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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Successor is Canon SX510 HS
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a complete assessment of the Canon SX500 IS versus Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Sony. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was announced 3 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the SX500 IS matches up versus the S980 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sony S980

 SX500 IS S980 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2009More recent by 43 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Canon SX500 IS

 S980 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sony S980

 SX500 IS S980 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX500 IS comes with outside measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 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).

See the Canon SX500 IS versus Sony S980 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the SX500 IS against the S980.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and S980 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through specifications. The photograph here will help give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and S980.

Plainly, the two cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You should expect the Canon SX500 IS to render greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The fresher SX500 IS should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography info
Sony S980 Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
high flash sync speed (1/1,600 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX500 IS
Sports photography with Sony S980
44
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (195 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
17
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
59
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (195 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
Sony S980 Landscape photography information
46
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
terrible battery pack (195 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sony S980
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Canon Sony
Model type Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-08-21 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias 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 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 1 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/1600s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life 195 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $299 $300