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Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980

Portability
90
Imaging
62
Features
60
Overall
61
Samsung NX1000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung NX1000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 222g - 114 x 63 x 37mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Refreshed by Samsung NX1100
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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Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Samsung NX1000 and Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the NX1000 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NX1000 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The NX1000 was announced 3 years later than the S980 and that is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX1000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the NX1000 scores against the S980 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX1000 over the Sony S980

 NX1000 S980 
IntroducedApril 2012February 2009Fresher by 39 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung NX1000

 S980 NX1000 

Common features in the Samsung NX1000 and Sony S980

 NX1000 S980 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung NX1000 offers outer dimensions of 114mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has sizing of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Samsung NX1000 and Sony S980 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the NX1000 compared to the S980.

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the NX1000 and S980 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by reviewing specifications. The photograph below may offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX1000 and S980.

To sum up, the 2 cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The NX1000 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Samsung NX1000 will offer you greater detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The younger NX1000 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX1000 Portrait photography highlights
Sony S980 Portrait photography highlights
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW files
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX1000
Street photography with Sony S980
73
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (222 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX1000 Sports photography information
Sony S980 Sports photography information
56
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
17
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX1000 Travel photography factors
Sony S980 Travel photography factors
68
lighter than competitors (222g)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX1000 Landscape photography information
Sony S980 Landscape photography information
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3")
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Timelapse function
27
has manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX1000 Vlogging information
Sony S980 Vlogging information
34
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (222g)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone port
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic jack
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Samsung NX1000 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX1000 and Sony S980
 Samsung NX1000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX1000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-04-19 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS 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 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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 range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 32 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 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 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 222 gr (0.49 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 63 x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 840 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photos -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model BC1030 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $388 $300