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Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
54
Overall
43
Pentax Q7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Pentax Q7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 34mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Previous Model is Pentax Q10
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Pentax Q7 and Sony S980, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. The sensor resolution of the Q7 (12MP) and the S980 (12MP) is fairly well matched but the Q7 (1/1.7") and S980 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

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The Q7 was brought out 4 years later than the S980 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Pentax Q7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summation of how the Q7 scores vs the S980 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax Q7 over the Sony S980

 Q7 S980 
AnnouncedAugust 2013February 2009More recent by 55 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Pentax Q7

 S980 Q7 

Common features in the Pentax Q7 and Sony S980

 Q7 S980 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax Q7 offers external dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Pentax Q7 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the Q7 versus the S980.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the Q7 and S980 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by reading through specs. The photograph here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the Q7 and S980.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras provide the same resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The Q7 provides the larger sensor which is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler. The newer Q7 will have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax Q7
Portrait photography with Sony S980
48
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
27
has manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax Q7 Street photography details
Sony S980 Street photography details
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (200 grams)
no moving screen
small sensor (1/1.7")
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Pentax Q7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
low battery (250 shots)
has no phase detect AF
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax Q7 Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
60
lighter than competitors in class (200g)
has built in flash
low battery (250 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax Q7 Landscape photography factors
Sony S980 Landscape photography factors
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
saves RAW formats
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
low battery (250 per charge)
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax Q7
Vlogging with Sony S980
35
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (200g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of mic socket
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic port
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Pentax Q7 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax Q7 and Sony S980
 Pentax Q7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Pentax Sony
Model Pentax Q7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2013-08-08 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Pentax Q fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Total lenses 8 -
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing, AR coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.90 m (ISO100/m) 3.50 m
Flash options P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions FullHD(1920x1080, 30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected 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 200 grams (0.44 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 58 x 34mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.3") 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
Battery life 250 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI68 -
Self timer Yes (12 sec, 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC and Eye-Fi Card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $480 $300