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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V

Portability
66
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Key Specs

Kodak Z981
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 85 x 105mm
  • Introduced July 2010
Sony HX20V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX10V
  • Successor is Sony HX30V
Photography Glossary

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Overview

Below is a extensive analysis of the Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by rivals Kodak and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the Z981 (14MP) and HX20V (18MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The Z981 was released 24 months prior to the HX20V making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Kodak Z981 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the Z981 grades against the HX20V when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Sony HX20V

 Z981 HX20V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX20V over the Kodak Z981

 HX20V Z981 
LaunchedJuly 2012July 2010More recent by 24 months
Display resolution922k201kSharper display (+721k dot)

Common features in the Kodak Z981 and Sony HX20V

 Z981 HX20V 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor its weight and volume. The Kodak Z981 provides outside measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX20V has sizing of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Take a look at the Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the Z981 against the HX20V.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the Z981 and HX20V is 66 and 90 respectively.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V top view buttons comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the Z981 and HX20V.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony HX20V to render extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics much more aggressively. The older Z981 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V sensor size comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Kodak Z981 Portrait photography features
Sony HX20V Portrait photography features
45
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
44
has manual focus
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Kodak Z981 Street photography details
Sony HX20V Street photography details
50
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
heavier than average (540g)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (254g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Kodak Z981
Sports photography with Sony HX20V
43
long zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
49
incredible zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Kodak Z981 Travel photography details
Sony HX20V Travel photography details
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
long reach (676mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (540g)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (254g)
MP count decent (18MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Kodak Z981 Landscape photography details
Sony HX20V Landscape photography details
51
focusing manually
really wide (26mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
50
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Kodak Z981
Vlogging with Sony HX20V
22
really wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
heavier than average (540 grams)
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (254 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone jack
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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX20V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z981 and Sony HX20V
 Kodak EasyShare Z981Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
General Information
Make Kodak Sony
Model Kodak EasyShare Z981 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2012-07-20
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-676mm (26.0x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focus distance 10cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 201k dot 922k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 16s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.20 m 7.10 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 540g (1.19 pounds) 254g (0.56 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
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 - 320 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $299 $397