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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980

Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62
Samsung NX3000 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Announced May 2014
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX2000
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
  • Announced February 2009
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Samsung NX3000 and Sony S980, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the NX3000 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NX3000 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizes.

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The NX3000 was manufactured 5 years later than the S980 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Samsung NX3000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a simple view of how the NX3000 grades against the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Sony S980

 NX3000 S980 
AnnouncedMay 2014February 2009More recent by 65 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung NX3000

 S980 NX3000 

Common features in the Samsung NX3000 and Sony S980

 NX3000 S980 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX3000 offers external dimensions of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while 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).

See the Samsung NX3000 and Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the NX3000 against the S980.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX3000 and S980 is 89 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through specifications. The photograph below will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the NX3000 and S980.

Plainly, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NX3000 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Samsung NX3000 will give you more detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more recent NX3000 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Portrait photography advice
Sony S980 Portrait photography advice
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
27
has manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Street photography advice
Sony S980 Street photography advice
81
has a tilting screen
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (230g)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX3000
Sports photography with Sony S980
56
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
max fps very slow (5.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
17
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Travel photography highlights
Sony S980 Travel photography highlights
68
lighter than competition in class (230g)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony S980 as a Landscape photography camera
72
focusing manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
27
has manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Vlogging details
Sony S980 Vlogging details
34
provides face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (230g)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic support
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX3000 and Sony S980
 Samsung NX3000Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX3000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-05-26 2009-02-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor 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
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 35 9
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus range - 10cm
Amount of lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 2s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life 370 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model B740 -
Self timer Yes (2-30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $897 $300