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Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Older Model is Samsung NX20
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
  • Announced February 2009
Photography Glossary

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets look closer at the Samsung NX30 versus Sony S980, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Samsung and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the NX30 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NX30 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") posses different sensor sizing.

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The NX30 was launched 4 years later than the S980 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a short highlight of how the NX30 scores against the S980 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony S980

 NX30 S980 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014February 2009More recent by 60 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kSharper screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung NX30

 S980 NX30 

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony S980

 NX30 S980 
Manually focus More exact focusing

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Samsung NX30 has outer measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") along with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) while the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Samsung NX30 versus Sony S980 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view proportions comparison of the NX30 against the S980.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX30 and S980 is 75 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements purely by looking at specifications. The photograph underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the NX30 and S980.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NX30 because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Samsung NX30 will resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern NX30 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
Portrait photography with Sony S980
77
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW formats
27
manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX30 Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
75
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 Sports photography advice
Sony S980 Sports photography advice
73
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
17
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX30 Travel photography features
Sony S980 Travel photography features
74
supports touch to focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse recording
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 Landscape photography factors
Sony S980 Landscape photography factors
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
27
manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony S980 as a Vlogging camera
75
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
supports face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with mic socket
no image stabilization
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony S980
 Samsung NX30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-01-03 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMeIV -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface 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
Highest resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 1,036k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech AMOLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 2 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 3.50 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375 gr (0.83 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 77 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1014 not tested
Other
Battery life 360 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery ID BP1410 -
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $699 $300