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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • 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 ZS1 vs Sony S980 Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the ZS1 (10MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly comparable but the ZS1 (1/2.5") and S980 (1/2.3") have different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS1 was launched 3 months after the S980 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the ZS1 scores vs the S980 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Sony S980

 ZS1 S980 

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Panasonic ZS1

 S980 ZS1 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS1 and Sony S980

 ZS1 S980 
LaunchedMay 2009February 2009Same generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions2.7"2.7"Equal display sizing
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS1 provides physical dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 in the new 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 at that moment. Below is a front view scale comparison of the ZS1 versus the S980.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS1 and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS1 and S980.

Clearly, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS1 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony S980 will show more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony S980 as a Portrait photography camera
25
offers face detect focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
27
manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (229g)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (3.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no phase detect auto focus
17
slow frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
63
lighter than average (229 grams)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS1
Landscape photography with Sony S980
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
27
manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging features
Sony S980 Vlogging features
31
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
lighter than average (229g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone port
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS1 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS1 and Sony S980
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ6 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-05-14 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.3-4.9 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 2 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 229g (0.50 lb) 167g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Storage media SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $0 $300