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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2009
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
  • Launched February 2009
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FS15 versus Sony S980, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FS15 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is pretty close and both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The FS15 was revealed about the same time to the S980 and they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FS15 matches up vs the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony S980

 FS15 S980 

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Panasonic FS15

 S980 FS15 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony S980

 FS15 S980 
LaunchedJanuary 2009February 2009Same generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS15 comes with outer measurements of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS15 versus Sony S980 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FS15 and the S980.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FS15 and S980 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizes simply by viewing specs. The image here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS15 and S980.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact resolution and you should expect comparable quality of photos although you may want to factor the release date of the cameras into account.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography factors
Sony S980 Portrait photography factors
21
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
27
you can focus manually
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography info
Sony S980 Sports photography info
25
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
17
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
28
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
27
you can focus manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging information
Sony S980 Vlogging information
25
image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (29mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic jack
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony S980
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-01-16 2009-02-17
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
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
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 29-145mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced 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 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 136 gr (0.30 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $180 $300