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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980

Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Olympus SZ-11 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released July 2011
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly comparable and they enjoy the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SZ-11 was launched 2 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the SZ-11 scores vs the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Sony S980

 SZ-11 S980 
RevealedJuly 2011February 2009More recent by 30 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Olympus SZ-11

 S980 SZ-11 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing

Common features in the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony S980

 SZ-11 S980 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus SZ-11 features exterior dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SZ-11 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the SZ-11 vs the S980.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by seeing specs. The photograph underneath might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-11 and S980.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-11 to show more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a little more aggressively. The fresher SZ-11 should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Portrait photography information
Sony S980 Portrait photography information
33
good MP (14MP)
offers face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography info
Sony S980 Sports photography info
43
amazing zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-11
Travel photography with Sony S980
65
lighter than competition (226 grams)
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse function
terrible battery life (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
40
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SZ-11 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
31
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone support
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-11 and Sony S980
 Olympus SZ-11Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Sony
Model type Olympus SZ-11 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-07-27 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III+ -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range 1cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in 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 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" 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 200 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $253 $300