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Sony A7R II vs Sony S980

Portability
68
Imaging
76
Features
84
Overall
79
Sony Alpha A7R II front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Key Specs

Sony A7R II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 625g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony A7R
  • Replacement is Sony A7R III
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
  • Revealed February 2009
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Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Sony A7R II and Sony S980, one is a Pro Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the A7R II (42MP) and S980 (12MP) and the A7R II (Full frame) and S980 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The A7R II was launched 6 years after the S980 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sony A7R II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the A7R II matches up against the S980 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A7R II over the Sony S980

 A7R II S980 
RevealedJune 2015February 2009More modern by 77 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1229k230kClearer screen (+999k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony A7R II

 S980 A7R II 

Common features in the Sony A7R II and Sony S980

 A7R II S980 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to think about its weight and size. The Sony A7R II enjoys external dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") and a weight of 625 grams (1.38 lbs) while the Sony S980 has specifications of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Sony A7R II and Sony S980 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the A7R II and the S980.

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A7R II and S980 is 68 and 94 respectively.

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes purely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A7R II and S980.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The A7R II due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony A7R II will give you more detail utilizing its extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively. The fresher A7R II should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony A7R II Portrait photography details
Sony S980 Portrait photography details
85
you can focus manually
excellent megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
27
has manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A7R II Street photography information
Sony S980 Street photography information
81
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sony A7R II as a Sports photography camera
Sony S980 as a Sports photography camera
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
17
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sony A7R II Travel photography details
Sony S980 Travel photography details
62
weather proof
excellent megapixels (42MP)
terrible battery life (290 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A7R II Landscape photography factors
Sony S980 Landscape photography factors
82
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (42 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery life (290 per charge)
27
has manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony A7R II
Vlogging with Sony S980
37
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have external mic socket
screen is not selfie friendly
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
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Sony A7R II vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A7R II and Sony S980
 Sony Alpha A7R IISony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model type Sony Alpha A7R II Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Category Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2015-06-10 2009-02-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Bionz X -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 42 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 7974 x 5316 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 102400 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 399 9
Lens
Lens mount type Sony E fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance - 10cm
Number of lenses 121 -
Focal length multiplier 1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 1,229 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x -
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 2s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 5.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.50 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 625g (1.38 pounds) 167g (0.37 pounds)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 98 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 26.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3434 not tested
Other
Battery life 290 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID NP-FW50 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $2,913 $300