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Nikon L24 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30
Nikon Coolpix L24 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Nikon L24
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-134mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 182g - 98 x 61 x 28mm
  • Released February 2011
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
  • Launched February 2009
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Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's look closer at the Nikon L24 and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the L24 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is relatively close and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L24 was unveiled 2 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief view of how the L24 grades vs the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L24 over the Sony S980

 L24 S980 
LaunchedFebruary 2011February 2009More recent by 25 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Nikon L24

 S980 L24 
Manually focus More precise focus

Common features in the Nikon L24 and Sony S980

 L24 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon L24 has got external measurements of 98mm x 61mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 182 grams (0.40 lbs) and the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Nikon L24 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the L24 compared to the S980.

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the L24 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements just by looking through specs. The photograph here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the L24 and S980.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Nikon L24 to result in more detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots way more aggressively. The younger L24 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L24 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
33
MP count decent (14MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
27
manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon L24 Street photography advice
Sony S980 Street photography advice
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L24 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
26
MP count decent (14MP)
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L24
Travel photography with Sony S980
57
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L24 Landscape photography highlights
Sony S980 Landscape photography highlights
33
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
27
manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L24 Vlogging advice
Sony S980 Vlogging advice
25
comes with face detection autofocus
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic jack
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
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Nikon L24 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L24 and Sony S980
 Nikon Coolpix L24Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L24 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-02-09 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
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 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-134mm (3.6x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, 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
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 182 gr (0.40 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 61 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 220 pictures -
Form of battery AA -
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD / SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $119 $300