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Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix S9700 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Nikon S9700
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 232g - 110 x 64 x 35mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Superseded the Nikon S9500
  • Updated by Nikon S9900
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
  • Introduced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Overview

The following is a extended assessment of the Nikon S9700 versus Sony S980, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the S9700 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The S9700 was introduced 5 years after the S980 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the S9700 matches up against the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9700 over the Sony S980

 S9700 S980 
IntroducedFebruary 2014February 2009Newer by 61 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Nikon S9700

 S980 S9700 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Nikon S9700 and Sony S980

 S9700 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon S9700 enjoys external measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has sizing 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 S9700 versus Sony S980 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the S9700 against the S980.

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the S9700 and S980 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to envision the gap in sensor dimensions just by viewing technical specs. The pic here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the S9700 and S980.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Nikon S9700 to render extra detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The fresher S9700 will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S9700 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detect focus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
has manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9700 Street photography details
Sony S980 Street photography details
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (232g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
53
incredible zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
17
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S9700 Travel photography advice
Sony S980 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition (232g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (750mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.7)
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9700 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
45
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.7)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
27
has manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon S9700
Vlogging with Sony S980
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (232g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone port
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone socket
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Nikon S9700 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9700 and Sony S980
 Nikon Coolpix S9700Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9700 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-02-07 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 99 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-750mm (30.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.7-6.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30/25p, 60/50i) 1280 x 720 (60/50/30/25/15/12.5p) 960 x 540 (30/25p) 640 x 480 (120/30/25p) 320 x 240 (240p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 232g (0.51 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 64 x 35mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 300 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $350 $300