery (190 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX400 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
no manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (190 shots)
missing Timelapse function
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Vlogging details
Sony S980 Vlogging details
28
decently wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic socket
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Canon SX400 IS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX400 IS and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot SX400 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-07-29 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 0cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 313 grams (0.69 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") 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 190 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-11LH -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $229 $300