Panasonic FX48 vs Sony S980

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic FX48 and Sony S980, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FX48 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is very close and both cameras posses the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FX48 was unveiled at a similar time to the S980 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a complete comparison, here is a short summation of how the FX48 scores against the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic FX48 Gallery & Sony S980 Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FX48 provides outside dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has proportions 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 Panasonic FX48 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the FX48 versus the S980.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the FX48 and S980 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Often, it's difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing just by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the FX48 and S980.

Clearly, the 2 cameras feature the identical sensor size and the same exact resolution therefore you can expect comparable quality of photos although you will want to take the launch date of the cameras into account.