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Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980

Portability
80
Imaging
55
Features
50
Overall
53
Samsung NX5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Samsung NX5
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 499g - 123 x 87 x 40mm
  • Released June 2010
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the sensor resolutions of the NX5 (15MP) and S980 (12MP) and the NX5 (APS-C) and S980 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The NX5 was announced 16 months after the S980 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the NX5 scores vs the S980 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX5 over the Sony S980

 NX5 S980 
RevealedJune 2010February 2009More modern by 16 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Samsung NX5

 S980 NX5 

Common features in the Samsung NX5 and Sony S980

 NX5 S980 
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung NX5 provides outer dimensions of 123mm x 87mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 1.6") along with a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs) while 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).

Analyze the Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the NX5 compared to the S980.

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NX5 and S980 is 80 and 94 respectively.

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NX5 and S980.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The NX5 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Samsung NX5 will resolve greater detail with its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos far more aggressively. The newer NX5 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX5
Portrait photography with Sony S980
73
manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
27
has manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX5 Street photography highlights
Sony S980 Street photography highlights
60
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (499 grams)
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX5
Sports photography with Sony S980
52
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
great battery pack (400 shots)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
17
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX5 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
63
great battery pack (400 per charge)
good MP (15MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition (499g)
display is not selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX5
Landscape photography with Sony S980
68
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
great battery pack (400 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX5 Vlogging factors
Sony S980 Vlogging factors
24
has face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic jack
heavier than competition (499 grams)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of microphone support
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Samsung NX5 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX5 and Sony S980
 Samsung NX5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-06-01 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 15 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3056 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 15 9
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Available lenses 32 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.57x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
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
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 secs -
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 format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 499 gr (1.10 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
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 Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 400 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $499 $300