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Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon Coolpix S9900 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Nikon S9900
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-750mm (F3.7-6.4) lens
  • 289g - 112 x 66 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2015
  • Succeeded the Nikon S9700
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
  • Launched February 2009
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Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Nikon S9900 versus Sony S980, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the S9900 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The S9900 was brought out 6 years after the S980 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple overview of how the S9900 grades vs the S980 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S9900 over the Sony S980

 S9900 S980 
LaunchedFebruary 2015February 2009Newer by 73 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Nikon S9900

 S980 S9900 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Nikon S9900 and Sony S980

 S9900 S980 
Touch display Absent Touch display

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to factor its weight and size. The Nikon S9900 provides outside measurements of 112mm x 66mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 289 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Nikon S9900 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 depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the S9900 versus the S980.

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the S9900 and S980 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The image here may provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the S9900 and S980.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should expect to see the Nikon S9900 to provide you with greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics far more aggressively. The newer S9900 should have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon S9900
Portrait photography with Sony S980
37
decent MP (16MP)
features face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon S9900 Street photography info
Sony S980 Street photography info
68
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (289 grams)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon S9900 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
53
great zoom range (25-750mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
17
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon S9900
Travel photography with Sony S980
77
lighter than average (289g)
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (750mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S9900 Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
47
rather wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S9900 Vlogging advice
Sony S980 Vlogging advice
73
rather wide (25mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (289 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.7)
doesn't have external mic jack
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Nikon S9900 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S9900 and Sony S980
 Nikon Coolpix S9900Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix S9900 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-02-10 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-750mm (30.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.7-6.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 289 gr (0.64 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 66 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") 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 300 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL19 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $300 $300