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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Ricoh WG-30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Ricoh WG-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Launched October 2014
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Ricoh WG-30 versus Sony S980, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Ricoh and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the WG-30 (16MP) and S980 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The WG-30 was unveiled 5 years after the S980 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short overview of how the WG-30 matches up against the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-30 over the Sony S980

 WG-30 S980 
IntroducedOctober 2014February 2009More modern by 69 months

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Ricoh WG-30

 S980 WG-30 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Ricoh WG-30 and Sony S980

 WG-30 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension2.7"2.7"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and measurements. The Ricoh WG-30 provides outside dimensions of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 192 grams (0.42 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).

Compare the Ricoh WG-30 versus Sony S980 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the WG-30 and the S980.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-30 and S980 is 91 and 94 respectively.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reading through technical specs. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-30 and S980.

As you can tell, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Ricoh WG-30 to resolve greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent WG-30 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Portrait photography features
Sony S980 Portrait photography features
35
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Street photography details
Sony S980 Street photography details
61
image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Ricoh WG-30
Sports photography with Sony S980
45
image stabilization (Digital)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment proofing
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Travel photography info
Sony S980 Travel photography info
71
environment proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
51
built-in flash
no Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 Landscape photography info
Sony S980 Landscape photography info
43
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
27
manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh WG-30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
33
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Digital)
features face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
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Ricoh WG-30 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-30 and Sony S980
 Ricoh WG-30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sony
Model Ricoh WG-30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2014-10-09 2009-02-17
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range 1cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m (Auto ISO) 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 192 grams (0.42 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 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 300 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $428 $300