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Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Nikon S9100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 105 x 62 x 35mm
  • Introduced July 2011
  • New Model is Nikon S9300
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
  • Released February 2009
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Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Nikon S9100 versus Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the S9100 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S9100 was launched 2 years later than the S980 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the S9100 grades versus the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Sony S980

 S9100 S980 
ReleasedJuly 2011February 2009Fresher by 30 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Nikon S9100

 S980 S9100 

Common features in the Nikon S9100 and Sony S980

 S9100 S980 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon S9100 comes with outside measurements of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9100 versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the S9100 versus the S980.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the S9100 and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing simply by looking at specifications. The graphic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S9100 and S980.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels and you should expect similar quality of files though you should really consider the release date of the products into consideration. The younger S9100 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9100 Portrait photography information
Sony S980 Portrait photography information
33
manual focus
supports face detect focusing
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
has manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9100 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
36
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
17
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9100 Travel photography information
Sony S980 Travel photography information
61
lighter than competitors (214g)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (270 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon S9100
Landscape photography with Sony S980
40
manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
bad battery pack (270 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9100 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no mic support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Nikon S9100 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9100 and Sony S980
 Nikon Coolpix S9100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix S9100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-07-19 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 160 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-450mm (18.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 4cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214 grams (0.47 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 270 pictures -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $329 $300