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Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980

Portability
83
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66
Samsung NX20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung NX20
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX11
  • Successor is Samsung NX30
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
  • Released February 2009
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Overview

Below is a in-depth overview of the Samsung NX20 versus Sony S980, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the resolutions of the NX20 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NX20 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The NX20 was announced 3 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX20 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the NX20 matches up versus the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Sony S980

 NX20 S980 
ReleasedApril 2012February 2009More recent by 39 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution614k230kCrisper display (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung NX20

 S980 NX20 

Common features in the Samsung NX20 and Sony S980

 NX20 S980 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX20 provides external dimensions of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) and the Sony S980 has proportions 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 NX20 versus Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the NX20 compared to the S980.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX20 and S980 is 83 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to envision the difference in sensor measurements merely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX20 and S980.

As you can see, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The NX20 having a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Samsung NX20 will render greater detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The newer NX20 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX20
Portrait photography with Sony S980
77
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW formats
27
focusing manually
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX20 Street photography features
Sony S980 Street photography features
77
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition (341g)
lack of image stabilization
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX20
Sports photography with Sony S980
61
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX20 Travel photography factors
Sony S980 Travel photography factors
77
lighter than competition (341 grams)
good MP (20MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
51
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX20 Landscape photography details
Sony S980 Landscape photography details
70
has manual focus
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
27
focusing manually
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX20
Vlogging with Sony S980
78
selfie friendly screen
provides face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone support
lighter than competition (341g)
lack of image stabilization
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic support
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX20 and Sony S980
 Samsung NX20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-04-20 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-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 area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Total lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 614k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 3.50 m
Flash settings 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
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 75 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 785 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $1,100 $300