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Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34
Nikon Coolpix S8000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Nikon S8000
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 183g - 103 x 57 x 27mm
  • Launched June 2010
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the S8000 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The S8000 was announced 17 months later than the S980 making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the S8000 matches up against the S980 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S8000 over the Sony S980

 S8000 S980 
IntroducedJune 2010February 2009More recent by 17 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Nikon S8000

 S980 S8000 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Nikon S8000 and Sony S980

 S8000 S980 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Nikon S8000 has outside dimensions of 103mm x 57mm x 27mm (4.1" x 2.2" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 183 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the S8000 versus the S980.

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the S8000 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S8000 and S980.

As you can tell, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Nikon S8000 to resolve extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics more aggressively. The more modern S8000 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S8000
Portrait photography with Sony S980
28
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon S8000
Street photography with Sony S980
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S8000 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
slow fps (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S8000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
61
good megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
great zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S8000 Landscape photography details
Sony S980 Landscape photography details
37
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S8000 Vlogging info
Sony S980 Vlogging info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
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Nikon S8000 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S8000 and Sony S980
 Nikon Coolpix S8000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S8000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-06-16 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 30-300mm (10.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 2cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 183 grams (0.40 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 103 x 57 x 27mm (4.1" x 2.2" 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 ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (3 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $300 $300