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Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
73
Overall
52
Fujifilm X30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Fujifilm X30
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 2/3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 423g - 119 x 72 x 60mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Old Model is Fujifilm X20
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
  • Launched February 2009
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Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Fujifilm X30 and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors FujiFilm and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Fujifilm X30 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very close but the Fujifilm X30 (2/3") and S980 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The Fujifilm X30 was manufactured 5 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the Fujifilm X30 scores versus the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Fujifilm X30 over the Sony S980

 Fujifilm X30 S980 
LaunchedAugust 2014February 2009Fresher by 68 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Fujifilm X30

 S980 Fujifilm X30 

Common features in the Fujifilm X30 and Sony S980

 Fujifilm X30 S980 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Fujifilm X30 provides outside measurements of 119mm x 72mm x 60mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 2.4") with a weight of 423 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Fujifilm X30 and Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the Fujifilm X30 compared to the S980.

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the Fujifilm X30 and S980 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing merely by researching specifications. The graphic below may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the Fujifilm X30 and S980.

Plainly, each of these cameras have the same resolution but different sensor sizing. The Fujifilm X30 has the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field easier. The newer Fujifilm X30 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Fujifilm X30 Portrait photography features
Sony S980 Portrait photography features
47
manual focus
provides face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (2/3")
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Fujifilm X30 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
64
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
small sensor (2/3")
heavier than competition (423 grams)
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Fujifilm X30
Sports photography with Sony S980
52
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (470 per charge)
supports phase detect AF
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (2/3")
17
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Fujifilm X30 Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
62
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
heavier than competition (423g)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Fujifilm X30
Landscape photography with Sony S980
58
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (470 CIPA)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (2/3")
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Fujifilm X30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
34
relatively wide (28mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
display isn't selfie friendly
heavier than competition (423g)
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Fujifilm X30 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Fujifilm X30 and Sony S980
 Fujifilm X30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name FujiFilm Sony
Model Fujifilm X30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-08-26 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor EXR Processor II -
Sensor type CMOS X-TRANS II CCD
Sensor size 2/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 8.8 x 6.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 58.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-2.8 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 4.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.65x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, forced flash, slow synchro, commander, suppressed flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/50p/30p/25/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/50p/30p/25/24p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 423g (0.93 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 72 x 60mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 2.4") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 470 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NP-95 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $499 $300