Panasonic G9 vs Sony S980

In this write-up, we are matching up the Panasonic G9 vs Sony S980, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the G9 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the G9 (Four Thirds) and S980 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The G9 was revealed 8 years after the S980 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G9 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a simple view of how the G9 scores vs the S980 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-G9 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic G9 Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G9 enjoys external measurements of 137mm x 97mm x 92mm (5.4" x 3.8" x 3.6") with a weight of 658 grams (1.45 lbs) while the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic G9 vs Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the G9 compared to the S980.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G9 and S980 is 62 and 94 respectively.

Quite often, it is very hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the G9 and S980.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G9 having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic G9 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The younger G9 provides an edge when it comes to sensor technology.