Panasonic FS12 vs Sony S980

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony S980, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FS12 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty close and both cameras have the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The FS12 was announced 2 months later than the S980 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise view of how the FS12 grades versus the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FS12 Gallery and Sony S980 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS12 comes with physical dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) and the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS12 vs Sony S980 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FS12 compared to the S980.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FS12 and S980 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Usually, it is hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching specs. The visual here will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS12 and S980.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels therefore you should expect comparable quality of photographs but you should factor the production date of the cameras into account.