Clicky

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500

Portability
66
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Revealed July 2010
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Replaced the Sony WX350
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Kodak Z981 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Kodak and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the Z981 (14MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The Z981 was unveiled 5 years earlier than the WX500 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Kodak Z981 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the Z981 matches up against the WX500 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Sony WX500

 Z981 WX500 
Manually focus Dial exact focus

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Kodak Z981

 WX500 Z981 
AnnouncedApril 2015July 2010Fresher by 58 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k201kCrisper display (+720k dot)

Common features in the Kodak Z981 and Sony WX500

 Z981 WX500 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Kodak Z981 offers external measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") with a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Kodak Z981 versus Sony WX500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the Z981 against the WX500.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the Z981 and WX500 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing a spec sheet. The visual here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the Z981 and WX500.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Sony WX500 to provide you with extra detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The older Z981 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Kodak Z981 Portrait photography info
Sony WX500 Portrait photography info
46
has manual focus
megapixel count good (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
39
decent megapixels (18MP)
has face detect focus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Street photography with Kodak Z981
Street photography with Sony WX500
50
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
more heavy than others in class (540g)
69
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Kodak Z981
Sports photography with Sony WX500
43
incredible zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Travel Comparison

Kodak Z981 as a Travel photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Travel photography camera
53
megapixel count good (14MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (26mm)
great zoom (676mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than others in class (540 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
great battery pack (360 shots)
lighter than competition (236g)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Landscape Comparison

Kodak Z981 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Landscape photography camera
51
has manual focus
decently wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
delivers RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of Timelapse function
49
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
great battery pack (360 shots)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Kodak Z981
Vlogging with Sony WX500
22
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than others in class (540 grams)
35
pretty wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have mic jack
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Kodak Z981 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z981 and Sony WX500
 Kodak EasyShare Z981Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Manufacturer Kodak Sony
Model type Kodak EasyShare Z981 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-07-06 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface 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 images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 201k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 16s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
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 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
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 540 grams (1.19 lbs) 236 grams (0.52 lbs)
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 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots One One
Price at release $299 $348