Canon SX420 IS vs Sony S980

Below is a extended overview of the Canon SX420 IS and Sony S980, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Canon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX420 IS (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX420 IS was brought out 6 years later than the S980 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX420 IS being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SX420 IS matches up vs the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SX420 IS & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The entire galleries are provided at Canon SX420 IS Gallery & Sony S980 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Canon SX420 IS offers physical dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 85mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.3") along with a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs) while the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX420 IS and Sony S980 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX420 IS compared to the S980.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX420 IS and S980 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Often, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The graphic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX420 IS and S980.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Canon SX420 IS to give you greater detail having its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher SX420 IS will have a benefit in sensor technology.