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Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980

Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
36
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
  • Released September 2010
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 S8100 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the S8100 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is relatively comparable and both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S8100 was launched 19 months after the S980 which makes them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the S8100 grades against the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Sony S980

 S8100 S980 
LaunchedSeptember 2010February 2009More modern by 19 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Nikon S8100

 S980 S8100 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Nikon S8100 and Sony S980

 S8100 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon S8100 provides exterior dimensions of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the S8100 versus the S980.

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the S8100 and S980 is 93 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes just by checking out technical specs. The image below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the S8100 and S980.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the exact same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of pictures though you will need to factor the release date of the cameras into account. The more modern S8100 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S8100 Portrait photography info
Sony S980 Portrait photography info
26
offers face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon S8100 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S8100 Sports photography factors
Sony S980 Sports photography factors
38
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
17
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S8100 Travel photography advice
Sony S980 Travel photography advice
55
flash built-in
long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S8100
Landscape photography with Sony S980
32
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S8100 Vlogging advice
Sony S980 Vlogging advice
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic port
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Nikon S8100 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S8100 and Sony S980
 Nikon Coolpix S8100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix S8100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-09-08 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 30-300mm (10.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 3.50 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 180 gr (0.40 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 220 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $299 $300