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Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980

Portability
69
Imaging
44
Features
36
Overall
40
Samsung GX-1L front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung GX-1L
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 570g - 125 x 93 x 66mm
  • Released February 2006
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
  • Introduced February 2009
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Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Samsung GX-1L versus Sony S980, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Samsung and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the GX-1L (6MP) and S980 (12MP) and the GX-1L (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The GX-1L was revealed 4 years before the S980 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung GX-1L being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the GX-1L grades versus the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung GX-1L over the Sony S980

 GX-1L S980 

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung GX-1L

 S980 GX-1L 
IntroducedFebruary 2009February 2006More recent by 36 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution230k210kCrisper display (+20k dot)

Common features in the Samsung GX-1L and Sony S980

 GX-1L S980 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Samsung GX-1L has outside dimensions of 125mm x 93mm x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") and a weight of 570 grams (1.26 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has proportions of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

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Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the GX-1L versus the S980.

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX-1L and S980 is 69 and 94 respectively.

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to imagine the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The visual here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GX-1L and S980.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GX-1L having a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony S980 will give extra detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively. The older GX-1L is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
50
manual focus
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
resolution not great (6MP)
27
focusing manually
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
60
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (570 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung GX-1L as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
38
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (6MP)
17
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung GX-1L as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
52
lighter than competition in class (570g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Landscape photography advice
Sony S980 Landscape photography advice
46
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is small (2.5")
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (6 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung GX-1L Vlogging info
Sony S980 Vlogging info
9
can't record video
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
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Samsung GX-1L vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung GX-1L and Sony S980
 Samsung GX-1LSony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model Samsung GX-1L Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Released 2006-02-24 2009-02-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3008 x 2008 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 5 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Available lenses 151 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 210k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.50 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 1.0 (1.5 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 570 grams (1.26 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 125 x 93 x 66mm (4.9" x 3.7" x 2.6") 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 model 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/MMC card Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $0 $300