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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-2
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Olympus SH-3 and Sony S980, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Olympus and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SH-3 was brought out 7 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the SH-3 matches up vs the S980 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Sony S980

 SH-3 S980 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016February 2009More recent by 85 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Olympus SH-3

 S980 SH-3 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Sony S980

 SH-3 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SH-3 features external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SH-3 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the SH-3 compared to the S980.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the SH-3 and S980 is 88 and 94 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to envision the contrast in sensor measurements only by checking out specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and S980.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Olympus SH-3 to show more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more recent SH-3 will have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Portrait photography information
Sony S980 Portrait photography information
44
good megapixels (16MP)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
27
manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography features
Sony S980 Street photography features
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
includes touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (271g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
good battery life (380 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
74
good battery life (380 per charge)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
includes touch to focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
55
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
27
manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging advice
Sony S980 Vlogging advice
35
decently wide (25mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (271 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have microphone support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus SH-3 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Sony S980
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Olympus Sony
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2016-02-08 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII -
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 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.5 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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 None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 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 380 images -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $579 $300