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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99

Portability
66
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 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 HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed September 2018
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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Kodak Z981 versus Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Kodak and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the sensor resolutions of the Z981 (14MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the Z981 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The Z981 was revealed 9 years prior to the HX99 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Kodak Z981 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX99 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a quick view of how the Z981 scores versus the HX99 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Sony HX99

 Z981 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Kodak Z981

 HX99 Z981 
RevealedSeptember 2018July 2010More modern by 99 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k201kCrisper screen (+720k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Kodak Z981 and Sony HX99

 Z981 HX99 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3.00"Equivalent screen sizing

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Kodak Z981 comes with outer dimensions of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) while the Sony HX99 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Look at the Kodak Z981 versus Sony HX99 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the Z981 and the HX99.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the Z981 and HX99 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The image underneath may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the Z981 and HX99.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Z981 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony HX99 will offer you extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged Z981 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Kodak Z981
Portrait photography with Sony HX99
46
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
exports RAW files
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
53
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Kodak Z981
Street photography with Sony HX99
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
more heavy than average (540 grams)
77
tilting screen
has image stabilization
supports RAW formats
lighter than others in class (242 grams)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Kodak Z981
Sports photography with Sony HX99
43
excellent zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
58
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery pack (360 per charge)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Kodak Z981 Travel photography info
Sony HX99 Travel photography info
53
MP count good (14MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (540g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
good battery pack (360 per charge)
lighter than others in class (242 grams)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Kodak Z981
Landscape photography with Sony HX99
51
focusing manually
relatively wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no Timelapse mode
58
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3.00 inch)
has image stabilization
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
supports RAW formats
good battery pack (360 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is very small (1/2.3-inch)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Kodak Z981 Vlogging features
Sony HX99 Vlogging features
22
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone socket
more heavy than average (540g)
76
really wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has image stabilization
features face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others in class (242g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not have external mic support
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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z981 and Sony HX99
 Kodak EasyShare Z981Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Name Kodak Sony
Model type Kodak EasyShare Z981 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2018-09-01
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 3216 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of screen 201k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Min shutter speed 16 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.20 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video format H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 540 grams (1.19 pounds) 242 grams (0.53 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 360 pictures
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Launch price $299 $469