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Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
50
Overall
53
Samsung NX10 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung NX10
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Launched April 2010
  • Replacement is Samsung NX11
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Samsung NX10 and Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a big difference between the image resolutions of the NX10 (15MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NX10 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") offer different sensor dimensions.

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The NX10 was announced 14 months later than the S980 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature different body design with the Samsung NX10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief overview of how the NX10 grades versus the S980 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX10 over the Sony S980

 NX10 S980 
RevealedApril 2010February 2009More recent by 14 months
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung NX10

 S980 NX10 

Common features in the Samsung NX10 and Sony S980

 NX10 S980 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX10 comes with outer dimensions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) while 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 Samsung NX10 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the NX10 compared to the S980.

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the NX10 and S980 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual below may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the NX10 and S980.

As you can tell, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NX10 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Samsung NX10 will offer you greater detail with its extra 3MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NX10 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX10
Portrait photography with Sony S980
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW files
27
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX10 as a Street photography camera
Sony S980 as a Street photography camera
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competition (499g)
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX10 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
52
MP count good (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (400 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
17
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX10 Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
63
great battery power (400 per charge)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (499 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX10 Landscape photography details
Sony S980 Landscape photography details
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
27
has manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual control
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX10 Vlogging information
Sony S980 Vlogging information
24
features face detect focusing
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
more heavy than competition (499g)
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Samsung NX10 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX10 and Sony S980
 Samsung NX10Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX10 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2010-04-07 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DRIM Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 11.00 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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 1280x720 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 Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 499 gr (1.10 pounds) 167 gr (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 123 x 87 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 63 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 572 not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photographs -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $626 $300